🧶 My Crochet Journey: From Hobby Hunter to Business Owner

Back in 2015, I was on the hunt for a hobby. I didn’t know what I was looking for exactly—I just knew I wanted something creative and fulfilling to do with my hands and my time.

I started out painting on canvases. Then I tried making wooden home décor pieces, and even dabbled in string art. While each hobby had its charm, none of them really stuck. That is… until I picked up a crochet hook.

I had tried knitting before, but honestly, all I ever made were scarves. The idea of knitting anything more complicated than that felt impossible. But something about crochet just felt different, so I gave it a try.

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☁️ My Very First Project (Spoiler: It Was a Struggle)

Like many new crocheters, I thought, “A blanket sounds like a great first project!”

Let’s just say… it was a wonky, lopsided mess. I didn’t get very far with it, and the ends were far from straight. But even though that blanket didn’t turn out how I hoped, I didn’t give up.

Because I realized—I was enjoying it. Even when it was frustrating, even when my stitches weren’t perfect, I loved the process.

So I started small: washcloths, face scrubbies, little things I could finish quickly and build confidence with. As I made more and more, I began sharing my projects on my personal Facebook page—just little updates on my new hobby.

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🌟 From Sharing to Selling

To my surprise, people started commenting that I should sell the things I was making. At first, I brushed it off—but eventually, I thought, why not?

I started a business Facebook page and began posting my creations there. I’d also share in local mom groups when I could, and before I knew it, I was doing local markets and craft shows. I was still learning, still experimenting, but people were supporting me—and that gave me the confidence to keep going.

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🐧 The Penguin That Started It All

One night while watching a Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game (Go Pens!), I had the wild idea to design my own penguin plushie pattern from scratch.

It didn’t exactly go as planned (okay, it turned out pretty rough), but I still have that penguin to this day. It’s a sweet little reminder of how far I’ve come—and how important it is to just start, even if it’s messy.

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🧵 Finding My Niche

In the early years, I was making all sorts of things: baby shoes, hats, blankets, scarves, placemats, even some leftover string art! I took custom orders from locals, and my projects were all over the place.

It wasn’t until I discovered the crochet community on Instagram that I realized most crochet businesses had a niche—something they were known for. That’s when everything clicked.

I had made all kinds of items for my kids over the years, but nothing brought them more joy than my plushies. The way their faces lit up when I handed them a new handmade toy… that feeling was everything. And seeing that same joy on other kids’ faces? That sealed the deal.

That’s when I decided: crochet plushies were my passion and my path.

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🦄 The Birth of Blythe the Unicorn

Once I found my niche, I dipped my toes into pattern designing. My very first design was Blythe the Unicorn, and launching her felt like a huge milestone.

From there, things started falling into place. I officially registered my business as Jenn’s Crafty Creations, LLC in 2021, and decided to offer something new to the crochet world: handmade felt eyes.

I had used safety eyes and embroidered details before, but I wanted something cuter, softer, and more expressive. My felt eyes were a hit—beyond what I imagined!

One of the first big creators to place an order with me was Ashley from A Crafty Concept—and I was shocked (and totally fangirling). That moment reminded me just how far this little dream of mine had come.

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🧡 Grateful for This Journey

Since then, Jenn’s Crafty Creations has continued to grow in ways I never expected. I’ve launched patterns, sold felt eyes all over the world, and met some of the most incredible people—many of whom have become dear friends through the crochet community online.

I’m so thankful for every single follower, customer, pattern tester, and fellow maker who has supported me along the way. Also, I’m so incredibly thankful for my family. Their love, encouragement and support—whether its helping at markets, watching the kids while I prep for launches or just cheering me on behind the scenes—have meant the wold to me. I truly couldn’t have built this without them.

What started as a hobby hunt has turned into something so much bigger than I ever imagined—and I’m just getting started.

Thanks for being here and being part of this journey. 💕

With love and yarn,

Jenn

Jenn’s Crafty Creations, LLC