Meet Melissa Isiguzo | Crochet & Knit Pattern Designer, Owner of Modern Made

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Isiguzo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in North Carolina and I was homeschooled. Being homeschooled, for me, meant that I had a lot of time to explore my own interests and hobbies. I had heaps of extra time on my hands and not alot of input from peers on what was cool. So, while not a lot of other tweens were doing a deep dive into granny crafts, that was what I was all about. I was around ten when I learned how to crochet, with a video guide that was on a CD rom (I would have loved for YouTube tutorials to have been a thing back then). I dedicated all that free time I had to crochet, and I got pretty good at it!

I think having that freedom to pursue my hobby of crochet would have been a net positive even if it didn’t lead to me starting a crochet and knit business. Parts of my upbringing led me to value having the freedom to explore what lights you up inside. When you give yourself the permission to do those things you truly enjoy, magic happens. Part of my reason for putting myself out on social media, as an intrinsically shy person, is a hope that I can help other people find that magic.

All that being said, I did turn my hobby into a business. I don’t now if I got too used to all the time and personal freedom I had in my childhood, or if its just my personality, but after graduating college I found that I had a deep discontent with the 9-5 lifestyle. I think that’s something a lot of people can relate to. Building Modern Made gave me an exit from a job I didn’t want, and an opportunity to work from home on something I love while staying home with my daughter. For that, I’ll always be grateful to Modern Made.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started Modern Made because I loved crocheting and knitting but I didn’t always love the designs in the patterns I found. I saw really beautiful knit and crochet throws in shops and I desperately wanted to recreate them with my own hands but all the patterns I found for crochet particularly, were not in line with my own taste. I am proud to be apart of a new wave of makers and designers who are bringing a more contemporary take to crochet and knit design. As a pattern designer, I wanted to help people make things they were proud of, in styles they felt resonated with them. Overtime, I realized that a part of that was teaching people how to do the making. I’ve become really passionate about teaching crochet and knitting in the past year with tutorials on TikTok and YouTube. I’m so excited to see how the younger generation is rediscovering these craft forms that were becoming endangered. Modern Made is really about taking these age-old crafts, crochet and knitting, and introducing them to new people, and a new, modern aesthetic.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love Thai food so we are hitting up Thai Station in Carrboro, Simply Thai in Elon, and Chapel Hill’s hidden gem, Thai Palace. We’d have to eat ice cream on the rooftop of Whit’s Frozen Custard in downtown Graham. I have a toddler, so we are probably hanging out at the North Carolina Zoo, Greensboro Science Center, or picking berries at Eno River Farms. Even if you’re not into the manual labor, its a great place to sit and enjoy nature with homemade ice cream, pastries, and coffee. We also love to spend a day at the NC Museum of Art or Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My husband, Joshua Isiguzo, who is also an artist, has always been my #1 source of support and encouragement. He’s believed in me many times when I didn’t. He’s made sacrifices to help me build Modern Made and I’ll always be grateful for that. My daughter, Ada, who is my reason for everything. Also, any maker who has bought any of my patterns, followed me on TikTok, or YouTube. Anyone who has been brave enough to learn something new and try out crochet or knitting with me, shoutout to you! I love this little community of modern makers we have built and Modern Made would not exist with you guys!

Website: https://www.modernmade.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmadestudio/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@modern_made

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@modern_made_