Meet Alejandro Guzman | Crochet Artist & Administrative Assistant

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

Hi Alejandro, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Everything started when my Husband was gifted a “Jurassic Park Crochet Kit” for his birthday. He attempted, was unsuccessful, then gave up and left all the materials on a shelf. One day I asked if I could give it a try and was also unsuccessful. I kept at it for over a year, trying different techniques and watching videos online to try and get the hang of creating plushies out of yarn. My work became noticed by family and friends who wanted to pay me actual money for items I could crochet. After another year went by, I asked my Husband if this could possibly become a small business where we could sell my little creations to other people both online and through neighborhood markets. He quickly agreed and a few months later we got a sales tax ID, company name, logo and outline on what we wanted to sell.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I make cute and creepy Crochet creations ranging from small keychains to large plush creatures. I love taking a common crochet pattern and giving it a little Horror twist to create something unique that catches the eyes of those passing by when at markets. I am extremely proud of myself for learning the crochet language and understanding how to modify crochet patterns. It feels almost like learning another language only other “crochet-people” know. It took years of downloading patterns, buying crochet books, watching tutorials online, and sleepless nights trying to master a certain technique and end up with a final product that I can truly say I loved.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is an amazing city with so much culture, diversity and history. There is definitely a spot for everyone to enjoy themselves no matter your age or social background. If I had someone visit that wasn’t familiar with the city here’s where I would take them:
-We would start out with a morning walk on any of our scenic trails along the outskirts of the city. Here you can get a great view of the Bayou, skyline and even greet a few Houstonians along the way walking their Fur-Babies.
-Next, we would have breakfast at one of the many Taqueria locations here in our beautiful city. They have everything from freshly baked Pan Dulce to smothered Breakfast burritos fresh out of the kitchen.
-For the afternoon, we would check out a baseball game at our Daikin Park and enjoy ice cold Margaritas from El Tiempo as you see all the fans gathered together to cheer on our Astros.
-Lunch would definitely be at The Post. What used to be a Post Office was remodeled as a hub for vendors, food shops and bars. They have everything from Boba Tea to Deep fried chicken.
-We would end the night on the Ferris Wheel at our well know “Downtown Aquarium”. You can get lost for hours exploring the rides, exhibits and arcade games. We would of course eat Dinner with the aquatic life inside the Aquarium where we can eat and watch as the many different species of fish swim.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Eliseo Junior Guzman. From the very beginning of my small business, Dark Loop Designs, he has been my biggest supporter. Whether it’s helping organize my yarn, setting up at markets, or encouraging me through every challenge and success, he has always been by my side. His support, patience, and belief in my creativity have played a huge role in helping me grow my business, and I am incredibly grateful for everything he does.

Website: https://darkloopdesigns.etsy.com

Instagram: @Darkloopdesigns

Facebook: @Darkloopdesigns