Intro – Today we’re talking to crochet designer Rachel Field, who contributed the Mermaid’s Purse Set crochet pattern featured in our March 2025 issue.
Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired your design for this month?
Mermaid’s Purses are the egg cases of rays, skates and some sharks. I love beach combing with my kids and we regularly find the empty cases washed up on the tideline. My eldest son has an amazing eye for spotting the tiniest and most hidden treasures. He found the first mermaid’s purse, before we even knew what they were.
My favorites are dogfish cases which are longer, thinner and often clear, with very curly tendrils at the 4 corners. The cases I find most often are the darker, squarer cases of rays and these second type of purse inspired this top and bag set.
What were some challenges about designing this piece?
I have been trying to design a top based on a mermaid’s purse for years. My sketchbook is full of doodles of top designs and I have at least 3 previous attempts stored away in my wardrobe.
The main issue I had was trying to make things far too complicated. I struggle to keep things simple and not change stitch patterns at least 3 times in a design!
This time around, I decided I was just going to play with hdc and that fun little third loop.
What’s your favorite aspect of this piece?
I love how the top loops of the middle section catch the light and look like scales.
I mainly crochet for myself. I’ve had some tough rejections in the past!
Do you crochet more for yourself or for others?
However, last Christmas I made 2 sweaters for my children. One child wanted a sweater with a star in the middle and the other wanted a sweater with a river, as he was fascinated with how oxbow lakes formed. I adapted the star sweater to make my Celestial Sweater pattern and you can find videos of me making the River sweater on my TikTok and YouTube accounts (both PearledWing).
What is your favorite yarn (brand or fiber weight)?
I used to love DK but I’m more of a 4ply or sport weight fan now. It does take a lot longer to work up but the feel and look of a finer weight yarn is just stunning.
How do you hold your crochet hook?
Knife hold.
Do you have a favorite hook size or brand?
3.5mm has definitely been a favorite for a long time. I’m starting to prefer a 4mm. For a long time I was not a fan of larger hooks but using a fancy hook can make all the difference.
How can our readers find you on social media?
I can be found at https://www.instagram.com/pearledwing/
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.
