Learn A New Crochet Pattern from Tamara Kelly - Happy Time Craftcast 27

Craftonians!

Welcome back to the blog, where I get to share all the amazing things happening on Joleen’s Happy Time Craft Cast! This week, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the super talented and wonderfully creative Tamara Kelly from Moogly, and let me tell you, it was a total blast!

If you’ve been following the world of crochet for a while, chances are you’ve heard of Moogly. It’s a treasure trove of free crochet patterns, tutorials, and resources—basically, the ultimate hangout for yarn lovers. Tamara started Moogly with a simple but powerful goal: to make crochet accessible to everyone. Her passion for crafting and sharing her knowledge is truly inspiring!

How Moogly Was Born 

During the episode, Tamara gave us the backstory on how Moogly came to life (spoiler alert: it’s amazing!). Like many of us, she started crocheting without much extra money to spend on fancy patterns or yarns. Relying on free patterns herself, she knew how important it was to keep crochet open and accessible to everyone. And that’s exactly what she did! With over 500 (yes, 500!) free patterns on her site, she’s become a crochet fairy godmother for so many crafters around the world.

The Famous Octopus 🐙

Okay, can we talk about the adorable Moogly octopus? I’ve always loved that cute little logo, and it turns out it has a super fun story behind it! When Tamara was first starting out, she didn’t want to use her own face in her branding (hello, we’ve all been there, right?). So, she used a picture of one of her crochet projects—a Kraken hat, complete with tentacles—and boom, the octopus was born. Fast forward a few years, and that quirky, tentacled mascot has stuck around as a symbol of creativity and fun!

Inventing New Stitches 

Tamara has a real knack for thinking outside the box, and one of my favorite parts of the episode was when she introduced her latest design, the Queen’s Crossbody Bag. Not only is it stylish, but she also developed a brand new stitch pattern just for this project! (Seriously, how cool is that?) She’s always pushing the boundaries of what crochet can do, and it’s so inspiring to see her invent new techniques and try new things.

Crochet vs. Knitting – The Great Debate! 

We also touched on the classic debate: crochet vs. knitting! Tamara and I both agreed that while each craft has its own charm, crochet gives you that sense of freedom to just dive in and create without worrying too much about following the rules. Knitting is fabulous too (don’t get me wrong!), but it definitely requires more precision. And let’s be honest—crochet is just so forgiving when you need to frog a row or two!

What’s Next for Moogly? 

We couldn’t end the episode without getting a sneak peek into what’s coming next for Moogly! Tamara gave us the scoop on the upcoming 2025 crochet-along, and let me tell you, it sounds like it’s going to be epic. With 24 brand-new patterns on the way, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a crochet newbie or a seasoned yarn wizard.

Fun & Friendship 

Of course, we wrapped up with my favorite part: a fun little Q&A where Tamara revealed her favorite word (ambition!), her love for BLT sandwiches, and what it means to her to be an artist. It was such a joy getting to chat with someone who truly loves what she does, and it’s clear that Tamara’s heart is all about bringing joy and creativity into people’s lives. I mean, what’s better than that?!

Final Thoughts 

Overall, this episode was packed with so much warmth, creativity, and crafty goodness. If you haven’t already, you need to head over to Moogly and check out all of Tamara’s incredible work. Whether you’re into making cozy blankets, cute amigurumi, or just want to learn something new, she’s got you covered.

For those who missed the episode, don’t worry! You can catch the replay below and listen in on all the fun. You won’t want to miss this one—it's full of creative inspiration, laughs, and crochet goodness! Watch the replay below!

Thanks for tuning in to another fabulous episode of Joleen's Happy Time Craft Cast! Make sure to join us next week for another amazing guest (hint: it’s going to be magical ✨), and in the meantime, keep crafting and spreading the happy vibes!

Craft on, friends! 🎉
Joleen

Show Notes:

In this episode of Joleen's Happy Time Craft Cast, I sit down with the fabulous Tamara Kelly from Moogly, and we dive into all things crochet! Tamara shares her amazing journey from hobbyist to crochet superstar, spilling the tea on how she built her blog and why she's so passionate about making crochet accessible to everyone. We chat about her new Queen's Crossbody Bag, the magic of inventing new stitches, and even have a little fun discussing our favorite sounds (spoiler alert: baby giggles win!). If you love crafting, creativity, and a bit of laughter, you won't want to miss this fun, cozy episode!

🌟Guest Bio:
Tamara Kelly is the designer and creative mind behind Moogly! Moogly is world-famous for fresh, modern, and approachable crochet designs – as well as a little knitting and crafting here and there. Tamara is a Yarnspirations Stitch Ambassador, the author of Quick Crochet for the Home, and Past President of the Crochet Guild of America. On Moogly, you’ll find new free patterns every month, top quality video tutorials, giveaways, and more.

🌟Follow Tamara on social:

🌟 Episode Chapters:

  • [0:00] Introduction & Guest Introduction
  • [0:57] The Origins of Moogly & Free Patterns
  • [6:07] The Story Behind the Moogly Octopus Logo
  • [10:47] Crochet vs. Knitting
  • [15:33] New Patterns & Stitch Techniques – Introduction of the Queen's Crossbody Bag and Tamara’s inventive stitch techniques
  • [18:17] Yarn Scraps & Charity Donations – Tips on using yarn scraps and donating to schools or charities.
  • [25:13] Upcoming Crochet-Along for 2025 
  • [28:50] Joleen's Craft Retreats & Big Raven Farm Updates – Joleen shares updates on her crafting retreats, including new offerings for 2025.
  • [32:30] Fun Q&A with Tamara – Joleen’s 10 rapid-fire questions for Tamara, covering favorite words, sounds, and more.
  • [55:55] Final Thoughts & Episode Wrap-Up – Closing remarks, future guest announcement, and thank you to Tamara.

🌟 Quotes from the Episode:

  • "The only limit to what you can create in crochet is your imagination. I love discovering new ways to make something unique and inspiring." - Tamara Kelly
  • "Being an artist gives me the freedom to try new things, embrace failure, and find joy in the creative process—whether or not everyone loves it." - Tamara Kelly

🌟 Links & Resources:

 

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