When the World Isn’t Thinking About Crochet

This past week has been a lot. Theft, the state of the world, and the ripple effect that’s hitting small businesses like mine. It’s impossible to ignore. People aren’t thinking about buying crochet patterns right now. And you know what? That makes sense.

When things feel unstable, survival comes first. Security, paying the bills, just getting through the day. Crochet, something that’s usually a source of comfort, becomes a lower priority, at least in terms of spending. And as someone who’s built a business selling patterns, I feel that shift in a big way.

Why I Started Selling Patterns

This has never just been about crochet for me. Selling patterns has been a way to contribute to my family. groceries, bills, helping my kids with tuition. It’s been work, but work I love. Or at least, I did love it before I started feeling so much pressure.

Pressure to design. To produce. To keep things fresh. To sell enough to make it worth it. That kind of weight can squeeze the joy right out of something that used to feel effortless.

So I’ve been asking myself: Is it time to change what I’m doing?

Letting Go or Leaning In?

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what truly matters to me in this business. Is it designing the next must-have pattern? Or is it sharing what I’ve learned over years of selling, writing, and navigating the ups and downs of this industry? Because if there’s one thing I do have, it’s experience.

I’ve been through it all: markets, theft, social media changes, the highs of a hit pattern and the lows of crickets chirping after a launch. I know what works, what doesn’t, and how to make selling crochet sustainable. And if I don’t share that knowledge, am I gatekeeping?

Maybe now is the time to shift my focus. To let go of the pressure to create for sale and lean into sharing what I know. To help other crocheters who want to make this a business but aren’t sure where to start.

What’s Next?

I don’t have all the answers yet, but I know I’m not alone in this feeling. If you’ve ever reached a crossroads in your creative work, whether it’s crochet or something else, what did you do? Did you lean in, let go, or find a new path altogether?

Let’s talk. Join the discussion in my Fat Lady Crochet VIP Lounge on Facebook:
🔗 Facebook Group: Fat Lady Crochet VIP Lounge

If nothing else, crochet has always been about connection and that’s something I never want to lose. 💛