Pretty Peaceful was founded in 2013 by Susan Kennedy.   She is a neuroscientist and mother of three boys living in the mountains in southwestern Colorado.

Susan earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and biology and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Michigan before she learned to crochet.  She hooked her first projects in 2012 while traveling the U.S. in a vintage Volkswagen camper van.  Her love of math influences her designs, inspiring her to make interesting patterns with the simplest possible repeats that are relaxing to crochet. 

Pretty Peaceful designs draw inspiration from the mountains, forests, and deserts around her as well as from hippie and bohemian cultures around the world. When she isn’t crocheting, you can find her hiking, camping, or snowboarding with her family.

Susan has had the pleasure of designing for Interweave Crochet, Simply Crochet, Crochet Now, I Like Crochet, and Happily Hooked magazines. You can find Pretty Peaceful crochet and knit patterns on YouTube, Ravelry, LoveCrafts, and Etsy.

Her first book of crochet patterns, Crochet Southwest Spirit: Over 20 Bohemian Patterns Inspired by the American Southwest, was published by David & Charles in 2023.