Kentucky Fried Stitches brings handmade crochet creations to Farmers’ Market

Content originally published by Morgan Urbankski in The Owensboro Times, August 2026. Story sponsored by Independence Bank. 

What started as a hobby has grown into a business built around creativity, custom designs, and handcrafted crochet creations.

Kentucky Fried Stitches, owned by Crystal Benton, was established in 2024 after she rediscovered her love for crocheting and began making handmade items for family and friends.

“As a sports fan with a love for gnomes, I began making sports-themed gnomes for home décor,” Benton said. “When people started asking if they could purchase them, I realized I had found a unique niche.”

The business officially launched on Etsy in late 2025 before expanding into local craft shows and markets earlier this year.

Today, customers can find a variety of handmade crochet items at Benton’s booth, including sports and seasonal gnomes, whimsical plushies, farmhouse décor, kitchen essentials, and other one-of-a-kind gifts.

“My signature creations are my handmade sports gnomes and seasonal gnomes, which can be customized for favorite teams, holidays, and special occasions,” she said. “These pieces are where my love of sports, home décor, and creativity come together.”

Custom orders have become one of Benton’s favorite parts of the business. She said she enjoys collaborating with customers to create handmade pieces they won’t find anywhere else.

“I enjoy working with people to bring their ideas to life and creating something they can’t find in a big-box store,” Benton said.

This year marked Benton’s first season as a vendor at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market after years of supporting the market as a shopper.

She said joining the market felt like a natural next step as the business continued to grow.

“It’s more than just a place to sell products – it’s an opportunity to connect with people, support fellow small businesses, and be a part of something that celebrates local talent and entrepreneurship,” she said.

Benton said she enjoys experimenting with new ideas and listening to customer suggestions, so visitors can often find new creations and seasonal offerings throughout the year.

“If my creations make someone laugh, smile, or feel a little closer to home, then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do,” Benton said.

Kentucky Fried Stitches can be found on Facebook, where customers can learn more about the business and place custom orders.