Today on the YarnThing Podcast with Marly Bird: Crochet Expert Stacey Trock!
Listen in below to hear Marly and Stacey talk about how Stacey got started, Etsy, her website and so much more! This was a great show so don’t miss it!
Stacey learned to crochet when she was 10 and immediately started designing and making thing to enter in the local fair. She kept crocheting throughout college. Stacey finished graduate school and she and her partner (and future husband) Tim realized that it was very unlikely that they could both be in the same place with their academic degrees. So while Tim was away for a summer, Stacey decided that she would use her lifelong hobby as her new career. She made a lion and a koala and the rest is history. Today, she designs crochet stuffed toys and amigurumi (little stuffed things). Stacey’s website where she shares her designs is called FreshStitches (links below) and she also still maintains her Etsy shop.
Stacey has done a lot in the insustry including written three books and done two Craftsy classes. Her first book was Cuddly Crochet: Adorable Toys, Hats and More and focuses awesomely cute animal toys and coordinating accessories for babies. Her second book was Crocheted Softies which has 18 stuffed animal designs that were made with earth friendly yarns (Julie here, I especially like the owls, they are so cute!). Her latest book is called Modern Baby Crochet and is full of great modern patterns for baby things that range from blankets to toys to accessories. Stacey’s Craftsy classes take you through the reading of patterns and making amigurumi animals and monsters (Woodland Animals and Design Your Own Monster). Stacey has also published in many magazines.
In addition to her classes, Stacey sells kits for her patterns on her website. The great thing about kits is that you don’t have to buy a whole skein of yarn if you don’t need a lot for the patterns. There are two types of kits, the Basic Kit and the Starter Kit. The Basic kit has everything for the pattern except stuffing and is for people who already crochet and have the hooks and notions. The Starter Kit is special because it comes with absolutely everything you need: a crochet hook, darning needles, and stitch markers in addition to the yarn and pattern. The only thing you provide is stuffing! For people who don’t want a kit, Stacey is starting a dog pattern club on the 1st of April.
Important links from today’s show:
- FreshStitches.com, Stacey’s website
- FreshStitches blog
- Stacey’s classes on Craftsy: Amigurumi Woodland Animals and Amigurumi Design Your Own Monster
- Stacey’s Etsy shop
- And the new Craftsy class Marly talked about today, Fair Isle Crochet: Demystifying Colorwork with Karen Whooley
You can also find Stacy on: Ravelry, Facebook, and Twitter.
And we won’t forget the Giveaway! Leave a comment below with Stacey’s keyword for your chance to win entry into Stacey’s Craftsy class!
Let’s give some love to our sponsors!
XRX Books, Knitter’s Magazine, STITCHES Expos
Craftsy.com/yarnthing
Indian Lake Artisans
Fiesta Yarns
Drew Emborsky
Bijou Basin Ranch
Buffalo Wool Co.
Green Mountain Spinnery
KnitCrate
I love Koala’s! They are adorable. Great show!
Two of my favorite designers in one spot! Doesn’t get much better than today. I haven’t laughed that hard in a while. Great show! I love koalas!!!!
I agree, koalas are adorable and so are the arigumi Stacey has designed. I made the penguin for a friend’s granddaughter and found it very easy to follow her pattern.
Loved the show Marly and Stacey! I am now dying to try amigarumi, maybe a koala should be my first project? Please keep having such interesting guests, Marly, you are the high point of my week.
Koalas are so cute. I had a stuffed koala when I was younger. My brother-in-law is from Australia and has probably seen his share.
Love Love Love the show! My favorite teddy bear when I was a little girl was a koala, good memories!
Love your show, I think a koala is so cute
Your animals are just too cute. This is even more of a reason to get through the learn how to crochet class I have on Craftsy. Maybe then I would know enough to do your class and crochet a koala.
I haven’t made the Koala yet, but I love Stacey’s designs. Great podcast Marly!
I LOVE Stacey and her awesome FreshStitches! She has tons or great designs like Kolas and her monsters… I have made a few of her designs and plan on making many more.
I have purchased Stacey’s class from Craftsy. I think it is called Woodland Animals. I don’t recall a Kola but I would love to make one.
I am a member of Stacey’s Kit Club! I love her designs and I would love to make a koala bear one day! Great podcast!
I sent you an email about winning the Webs prize, which you announced on this podcast. I wasn’t sure what info you needed from me. Maybe you haven’t read my email yet, but I didn’t want to miss out on the prize by not responding to you. I am grateful that you offer prizes on your podcasts. That is a real considerate thing to do for all of us listeners. Thanks again.
I’m just happy that we are not calling it a koala bear!
I had a stuffed koala as a child. I would love to make one for my daughter!
Awesome podcast!!! I love Stacey and everything she does!! Koalas are so cute and captivating!!
Thanks for another entertaining and inspiring podcast from two high energy ladies running the gamut from kits to koalas.