Lauren Espy is the owner and designer behind A Menagerie of Stitches, a shop dedicated to creating crocheted amigurumi. She is also the author of the best-selling books Whimsical Stitches and Crochet Cafe. Her love for amigurumi (and yarn!) all started after her grandma gifted her a set of crochet hooks and a book about amigurumi one Christmas. After teaching herself how to crochet back in 2008, Lauren quickly began designing her own patterns and has created a style that is uniquely her own. In 2015 she finally opened her Etsy shop and now sells finished items as well as crochet patterns. Lauren lives in Tennessee with her husband Carl and their two pups, Thunder and Storm.