Creating Smiles Stitch by Stitch

Updated: August 1, 2024

*Alice Tietsort showcasing her great work at the Wild August Market in Harlingen.*

Selene Olguin
LFN

In fourth grade, Alice Tietsort was introduced to crocheting by an assistant teacher in a class that focused mainly on crafts. Alice’s mom, Kelly had stated, “The teaching assistant was really great at crocheting and the school had a whole class called ‘handy crafts’ so they would teach kids how to work with their hands, and Alice really liked that part of it.” This is where Alice’s journey in crocheting had begun, although the outcome would be a bit of a surprise. Since Alice was still young at the time, she didn’t pick it up again until much later on. “I think Alice was a little too young in 4th grade, she would have been around nine then, and maybe some of the coordination wasn’t quite there, so I think it was probably more frustrating.” Kelly had added. Alice had also told a story about how she tried to use the skills she was taught to make something for a friend. “I had finally in the end learned how to chain and I had also learned a little stitch. I have a friend, I babysit her, and she had just turned two and I was trying to crochet her a blanket but all I knew was the chain, so I just made a bunch of chains and tried to lay it out and make a blanket. It didn’t work and then after that I kinda stopped, because I couldn’t do it.”

It wasn’t until October last year when Alice was eleven, that she had decided to once again pick up a crochet hook and some yarn and begin to work with it again. Alice’s mom had said, “She just took to it. She developed really quickly.” Eventually, that same year in December, they began to sell Alice’s crafts at the market.When asked about her thoughts while she was learning to crochet, Alice had said, “When I took time to learn crochet, I was thinking that it would just be a side hobby, I wouldn’t do it that much. I didn’t think to start a whole business. But then soon I enjoyed doing it more.” Alice had expressed her passion for crocheting and seeing a project finished, but above all she loved putting smiles on people’s faces. Alice had said, “A little kid, probably about five, looked at my table and reached for it with his hand, and he was so cute.” She had also added that not only did they buy something then, but that they had come back and got some more. Alice stated, “It just makes me so happy that their family likes the stuff that I make and that it makes them happy.” Alice says that she really enjoys making stuffed animals as well as baby toys and gets most of her patterns and inspirations from library books and videos online.

Alice had explained that her first time selling had been a daunting experience, “My first market, I was so nervous. I was worried that I wouldn’t be prepared. It was really hard speaking to people and telling them about stuff.” Although she also added, “I do think that I have improved since my first market, because I have learned how to advertise and I have gotten better at talking to and engaging people.” Alice had said that her biggest inspirations were her mom and family in general for supporting her and a friend named Hilarie, who also crochets and sells at markets. Alice’s goal is to eventually put her merchandise into other stores as well as making custom orders online. In closing, Alice’s mom added, “My husband and I are really proud of her and all the hard work that she’s put in.”

To see more of Alice’s work you can check out her Instagram at Junebugalice. Also Alice mentions one of her big inspirations being Hilarie from Graeskyemporium on Instagram.