Crochet entrepreneurs

Stacey Trock is a hugely popular crochet designer, known for her bright and cheery creations under the banner FreshStitches. “I started FreshStitches in 2008 when I finished school,” says Stacey. “I thought, ‘hmm… what do I really like doing?’ I’ve always loved crocheting and stuffed animals, and I’m a personality that’s well suited for running a business. So I decided to give it a try, and I’ve never looked back!”

Stacey has been crocheting since she was five years old, when she was taught by her mother. “As a pre-teen, I discovered that there were crochet books out there... and
that you could learn from them! I’ve been experimenting, inventing and learning ever since.” With a fresh, recognisable design aesthetic, Stacey is “inspired by cute! When I’m browsing around in stores or online, I always find myself gravitating to adorableness: whether it’s illustration, a Japanese t-shirt, stuffed animal or anything else! And when it comes to designing a pattern, I’m also intently focused on the ease of the written instructions for the customer.”
Stacey’s business now encompasses amigurumi patterns, kits, books (Cuddly Crochet, Crocheted Softies and Modern Baby Crochet) and her popular kit club. “When folks sign up for my Kit Club, they receive an exclusive FreshStitches kit in the mail every other month,” Stacey explains. “It contains yarn, a printed pattern, eyes and a goodie… it’s a really fun bundle! Sometimes the kit contains a brand new pattern, other times, an instruction on a new technique. Once the kits are shipped, the members post their progress in the Ravelry group – it’s like being part of a CAL where the materials come to you! The club has grown larger than my wildest expectations – and it now takes me over two weeks to wind, package and ship the materials. But I love it!” Six years on, Stacey is still enjoying the challenges of running her own business and making a living through design. “I love the creative freedom and doing all of the different bits. I’ve learned a lot about photography, graphic design, marketing and more – because I do that all myself. Of course, I also get to play with lots of yarn! I have complete control over my schedule, which is fantastic. If I need more time off (for times when I have
family visiting or am away teaching), I can take on fewer projects. It’s a flexibility that’s rare in most jobs.” Stacey lives in Minneapolis, USA with her husband and is expecting a baby in January. “The thing I love about my job is that I can do it anywhere… Business is going amazingly well, I enjoy what I do every day, and I just want it to keep going on like that!”

www.freshstitches.com