Most of us here on Lettuce Craft know the crochet master @storerboughtcreation, whether from her amazing mosaic crochet blankets in the Fiber & Textile category or from the popular Nerd Games Craftalong. I asked this prolific LC member more about her projects, her inspiration, and, well, herself!
OK, first off, what is is the store-y (ha) behind your screen name? I have to admit that before this interview I always read it as “store bought” creations, but there’s a subtle difference. Please enlighten us!
When trying to come up with a name for myself as I was beginning to write crochet patterns and create a website, I struggled to think of a good name. My maiden name is Lyon, so I tried to think of fun names that weren’t already taken around that. While talking to my mom on the phone one day, she was like, “Why not do Storer Bought. You know… your last name makes it sound a lot like Store Bought!” I tacked on Creations, and my name was born! I did have to drop off the final S in my name when signing up for Lettuce Craft as it’s just one letter too long, but at least I got in most of it 
You are clearly a crochet master now, but how did you get started?
Oh my goodness. Where to start? My maternal great grandmother crocheted, my paternal great grandmother crocheted, and my paternal grandmother crocheted. I got various gifts from them over the years, such as handmade Strawberry Shortcake dolls, various blankets, sweaters, Kewpie dolls. in outfits and with blankets… and those awesome items are only the crocheted ones I received. Because of the amazing gifts I was given, I wanted to learn how to crochet so very much.
From the ages of 2.5 to 8, I lived in Louisiana (on an Air Force Base near Shreveport), and we would drive every summer from Louisiana to Seattle, WA to visit family. We’d make various stops to visit friends and family along the way. Every year at the age of 5, 6, 7, and 8, each of my grandmas would try to teach me how to crochet. I failed miserably. When I moved back to the lower 48 from a 3 year stint in the Fairbanks, AK area, I tried learning again. I failed at the age of 11. I did learn how to knit that year though! I failed to learn crochet at the age of 14 when I attempted to learn again. I finally gave up and figured I would just be content with knowing how to knit.
Fast forward to 12 years later. I knit a poncho for my MIL as it was really cold where she was at the time, and her post polio made it difficult for her to put on a coat. We were visiting her, and I needed to sew up a seam and weave in ends to finish it off, but I didn’t have a craft needle with me. I went to Joanns to find one, and they had none on the shelves, except I noticed there was an “I Taught Myself Crochet!” book with hooks and a few notions included… including the craft needle I needed. I figured I would buy the kit, finish the poncho, and attempt to learn to crochet AGAIN. And wouldn’t you know it, five minutes after sitting down with that book, crochet FINALLY clicked, and I’ve been addicted ever since 
Your patterns are so fun and unique. How do you choose them?
On occasion I find yarn that just screams at me that it wants to be made into something specific, and so I find inspiration from that. But mostly I find inspiration for most of my projects in various crochet related Facebook groups I’m in, or through hours and hours of scrolling through Pinterest. My latest obsession has been mosaic crochet. A lady had posted she’d just released her new pattern in one of the groups I was part of, and it was a mosaic project. I was instantly hooked (ha! See what I did there?). I choose projects that I find visually pleasing and that make me happy, because that’s what crafting is all about for me 
On a related note, you often get to make patterns before they are released. How do you get the leg up?
After I made my second Sholach blanket, Abi, an amazing mosaic designer and creator of the Sholach pattern, put up a post in her Facebook group asking if anyone would like to test a dinosaur mosaic blanket. I signed up and she chose me as one of her testers. She has been keeping me supplied in amazing mosaic patterns to test ever since. The hardest part is having to wait to share photos until a pattern is released. 
You have mad skills in crochet, but that’s not your only craft! What other crafty endeavors do you love?
I love pyrography. I’ve only been doing wood burning for, oh geez, I guess it’s been two years now. I haven’t burned nearly as often as I would like to, but I’d love to burn more. I also love to do counted cross stitch, and on occasion I love to do crafty projects with plastic canvas.
Check out her Lettuce Craft Cross Stitch pattern here!
What is the most challenging project you have worked on, crochet or otherwise?
My ASL ABC blanket was one of my most challenging projects. I designed the charts from scratch and worked them up as I designed each one. I hadn’t heard of graphgans before and didn’t know it was a thing. I’ve learned quite a few things since I designed that blanket and would probably do it a little different now, but I loved the challenge. Of course, the biggest challenge with that blanket was weaving in all the ends in time to submit the blanket to the county fair. It took me over 20 hours to weave in all the ends. It ended up winning second place in the fair.
What is your favorite project that you have posted in the Fiber & Textile Category?
My second Sholach blanket I mentioned above is my favorite crochet project I’ve made, but my other favorite is the Rainbow Lion I cross stitched for my dad for Father’s Day one year. I love color, and there is certainly a lot of color in this piece!
What is your favorite project that someone else has posted in the Fiber & Textile Category?
Maybe I’m more than a little biased here, but @roler came to visit me right before the pandemic started, and I taught her how to crochet! She had been wanting to learn how to make amis for a while, and Cheetoh the Garden Eel is the first thing she made while she was visiting me. She has made so many amazing crocheted creations since, and it makes me happy to share my crochet obsession with her. There are soooooo many amazing creations posted in the Fiber & Textile category. It was hard to choose just one. Everyone in this community is so amazing!
Thank you so much for being such an awesome part of Lettuce Craft @storerboughtcreation!! Can’t wait to see what awesome projects you whip up next!
