We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Angela Dale a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Angela thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I’ve been a licensed cosmetologist for 16 years, and it had always been what I thought was my passion! One thing about styling hair, especially black women… there is TONS of hairdryer time, and you better believe all thos breaks with idle hands led to me falling hard into my vices. When I say voices. At the time it was cigarettes. I took all the smoke breaks, even if I didn’t even really want it. It was purely out of boredom!
One of my clients (young lady, about a year under me) would sit under the dryer and crochet all the time. She would have her craft bag and whip out whatever project she was working on and crochet with the speed of light, all these beautiful creations!
I was super intrigued seeing as how at one point I wanted to learn to knit! I bought the needles and a book, but my hands and brain just could not comprehend! When I saw her crocheting with one hook, I said hmmmm.. now this I could try!
I asked her one day about it and she was super sweet and told me how calming it was for her and that she would teach me some basics!
Upon her next visit she brought me a hook and some plain tan yarn. I sat next to her under the dryer, on what usually would be my smoke break and learned a double crochet stitch. It came fairly easy too, I was shocked!
Moving forward, every break I got in would crochet! I would be at home on youtube learning stitches and how to make hats and scarves and table mats.. mostly simple things.
About 3 years later during the pandemic, the salon I was at had to close suddenly, with no reopening in sight. I had just become a second-time mother. So I was home with him and crocheting even more!
One day I said, hmmm I should try actual clothing! Who knows? I was always afraid to try those lacey-looking halters or the Boho dresses and coverups. They always looked overwhelming so I just stayed in my single lane.
First thing I tried was a tank top, it was absolutely horrible! I kept trying tho. I became a visual artist. I didn’t need patterns. I could just look at something and replicate. Or draw a dress or top, and figure out the mechanics on my own! Very natural feeling.
Long story short, I never went back to the salon!
So here I am now, full-time Autism mom, part-time at home stylist and crochet artist! I started of naming my little business HoboBohoBae custom crochet, but as the years progressed, I’ve shortened it to HBB crochet. I want it to be unisex and open to everyone of all sizes and genders, and I felt like the name was a little group specific… if that makes any sense?
I’m in the midst of trying to revamp my business now. I had a time of having crochet block and it lasted for months and honestly made me a but depressed. My aunt passed away in May 2022, and I was gifted her old crochet books, hooks and yarn. I knew she crocheted a while ago. But never got the chance to sit and stitch with her! I made a blanket out of her yarn for my uncle. I learned a new technique for it and everything, and that really woke me back up! I’m now ready to pop back out bigger and better in the new year!
I’ve already styled for models, reality stars, makeup influencers, and most importantly my loyal customers who’ve gained along he way! I feel like I live regained my passion for life bc this is what I’m supposed to be doing!
Cigarette free for almost 6 years too:)
Angela, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Well, I explained most of how I got started in the first question, whoops! But I suppose what sets me apart from other crochet artists is the customization process and the body-positive and gender-neutral designs I try to make! I really try to emphasize that my crochet is for EVERYONE!
I also don’t use patterns! I am completely free handing most of my pieces! If there is a technique or stitch I need to learn, I may look it up on YouTube but most or all of my clothing is from my drawings and my ol noggin!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Don’t look over us because we are small time! On social media use hashtags like #smallbusiness #handmade #fiberartist #blackowned #undiscoveredartist, etc… and it will truly open your eyes to a whole different world! The creatives have a hard time because the world is over-saturated with things of the same nature but done cheaply, or made in a sweatshop, or machine-made. Because these items have big brand names or famous faces modeling them (because big Corporations have the money to pay for advertising), they get picked first every time! This happened while the small-time person making the same thing, and most of the time better quality gets looked over because they may not always have the means for mass advertising or a bandwagon of people who support, not yet anyway! It’s hard to get out there. Hashtags help! Algorithms help! Social media is everything now.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I get to create things from my mind and see them in action! That is about the most rewarding feeling! When someone wears one of my Pieces just right it just makes me smile ear to ear! Also when my more voluptuous customers say they want something but are afraid things wont be right, I love assuring them and working with them every step of the way to make sure they are comfortable! The most important part of customization is making it exactly for that person to fit perfectly! Not everyone has these cookie cutter bodies that more prominent fashion corporations try to push on us!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/hobobohobae?igshid=OGQ2MjdiOTE=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angiecrochets87?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Image Credits
https://www.facebook.com/angiecrochets87?mibextid=ZbWKwL