Marcy Smith, Editor of Interweave Crochet visited the Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird.
Marcy says that her career began as an academic, teaching at North Carolina State University, then proceeded to journalism, with a newspaper with a craft column. Interweave approached her when she left the paper, and she’s been there for seven years. She says, it was as if everything in her life had led up to this. Her first thing to do was attending TNNA (Marly says ‘Thrown to the wolves).
Marcy learned to crochet at age 8, her mother crochet aran style afghans. Mom crocheted on road-trips, if you can imagine. She says she put it aside and picked it up again. At one point, someone sent out a call for crochet authors. She said, Sure I can do that! and created The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Crochet Projects.
Marly asked Marcy if she’s noticed big changes in crochet, and Marcy says she admires how much Tunisian crochet has grown. One of the first issues that Marcy edited of Interweave Crochet included projects that combined knit and crochet. She seems to find reason to be excited about every issue though, sounds like the current excitement is for the birthday issue next spring.

Marcy Smith, Margaret Hubert and Marly at the Knit & Crochet 2015 show, in San Diego last month.
The year 2010 introduced Interweave Crochet: Accessories, and Interweave Crochet: Home special editions. Interweave Crochet focuses on intermediate patterns. Another publication Crochet Scene is more trendy items that Interweave also publishes. Marcy says that she will be editing Love of Crochet starting next month, which features more basic skilled patterns.
It was really interesting to hear what they look for in designs to publish and how they get submissions (sometimes they fall in love with a piece but have to put it on hold until it fits with the ‘story’ of an issue), how the photographers try to feature the design and what makes a great cover photo. Then there’s the whole digital vs paper copy discussion…
Interweave Crochet can be found at your local newsstands or at their website. If you missed hearing this live, it is still available as an archive: https://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/08/20/marcy-smith-editor-of-interweave-crochet or in iTunes.
My my my, dear Marly Bird. I haven’t heard anyone laugh so hard on a podcast ever before, and I listen to a LOT of podcasts! Thanks for an informative interview with Marcy Smith. What a wonderful opportunity to learn a bit about the process and motivations of the editor of Interweave Crochet! I never thought I would hear about goosing on the podcast, but I guess I did!! o_O hehehehehehehe!!
I have always loved Interweave Crochet and I do like how Marcy has made some interesting changes to the publication, particularly the shapes of the swatches for the yarn reviews. Thank you for the great work that you both do!
What an amazing show. I was so interested in hearing about the process of getting things published. I really hope to be the one you chose today because I wanted to have the opportunity to ask questions. And just a little FYI my little brother from the age 3 until he was about 15 went through a goosing stage. He was so annoying.
Thanks for a great show. It’s wonderful that crochet is so beautiful and versatile. Be careful with the goosing, though, it’ll make your face hurt from laughing so hard.
Lol the goosing fiasco was hilarious and I’m sure anyone who overheard this podcast (I listen to this podcast while I paint at work) was very confused! I really enjoyed this interview with Marcy and getting to hear about yet another side of the fiber arts industry. I love having paper copies too, and I’m always looking for new content to add to my collection though it’s not as big as Marly’s apparently!
Great show…all the laughing Marly did over goosing really made my day! It was so good to get to know more about Marcy. Thank you for all you both do for our community!!!!
I love Interweave Crochet! It is the only magazine that I subscribe to. It would be a goosing type of experience if I won the Crochet Scene magazine. Gosh you two cracked me up at the end of the interview!! Too darn funny by half.
Another awesome guest and podcast. So much fun hearing you goofing around about goosing. Thanks for the smiles.
Hello! It was interesting to hear how the magazine was put together from the choosing of the designers to working up digital editions . It seemed like you had fun laughing , goosing and goofing around! 🙂
Enjoyed listening about the different publications and how you choose designs for issues not sure how goosing fits into procedd
Thanks for the great interview! I loved hearing about the process of Interweave Crochet. I had never heard the word goosing before this podcast, but now I know. 🙂
Who knew long distance goosing could be so much fun! Very interesting to hear an in-depth account of what goes on behind the scenes. And I agree that I can pick up a book in the craft store and label it Interweave before I check. =)
I was sue you were saying goofing! Reminds me of a joke: Guy was outraged. He said I’ve been geesed! Another guy said don’t you mean goosed? He answered no, i can count! That’s goosing.
Goosing. Oh, my. I’m still learning something every day.
hotknitter on rav
I was listening to your podcast as I was driving down the road. Your laughter was contagious! I had this big grin on my face as drove down the road. Love the goofing around 🙂 Yes, I learned how to crochet from my Grandmother when I was eight years of age. Hope to be the lucky recipient. Thank you for your podcast.
The goosing was fun. This was one of my favorite episodes, I loved hearing about the selection process for Interweave Crochet.
I have a feeling there is a lot of goosing in Marcy’s office! I loved listening to this podcast, Marcy has my dream job. I studied journalism and fashion in college 10 years ago and ended up working in a completely different field. I always love hearing the ins and outs in any industry, but this was particularly fascinating.
I don’t know if I have ever heard folks laugh as hard as you two did over goosing. This was hilarious. The podcast was incredibly educational. I loved the background info on the publication side.
Who would’ve ever thought we’d be talking about goosing on your podcast?! It’s always fun and wonderful listening to your podcasts, Marly! And so interesting to hear about the publishing side from Marcy! Thanks, Marly!
You girls do have a good time when talking about goosing!!!!Hilarious!!! Oh, also, thanks for the podcast!!Cant wait for the next issue of ” Love of Crochet”.
I thoroughly enjoyed this podcast – especially all of the laughter! I haven’t heard the word goosing in a very long time – I was chuckling too!
Goosing? Never heard of that word before. Loved the show, I was laughing along with you guys. Such fun
Marley I hope you feel better soon. It hurts me everytime you cough. You have to get better soon so maybe you can do some goosing at Stitches Texas! The interview was very interesting about how they put together the magazine. I’m going to do some searching for the knitting and crocheting patterns. Normally my crochet is limited to a crochet chain for a cast on or for an edge.
I really enjoyed the interview with Marcy, learning more about the publishing aspect of our periodicals. I quilt crocheting when I developed a tennis elbow and this conversation really made me wish I could do it again! Hmmm…maybe I could try it again and see..? 🙂
And, considering the laughter and fun, I truly think there was more to the goosing event that meets the, er, ear!
Can I just say how much I adore Marcy? She is just so cool! I think she should adopt me! 😉 Loved the podcast… loved the story about the goosing! I laughed so hard!!! Thanks for the amazing podcast!!!
I really enjoyed hearing from an editor at Interweave Press and/or F & W Media. Goosing or goofing made it such a fun, happy episode. Thanks, Marly.
It was really interesting to hear some of the inner workings at Interweave Crochet. Marly must have really enjoyed the interview with Marcy. She was laughing so hard that I thought someone was goosing her!
On a gray, stormy Michigan day, I was laughing my head off along with you over the goosing incident!!!! Your podcast is my time to knit and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning even more about the fiber world. Thanks for all your efforts!!!
I generally listen to Marly’s podcast in order to learn about knitting or crocheting…..but on this episode I learned about vocabulary – especially the word “goosing”. Thanks for making me smile
You were cackling like a gaggle of geese goosing a nearby knitter! I loved the podcast.