NatCroMo 2016, March 3: Stacy Vaka

Blog tour posts may contain affiliate links.

The Crochet Express National Crochet Month Blog Tour

Crochetville_Blog_Tour_728x90

Welcome to Crochetville’s fourth annual National Crochet Month (NatCroMo) blog tour, taking place each day of March 2016. Join us as we take a virtual tour on our passenger steam train, The Crochet Express, visiting crochet designers, crochet-friendly local yarn stores, and yarn companies, and offer some fun giveaways.

Today’s Posts: Stacy Vaka | Jocelyn Sass | Robyn Chachula | Interlacements | Daily Giveaway

Want to Chat about the Tour?

Part of the fun of taking a passenger steam train trip is talking with your fellow passengers. This year, we’re providing two locations where our passengers can get to know each other. We’d love to hear about your favorite things you’ve discovered on the tour and see photos of your current crochet projects. You’re invited to join us daily for virtual cocktails/appetizers and dinner. (We’ll be sharing links to some fabulous recipes!)

[button-blue url=”https://www.facebook.com/groups/nationalcrochetmonth/” target=”_blank” position=”center”]Facebook: Click Here[/button-blue] [button-green url=”http://www.crochetville.com/community/forum/469-the-crochet-express-crochetvilles-4th-annual-blog-tour/” target=”_blank” position=”center”]Crochetville: Click Here[/button-green]

Stacy Vaka, Crochet Kitten

Stacy Vaka wearing her Transformation Shawl

Crochetville is very proud to have designer Stacy Vaka with us today, March 3, as one of the featured designers on our 2016 Designer Blog Tour in honor of National Crochet Month (NatCroMo). If you’d like to know even more about Stacy, check out our post from last year’s blog tour.

About Stacy:

I learned the art of crochet from my aunt when I was 12 years old, and after a brief career as a veterinary technician, I became a stay-at-home mother when my daughter, Little Lovely, was born. This was no easy feat, as we were not financially prepared to live on one income, so Crochet Kitten has grown to allow me to contribute to the household and still be able to afford my crochet and belly dance habits.

Tell us about your favorite travel destination.

Anywhere but here. I love my hometown, but I have the wander lust that makes me want to seek out new places each year. It’s a big world and there’s so much to see! How could I only choose one favorite destination?

Tell us about a “dream” travel location that you’d like to visit one day.

Just one day? I can’t pick that, either. When my daughter is older, it’s my dream for our family to spend an entire summer in Europe or South America.

Do you visit yarn stores when traveling? If so, tell us about one of your favorite finds.

Yarn is one of my favorite souvenirs, especially when it is somehow connected to the locals. My favorite find was when we went to Hawaii. I was not expecting to find any “homegrown” yarn, so I wasn’t even looking for it. But one gift shop had yarn that was hand spun by one of the locals, and made from the hair of rabbits who were born and raised in Hawaii! It’s still sitting in my basement, waiting for the right project. I’m thinking it’s destined to become a swim cover.

Packing: Tell us about any crochet clothing or accessories you pack when traveling. Do you have any really cool packing tips to share?

My favorite travel tip actually comes from Robyn Chachula, who pointed out that motif projects are perfect for travel because each motif doesn’t take up much space and can be thrown in your day bag without any effort. Of course, then you have to keep track of the motifs, which I like to do with mason jars. Word to the wise, though: if you fly with mason jars, put them in your checked luggage. I once had a TSA agent try to “disarm” my carry-on crochet bag…

Tell us about any crochet projects you take with you when traveling: How many projects do you take? How do you decide which ones to take?

I usually try to take easy projects so I don’t forfeit the travel experience to having to figure out a complicated pattern. That’s another reason why motif projects are appealing: usually after two or three motifs, you can make them without having to consult the pattern.

Do you have any stories or anything else travel-related that you’d like to share with our blog tour readers?

I also like to take a crocheted cat along with me on trips, whom we call Traveling Kitten. We take photos of him at landmarks we visit, and I post them on my blog when we return.

Visit Stacy’s Site: NatCroMo Specials

All of my patterns will be buy 1, get 1 free during the month of March.

The Heaven Prayer Shawl pattern is also available FOR FREE on Stacy’s website.

A Few of Stacy’s Designs:

1. Valkyrie Bra, $6.00

This pattern uses a technique called crochet scale maille to add individual scales to create an armored look. It’s sized for all bust sizes, so now anyone can release their inner valkyrie!

2. Bavarian Hat & Scoodie Set, Free

Our Bavarian crochet in rows and in the round tutorials have been so popular that we decided it was high time we created a pattern that features those stitch patterns. So when our neighbor asked us to design a hooded scarf for her daughter, we knew just how we wanted it to look! A full photo tutorial for Bavarian crochet is also included.

3. Back-to-Nature Scarf, Free

This is a concept scarf heavily inspired by Marie Segares’ Temperature Scarf (this pattern was published with Marie’s permission). In my version, each day of the year is represented by two rows: one for the day’s high temperature, and one for the day’s low temperature and moon phase. I’m going to be working on it throughout 2016 and will be posting regular updates on my blog.