Etsy Bestseller interview – Croby Patterns

What is the best thing when you are pregnant, and you are a crocheter? Crochet baby clothes! <3

OMG, I have found such a cute Etsy shop; I fell in love with all of these little clothes and booties. I can’t wait to make something adorable for my little one who will come in December.

Today I will introduce Doroteja, she is Slovenian like me, but now she lives in Austria. The funny thing is, I didn’t know she is Slovenian until she wrote back to me in our language. It was a pleasant surprise.

Doroteja is the founder of the CrobyPatterns Etsy shop. There you will find 75 fascinating patterns, from baby booties, rompers, hats, sweaters, dresses, pants, even toys, adult patterns, and blankets. 

I love making baby clothes; they are so adorable, and so little, you are finished in no time. Is there anything better?

Read Doroteja’s interview below, and get to know her interesting story.

1. How did it all begin? Tell us your story.

Everything started as a hobby. Many start early when they are still kids. They are usually crocheting and knitting their whole lives. Many learn the craft in school or from their grandmas or mothers. Well, my story is a little bit different. I’ve always loved fibers, yarn, and beautifully threaded fabric in particular. I’ve started sewing clothes when I was six years old, first for my dolls, then for myself. I don’t even know how I was allowed to use a sewing machine at that age. I have so many questions, mom and dad! But I was fearless. I remember I would draw sketches of clothes and imagined myself being a fashion designer one day.

Then things changed. I decided to become a teacher. If I would have to pick again, I would probably pick the same. I think being a teacher and working with kids is a huge privilege. You see them grow and learn. Plus, I love learning new things and sharing my knowledge with others.

In my last year of university, when I was still finishing my master’s degree, my long time partner, after a finished degree in computer science, got a job in Switzerland. We packed our bags and moved to a small town in Austria right next to the Swiss border. Not knowing many people there and spending most of the time behind the computer, I’ve desperately needed a new hobby. A good friend of mine just started crocheting herself and encouraged me to try it too. I did, and soon after that, the first Etsy shop was open. Since then, I grow my following on Instagram, Youtube, and my blog. And I also opened pattern shops on Ravelry and Love Crafts. I love my job so much. Who would have thought that fashion designing, playing with fibers, and teaching others would be such a big part of my life? I could not dream of a better job. I am beyond grateful.

2. What inspires you?

Nature, colors, fibers, new crafts that I could potentially implement into my work. I love surrounding myself with beautiful things and inspiring people. I love Pinterest and Instagram. Those two are my go-to places when I need a boost of inspiration. It’s where I keep my inspiration and mood boards.

I also love seeing when people post their work made with my crochet patterns. That is really inspiring. It tells you that your work really matters, and that means a lot. 

3. How does your every day look like?

Every day is different. It depends on the project. But I love to start my mornings with a big cup of tea, answering emails and comments. Unfortunately, I spend most of my time behind the computer, editing, and working on admin stuff these days. Crocheting and playing with yarn is sadly taking a smaller portion of my time at the moment. But I do appreciate that time so much more. Crocheting is for me a sort of meditation. Something that is very calming to me and recharges my batteries.

4. What is your favorite yarn?

I love cotton, specifically Aran weight yarn. That is my go-to yarn for most of my projects. It is easy to work with, pretty inexpensive, and you can find it in any color you like. However, I am slowly transitioning to more sustainable and nature-friendly brands and fibers. I think as a fiber art designer, it is essential to understand how the yarn is made and what is your role in this whole system. When recommending the yarn in your patterns or online, you influence people and encourage them to buy that specific yarn. And I think we as designers should be more mindful about that too. And since our goal in the fiber art community is to create timeless pieces, the materials we use should be chosen with great care. I can’t wait to see how my yarn collection will look like in a couple of years.

5. Do you have any advice for other sellers?

If you are here for a long ride, please know that overnight success does not exist. There is a tremendous amount of hard work, an endless amount of sleepless nights, and daily not knowing “what am I doing?” feeling behind every small business. But please, don’t let all of that take away your courage, determination and wish to share something beautiful with other people. You are here for a reason. Be consistent, work hard and, most importantly, take care of your well being.

I am so glad I got to know Doroteja. It is so inspiring to see that someone from our little country managed to become an Etsy Bestseller doing what she loves most.

I couldn’t show all of her adorable patterns here, so to see the rest, you must check out her store here.

You can also follow Croby Patterns on Instagram here, on Facebook here, and YouTube here.

Pin this interview for later here:

I hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I enjoyed writing it. Please, share with me in the comments which one of the Croby Patterns you like best.

I think I will start with red booties from the Red heart pattern bundle.

Thank you.

Have a beautiful day, and enjoy crocheting.

And like Doroteja says: “Everything is better with a bunch of yarn, crochet hooks, stitch markers, and a cup of coffee.” 🙂

Katja