Tandy taught herself how to crochet in 2002. In 2005, she taught herself how to knit as well. Right away she began adapting and changing patterns to suit her individual tastes and needs. This led her to designing knit and crochet patterns under her SmartCat Studios label. She strives to keep all of her patterns easy enough for beginners, yet not too simplified for the more experienced crafter. Tandy's key philosophies are: if you enjoy what you are creating, then you are doing it just right and anyone is capable of working any pattern I design with perhaps some extra help and guidance.