Our Summer 2025 Giving Project designer, Ashlea Schumaker, is a yarn lover, a mother, and a travel junkie. Her popular website, Heart Hook Home, features crochet patterns and tutorials, as well as articles about her family, pets, travels, other crafts, and much more.

Read on to learn about Ashlea!

How did you get started as a crocheter and as a designer?

I started over Christmas break about 10 years ago when my little brother was in town. He taught me over the weekend and I just never stopped. Growing up, our mom would sew a lot either freehand or from patterns, so I learned how to make things fit a certain way at an early age.

Please describe your crochet walking routine -- how are you able to walk and crochet at the same time?

My daily walks started during the Covid lockdown as a way to get out of the house, and to lose a few pounds. I ended up losing about 60 pounds and now I walk to maintain and to keep my head clear. Each morning I hit the park or the indoor track (depending on weather) and walk for 6 miles while crocheting. I usually get through one skein's worth of work, depending on what I'm working on. I just put my legs on auto-pilot.

We love your dog sweater patterns, especially your Stellar Dog Sweater that we’re featuring as our Summer Giving Project. Tell us about your dogs!

I love dogs! I have almost always had a dog as a pet throughout my life, and as of now we have two dogs. Maisey is a German Shorthair Pointer that is a wild child free spirit, and we have Cher how is a mix of Chihuahua, Dachshund, and some kind of greyhound. They are sassy and so full of emotion.

What are some of your other interests (crafty and otherwise)?

I love to learn about history, whether that is medieval, military, or US history. My family knows not to play trivia with me unless it's music or movie trivia. I have no clue on those things!

If you could sit and crochet anywhere in the world, where would it be?

I love to travel and I have been to a lot of places with my crochet hook in hand. I think my dream would be to crochet on a first class train riding across Europe to a new destination. See new places with yarn in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. Ha!

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it!

Be sure to check out Ashlea's website, Heart Hook Home, and follow her on Instagram @hearthookhome!

Ashlea is the featured designer for The Endless Skein's Summer Giving Project. Your purchase of yarn to crochet her Stellar Dog Sweater will benefit ARF, a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in Beacon, NY.