Spotlight: Salena Baca, Crochet Educator and Author

Salena Baca turned her hobby and passion into a business. She founded the American Crochet Association to teach people the basics of crochet. And she inspires crocheters with the crochet patterns and projects she designs for her books and patterns.

Let’s start at the beginning! When and how did you first learn to crochet?

This question comes up all the time—it’s usually the first thing people ask me! I’ve told this story a lot over the years, but it never gets old.

I picked up my first hook when I was about five years old, and honestly, I’ve never put it down. Crochet was actually part of the curriculum in my kindergarten class, and once I learned, it just became part of who I am.

Crochet has clearly been a lifelong passion for you. How has it influenced your life and career?

I learned to crochet so young that it just became something I did naturally in my free time. As I got older, became a mom, and moved all over the world with my family, it was the one constant that always stuck with me. So when the time was right, turning my hobby into a side hustle just felt like the natural next step.

You founded the American Crochet Association in 2015. What inspired you to create it, and how has it grown since then?

Crochet has been an obsession of mine since I was little, but let me tell you—it didn’t come easy. I had to work hard to learn the basics, and like most crocheters, I was pretty much self-taught.

That’s exactly why I started the American Crochet Association (ACA). I wanted to share the foundation I learned so others could have a better start—because let’s be real, it shouldn’t take decades to figure out the basics by accident!

At the ACA, I’ve put everything that actually works into courses and workshops that are straightforward and approachable.

Whether you’re just learning, building your skills, or ready to turn your hobby into a business, I’ve got something to help you get there.

You’ve written multiple books on crochet, including your newest, Crochet Granny Squares. What can readers expect from this book?

Granny squares are hands-down one of the most iconic themes in crochet. Every few years, they make a big comeback in fashion and design, putting a fresh spotlight on our craft. They’re also one of the first things most people learn to make, but let’s be honest—granny squares are way more versatile than just blankets!

I absolutely love working with granny squares, so this collection is all about showing how this one classic motif can be transformed into stylish accessories and wearables. Inside, you’ll find tips to get started, step-by-step written and photo tutorials to guide you through the first few rounds, and plenty of techniques for joining motifs effortlessly.

This book isn’t just a source of inspiration—it’s designed to be educational and approachable, making it easy for anyone to explore the possibilities of granny squares!

Your books focus on making crochet accessible and frustration-free. What’s your approach to teaching crochet in a way that builds confidence and skill?

I always start with the absolute basics—how to hold your yarn and hook, understanding stitch anatomy, and learning to count stitches. These foundational skills make everything else in crochet so much easier, from new stitches to advanced techniques.

Most people come to crochet because they want to make a specific project, and I love that! But here’s the thing—before you can cook a full roast dinner, you need to learn how to chop an onion. Crochet is the same way! Once you’ve got the fundamentals down, tackling any project becomes way less frustrating and a lot more fun.

When you design, where do you find your inspiration? Do you start with a vision, a technique, or does it evolve as you go?

I definitely have a process to bring my ideas to life, but inspiration? That comes from everywhere. Crochet isn’t just a hobby for me—it’s my career, my lifestyle, and honestly, always on my mind. I’m constantly thinking about what I can create with yarn.

After years of practice, I’ve reached the point where I can picture a finished project before I even pick up my hook. That makes it so much easier to see what’s possible and turn an idea into something real.

Can you walk us through the creative process behind one of your favorite designs? How does an idea turn into a finished pattern?

Inspiration comes from all kinds of places—sometimes it’s the yarn, sometimes a stitch, and sometimes I just have a specific project in mind that I need to make.

When it comes to deciding what my next published collection will be, I take a more strategic approach. I think about what people are interested in, what’s missing in the marketplace, and where my expertise fits in.

Take my Crochet Granny Square collection, for example. Granny square-inspired projects have always been a favorite of mine, and some of my most popular designs start with a simple granny square. Whenever I’m brainstorming new ideas or just need something fun to work on, granny squares are usually my go-to. One day, I realized I had an entire collection of granny square patterns, so I pitched the idea to my publisher—and luckily, they loved it too!

What’s your favorite part of the design process? And what’s the most challenging?

For me, it’s all about creating designs that are approachable and uncomplicated. I put a lot of time and effort into figuring out the best way to work a project in the most efficient way possible—even if that means frogging a bunch of times! The goal is always to make sure that people can trust me with their yarn and their time, and that they’ll enjoy the whole process from start to finish.

The hardest part? Earning the trust of the crochet community. It’s not something that happens overnight, but it’s so important to me that every experience with my patterns is a positive one. That way, people feel confident and excited to keep coming back for more.

Do you prefer complex, challenging projects that require focus, or do you enjoy meditative, rhythmic stitching?

Anyone who knows me knows I’m all about simplicity. I want crochet to fit into my life, not take me away from it. Whether I’m crocheting in public while chatting with friends, or working on a project while listening to a podcast or catching up on a new TV show, I want my crochet to be something that complements my life—not distracts from it.

You’ve worked hard to create a structured approach to learning crochet. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone feeling stuck or frustrated in their crochet journey?

I always start with the absolute basics: how to hold your yarn and hook, learning the foundation stitches, and using stitch markers. It might sound simple, but you’d be surprised—people come to me all the time, saying they’ve been crocheting for decades, but the solution often comes down to understanding what actually counts as a stitch.

When we get the basics down, we build a universal understanding of the crochet language, and that’s what unlocks the full potential of what people can do with crochet.

Let’s talk about your creative space! How do you keep your yarn and supplies organized? Any storage tips or tricks?

When I’m working on a big collection, like Crochet Granny Squares, it’s chaotic. I’ve got yarn everywhere—lots of it—and during the process, there are WIPs scattered around, frogged projects, yarn scraps, and boxes piled up.

My house? It turns into a crochet crime scene! My desk, office, couch, closet, and even the bedroom are all part of the chaos. But here’s the thing: once I wrap up a collection, everything gets organized. All my finished projects are neatly tucked away, WIPs are either done or frogged, and any leftover yarn is wound up, donated, or stored.

As for storage tips, I like clear bins with lids. They keep everything dust-free, but the best part is I can still see exactly what I’ve got. It helps me stay organized without losing track of anything!

What’s your stance on yarn scraps—save them for future projects, or clear them out?

I absolutely love scraps!

I keep balls of scrap yarn around to make swatches, and I often use the pretty scraps as decoration in yarn bowls.

A friend of mine made this incredible throw using just the double crochet stitch and scrap yarn, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Every color was just a few yards long, each completely different in texture, weight, and color, so the whole thing ended up looking like an art piece. What’s even cooler is that every yarn join was a knot, with a few inches of tail ends on display, highlighting the uniqueness of each yarn. It was such a beautiful, intentional mix. I’d love to create something like that one day!

How do you balance creativity with productivity? Do you schedule time for designing, or do you work when inspiration strikes?

Years ago, I heard that Stephen King used time blocking to work through his novels, and I’ve been using the same concept ever since. The idea is simple: I set aside specific blocks of time for important tasks and commit to focusing solely on that task, with no distractions.

It’s the complete opposite of multitasking! This method is especially helpful when I need to let my creativity flow or when I’ve got a project that needs to be finished—having that dedicated time really helps me stay on track.

Do you work on multiple projects at once, or do you prefer to focus on one thing at a time?

Definitely one thing at a time. If I put a project down to start another one, it’s likely going to be frogged later on.

When you have time to crochet just for yourself, what kinds of projects do you make?

When I have time to crochet just for myself, what I make can vary—it’s always a bit different.

Since I teach and write patterns, there’s often a blend of fun and work in what I do. What I create for fun usually has a teaching element, which is why my hobby and profession go hand in hand so perfectly.

I don’t really need a break from work because I’m always doing exactly what I love to do!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best piece of advice I’ve ever received? Create a life you don’t need a vacation from.

It’s stuck with me because it really resonates. How do I make that happen? Time blocking. It’s especially crucial for me since I work from home and have a partner, a teenager, and a dog who all need my time and attention. Time blocking helps me balance it all so I can make time for what matters, without feeling overwhelmed.

Where can people find your work, learn from you, and get involved with the American Crochet Association?

You can find my work, learn from me, and get involved with the American Crochet Association over at AmericanCrochetAssociation.blog. That’s where you’ll find all my professional courses, the crochet membership to build your knowledge, my YouTube channel, a free online community to connect with other crocheters, and dozens of my crochet patterns available to view for free.

My goal is to ensure that crochet is passed down through the generations in better hands than we found it, so if you love crochet, let’s work together to reach those goals!

Here are more books by Salena Baca: