Jessie Rayot’s We’ve Got The Beat Legwarmers & Wrap Me Up Tunisian Wrap

Intro – Today we’re talking to crochet designer Jessie Rayot, who contributed the We’ve Got The Beat Legwarmers & Wrap Me Up Tunisian Wrap crochet patterns featured in our January 2025 issue.

Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired your designs for this month?

We’ve Got The Beat Legwarmers: I first noticed Neon coming back into style about 2 years ago, and the 80’s came right back to me. Then when Hobbii shared their Silly Socks Disco yarn with me, I KNEW I had to make a super rad set of leg warmers. I remembered how my friend Emily and I used to trade off one Chuck so we each had one red Chuck and one black Chuck, then we would wear the opposite color sock bunched up on top of the Chucks. That memory made me want to make the colors opposite on each legwarmer.

Wrap Me Up Tunisian Wrap: I was in the Mod Yarns booth at a trade show and I saw the Loopy de Loop yarn in B.A.N.A.N.A.S. It called to me. I knew it might be difficult to use by itself for traditional crochet, so I thought of a few options.

I could knit something.
I could hold it along with another yarn.
I could Tunisian crochet with it with a large hook.

I went with the third option. I wanted something that could just be a rectangle with the Loopy de Loop. It was so soft and cuddly that I thought of the long scarf/wraps with the sleeves at the end. I found a great color in Fingering 101 to go with it, and a design was born.


What were some challenges about designing this piece?

We’ve Got The Beat Legwarmers: My calves always seem to be too big for tall socks or boots. I’ve heard this complaint from others who are above a traditional size 12 or 14. For this reason, I wanted to be sure the legwarmers would grow wider as they got taller, so they could be worn scrunched up OR pulled tall. Figuring out the right rate of increase to make this happen without them being too baggy at the top was a bit tricky. It was totally worth it, though. I love my leg warmers, and wear them all the time now!

Wrap Me Up Tunisian Wrap: I guess this is a similar challenge. I wanted the sleeves to go from the hand (with a thumb hole) up to the elbow or higher, and I wanted them to be fitted. This meant choosing a rib stitch that has good stretch as well as figuring out the right increases. Once I picked a rib stitch and swatched the different heights (sc, hdc, & dc), and the measurements for each of the sizes, it was just a matter of some math.


If you were to create a sibling piece to this one, what would it be?

We’ve Got The Beat Legwarmers: This would even more rad with a set of matching arm warmers with thumb holes. I think those are the 20’s answer to the 80’s legwarmers.

Wrap Me Up Tunisian Wrap: I think this combo of yarns would make a great winter hat. The Fingering 101 would be the body of the hat, and then the Loopy de Loop would be a fun and fuzzy brim.


What is the most important thing you would want someone who’s just starting out to know?

There is no wrong way to crochet if you are happy with the results. Sometimes there are rules that need to be followed if you are following a pattern and want it to work the way it was written (such as being sure to yarn over, not under), but otherwise, just have fun. Creation is should be fun and stress-relieving. Do what makes you happy, and find crochet friends who let you be you.


What benefits has crochet brought into your life?

The best people I have ever had in my live. Not only has crochet helped me with my depression and anxiety, but it has brought me people that I love and who love me in ways I never thought I would have. I talk to some of them online nearly every day. I have them over for Thanksgiving weekend desserts. I travel the country and even the world with them. I can’t imagine I would be this happy with my life without the people crochet has brought me.


Where do you hope to go with your crochet?

I’m taking over the crochet world and I’m bringing my friends with me. That’s why I bought Crochet Foundry a year ago. I want Crochet Foundry Magazine to be THE magazine for those who want crochet fashion patterns and who want a crochet magazine that’s more than just patterns. I want the Crochet Foundry Community to be known as the safest, most fun and inviting place to be for yarnists.


What are a couple of fun facts about you?

I bungie jumped at a fair in Louisville Kentucky when I was at summer stock at the age of 16. I used my older brother’s birthday and one of the actors who looked a lot like me pretended to be my father.

I made the Chicago Bears mascot costume when the Chicago Bears didn’t have a mascot costume…

My senior internship in undergrad was a wardrobe internship with Early Edition in 1997. We filmed an episode about a football player, and part of the plot was that the characters played by Kyle Chandler and Fisher Stevens sneak into Solder Field as the Chicago Bears mascot and handler. I guess the writers didn’t know that the Chicago Bears didn’t have a mascot costume (I think they do now, but they didn’t in 1997). It was near Halloween, so all the bear costumes in the Chicago area where already rented. The costume designer rented a gopher costume and bought some Chicago Bears sweaters and hats and gave them all to me with the instructions of “make this work”. I did.


What do you binge watch while stitching?

Something I’ve seen before and love. Some favorites are:

Bones
The West Wing
Anything Star Trek
Doctor Who
Mind Hunter
Charmed
Lucifer
The Witcher


How can our readers find you online and on social media?

In addition to the Crochet Foundry sites, here are my Jessie At Home sites.

Website
Facebook
Etsy
Ravelry
YouTube
Instagram
Pinterest


Are you a crochet designer who wants to contribute to Crochet Foundry Magazine? We work with independent crochet designers to produce the gorgeous designs featured in our magazine. To find out more, visit our Submit a Design page and be sure to sign up for our Designer Calls be notified of design opportunities.

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