Stitched by Stephanie in Geneva makes old art of crochet new again - Shaw Local

The hand that holds the hook works the yarn, looping slip knots into designs.

Hook, slip, loop, close. Hook, slip, loop, close.

At Stitched by Stephanie, at 227 S. Third St., Suite 105, in the Berry House in Geneva, Stephanie Longoria teaches crochet, the same skill she learned from her grandmother at 8 years old.

“I have classes with a maximum of 10 students who participate,” Longoria, 22, said. “I’ve taught Girl Scout troops and birthday parties. … I’ve taught over 60 students. … I have taught young boys how to crochet. It’s not only a girl hobby; it’s for anybody and everybody.”

Stephanie Longoria stand with her grandmother, Ramona Ortiz, the one who first taught her the craft of crochet when she was 8 years old. Longoria now has a crochet business in Geneva called Stitches by Stephanie. (Photo provided by Stephanie Longoria )

And as a person with ADHD, Longoria said crochet helps slow down her mind so she can focus on one thing at a time.

“I believe I’m naturally gifted, along with ADHD, which gives me a vision of how to create designs and patterns, different animals and creations,” Longoria said.

Her business started six years ago in 2020 on Instagram during the COVID-19 pandemic while she was still attending York High School in Elmhurst.

“I was going to local farmer markets and advertising on Instagram,” Longoria said.

“Last year, we were selected for the Batavia Boardwalk Shops,” Longoria said. “We became a hit on the Boardwalk Shops from May to December. And that really gave me an insight of what retail space looks like.”

Batavia MainStreet operates the Batavia Boardwalk Shops, a business incubator program that supports small retailers and entrepreneurs.

Kayla Galles, 10, of St. Charles, wears a crocheted sweater she made after learning the craft from Stephanie Longoria at her shop, Stitches by Stephanie. (Photo provided by Kristi Galles)

Longoria also makes what she calls plushies – crocheted animals like chickens and squids – that she sells at her shop.

“Every plushie is handmade and comes with its own adoption certificate, so you’re taking home a little animal with its own personality,” Longoria said.

One of her students, Kayla Galles, 10, of St. Charles, became a student after seeing her stall at the Batavia Boardwalk. What made her want to learn crochet?

“Just seeing the cool things you can make,” Kayla said. “With all of my projects and animals, I get better and better each time.”

Kayla has made plushies, a sweater and is currently working on a headphone cover.

Her mother, Kristi Galles, doesn’t crochet, but supports her daughter’s enthusiasm.

“It’s a unique skill. I thought it was so cool. It’s different. Not every kid knows how to do it. … She absolutely loves it,” ,” Galles said, adding her younger daughter Kelsey, 7, has also taken two classes so far.

The trouble with crochet – if you can call it trouble – is enthusiasts start collecting yarn.

Kayla “has hundreds of balls of yarn,” Galles said.

Longoria appears to be on the cutting edge of a national resurgence of the yarn craft of crocheting, according to a 2024 survey by the Craft Industry Alliance. The Craft Yarn Council reports that 50 million people knit, crochet and craft with yarn. The Crochet Guild of America designated Sept. 12 as International Crochet Day and March as crochet month.

More information about Stitched by Stephanie is available at stitchedbystephaniellc.store.