Happily Hooked is more than just a magazine to us. It's the place where we come, just about every day, to share what we know with you, with our coworkers, with our friends.
We've become a family, and we work on sharing a daily dose of happiness with one another behind the scenes so that we can continue to create a happy place for all crafters.
With that in mind, I wanted to let you get to know each of us better. Next up, Shawna Underwood, Publishing Editor. You know her as the face of Happily Hooked Magazine (along with Courtney), a moderator in our Facebook members’ communities, and partner to those tricky #shawtney challenges. You can check out her bio here.
On to the good stuff …
Hi Shawna! I want to show readers what it’s like behind-the-scenes at your job. Let’s say you’ve just settled on which patterns you’re going to use in the next issue. What is it like that week for you?
Busy!!
We put out 2 publications each month, so I am on constant repeat. Each day is comprised of editing, formatting, proofreading, and a little Facebook, too. I try to make sure I “schedule” time away from my computer each day to rest my brain. Sometimes it takes a lot out of me mentally to edit all the patterns. It has been nice the last couple of months to have some help from my lovely tech editing ladies.
When I’m not working, I'm chasing my 5-year-old (his birthday is on Oct. 5th) around making sure he isn’t climbing the walls or swinging from the chandelier, or I’m taking my daughter to softball practice or a tournament. So, as I said, BUSY! Haha! 😄
(Let’s review how I imagine Shawna’s and Courtney’s daily grind. ~MAK)
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When did you learn? What is your FAVORITE thing you ever made? Do you have a favorite stitch? What don’t you like to make? What is the worst project you’ve ever made?
I first picked up my hook when I was 19! My now-husband and I had gotten engaged, and we were living together for the first time, and he liked GOLF! The most boooorrring sport ever!! At first, I would just work on it while watching sports to keep myself busy, but the more I learned, the more I picked it up until I couldn’t put it down.
Favorite project
My most favorite thing I ever made is a knitted (I know, I know, it is my dirty little secret) Noah’s Ark-themed blanket that had the ark and animals that “popped off” the blanket.
Favorite stitch
My favorite stitch is the half double, and I hate(!) back post stitches! I am not a fan of front post either, but I can live with those.
A few of Shawna’s projects
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- ^ Kitty!!
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- ^ Love the cables!
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- ^ Did I mention that she cracks me up?
Worst project
I have the normal embarrassingly WAY too big item, but nothing too bad. (Totally been there! ~MAK)
What do you like most about working at Happily Hooked? I’m going to leave this one wide open.
I love what I do …
Before I worked at Happily Hooked, I was a pattern tester for lots of designers and helped all of them fix and edit their patterns for years. One of the designers is Briana K; she was a constant source of encouragement for me. She pushed me to write my own patterns and start branching out in the world of tech editing.
When a position came open here at Happily Hooked, she was the one who helped me get the job. She told me this position would be perfect for me, and she wasn’t wrong. It combines everything I love; I get to help designers with their patterns, I get to write my own, and I get to talk to craft-minded peeps all day, every day!
One of the biggest perks is I made a REALLY great friend. Courtney is the best friend I didn’t know I was missing from my life, but now that she is here, I can’t imagine life without her!
When you aren’t working, what do you do? What’s it like at home? What do you do for fun, and what do you do to relax?
I have a 13-year-old in travel softball and a 5-year-old who likes to get into mischief, so there is no relaxing. Haha. But I do like to read, paint, and now that we bought a house, we have lots of home improvement projects to do.
A few of Shawna's non-yarn “projects”
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- ^ Adorable kids and awesome bag!
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- ^ Super cuties!
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- ^ This is absolutely LOVELY and by Shawna!
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- ^ What a gorgeous family!
Tell me a bunch of random personal facts, Shawna, or the scrapbook gets it! Go:
I knit!
There I said it, I knit, and I am proud to be bi-stitchual! (We don't judge, Shawna! ~MAK)
I really enjoy all crafts and need to take time to work on projects from all areas from time to time.
Except for scrapbooking. I HATE scrapbooking with the hate of 1,000 fires!
Oh. Well, I guess my threat didn’t mean much. But, from what I know about Shawna, she would do what she wanted anyway. She’s one tough mother … What? I’m just talking about Shawna! She rules each issue like a boss!
Our patterns are so accurate, it’s crazy. And if you, my friends, have ever worked on a pattern with mistakes, you KNOW how thankful you should be!
If you aren’t already a subscriber, you might want to check out what you’re missing. I LITERALLY loved it so much I applied to work here.
It turns out that the people here are lovely. The magazine is wickedly cool, the patterns are amazing #becauseShawna. And, if you want to have access to all the previous issues, too, check out the Lifetime Membership, because yarn know-how NEVER goes out of style. Until next time …
Author Info
I've been crocheting since my mother taught me as a little girl. I'm lucky to be working with Happily Hooked and I can't wait to share everything yarny and hooky with you! Yarn over, peeps! Yarn over!
