A couple years ago, I found myself wrestling with a question that carried more weight than I expected: When I reach the point where my crochet business could fully support my family, would that be selfish?
I kept circling back to the idea of contribution. I always had jobs with meaning that I felt genuinely contributed to society. That sense of purpose is deeply fulfilling, and I never want to lose it.
So the doubt crept in: Would designing crochet patterns truly “make a difference”? Or would it feel like self-indulgence—a personal dream that doesn’t actually serve others? The thought left me with an uneasy, almost guilty feeling.
But then I had a conversation with a friend (thank you, KR!) that shifted my perspective entirely. And it’s a perspective I want to share, because if you’ve ever wondered whether turning your creative passion into a business is worthwhile—or worried that it’s somehow less important than traditional careers—this is for you.
The False Belief: “Creative Work Isn’t a Contribution”
We live in a society that often measures contribution by certain benchmarks:
- Are you providing essential services?
- Are you helping a company grow?
- Are you producing tangible goods or solutions that people “need”?
Creative work—like writing crochet patterns, painting, or designing jewelry—doesn’t always fit neatly into those categories. It can be easy to dismiss it as “extra” or “frivolous.”
But here’s the truth: creative work is essential.
It may not keep the lights on in a hospital or pave a new road in a city, but it keeps something else alive—something just as vital: joy, connection, rest, and self-expression.
Without those, society would crumble just as quickly.
How Crochet Patterns Contribute to Society
When I stopped to reflect on what my patterns really do for people, the “selfish” label disappeared. My crochet business isn’t about me—it’s about creating tools, designs, and inspiration that enrich other people’s lives. Here’s how:
1. Crochet Supports Mental Health and Relaxation
Crochet is more than a hobby—it’s a proven stress reliever. Study after study has shown that crafting reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and even boosts serotonin levels.
By creating crochet patterns, I provide projects that:
- Give people a sense of calm after long workdays.
- Help them carve out “me time” when the house is finally quiet at night.
- Encourage mindfulness by focusing on simple, repetitive motions.
When someone picks up one of my patterns, they aren’t just making a plushie. They’re giving themselves permission to rest, breathe, and enjoy a moment of creativity.
2. Crochet Creates Keepsakes That Carry Meaning
Many of my customers purchase patterns specifically to make gifts:
- A giraffe lovey for a newborn niece.
- A handmade teddy bear for a toddler’s birthday.
- A bunny plushie for Easter baskets.
These aren’t just items. They’re heirlooms—treasures infused with love, care, and intention. Years later, children will still be snuggling the toys that began as one of my designs. That’s an impact that ripples through families.
3. Crochet Patterns Fuel Small Business Owners
Some of my customers aren’t hobbyists—they’re fellow entrepreneurs. They buy my patterns, make the finished pieces, and sell them at craft markets, on Etsy, or through their own websites.
For them, my patterns aren’t just projects. They’re inventory. They’re opportunities to grow revenue, build a brand, and support their own families.
In other words, my small business helps sustain other small businesses.
4. Crochet Strengthens Community
Crafting has always been a community-builder. People swap tips, share progress photos, and gift finished projects to loved ones. By publishing patterns, I become part of that chain of connection.
Every time someone picks up one of my designs, I’m indirectly helping them:
- Join crochet circles (online and in person).
- Share finished makes on social media with pride.
- Teach others by passing on the skills they’ve learned.
That’s community impact.
Why Calling It “Selfish” Is So Misleading
I realized my guilt came from seeing crochet as something “extra”—a leisure activity without broader consequences. But that’s the wrong lens.
Imagine if everyone stopped producing creative content. No books. No movies. No music. No art. No handmade crafts. Life would become purely functional—a grind of obligations without beauty, joy, or self-expression.
Crochet patterns may not cure diseases, but they cure something else: burnout. They give people the mental rest that helps them keep going in other important areas of life.
And when makers turn my patterns into gifts, family keepsakes, or small business products, the contribution extends far beyond me.
From Self-Doubt to Empowerment
Once I reframed my thinking, the idea of running my crochet business full-time went from feeling selfish to feeling like a privilege.
No, I wouldn’t be “taking away” from society by leaving my day job. I’d simply be contributing in a different way—one that still matters.
- Instead of writing news stories, I’d be writing patterns.
- Instead of uplifting communities with words, I’d be uplifting individuals with creativity.
- Instead of providing organizations with visibility, I’d be providing makers with joy.
And that is just as valid.
Real-Life Examples of Impact
To prove this point to myself, I started looking at real examples of how my designs have reached people:
- A customer emailed me to say her daughter can’t fall asleep without the bunny lovey she made from my pattern.
- Another customer tagged me on Instagram to show how she’d built her craft fair booth around animals from my designs—and how sales from that event helped her pay bills.
- A beginner crocheter messaged me that my patterns gave her the confidence to keep going after she nearly gave up.
These aren’t hypothetical stories. They’re evidence that crochet patterns change lives in quiet but powerful ways.
What Society Gains When Creatives Go Full-Time
When I get the privilege of supporting my family through my crochet business, here’s what society actually gains—not loses:
- More creative resources – I’d have the capacity to publish more designs, tutorials, and videos for makers.
- More small-business support – My patterns would empower even more sellers to grow their handmade shops.
- More joy in homes – Every plushie, lovey, or blanket made from my designs would brighten a family’s life.
- More inspiration – I’d be able to share the journey, proving to other creatives that their work matters too.
Far from selfish, that sounds like a contribution worth celebrating.
Why Your Creative Work Matters Too
If you’re reading this and you’ve ever dismissed your own creative dreams as selfish, I want you to hear this: you matter.
Your art matters. Your writing matters. Your designs, your music, your photographs, your crafts—they all enrich the world in ways you can’t always measure.
Maybe you help someone heal. Maybe you give someone a reason to smile. Maybe you inspire someone else to take the leap into their own creativity.
Whatever it looks like, your work is not selfish. It’s generous. It’s needed.
Final Thoughts
So, would it be selfish if I ever reached the point of designing crochet patterns full-time? Absolutely not.
Instead, it would allow me to pour even more of myself into work that helps others find joy, creativity, and peace. My designs already have a place in nurseries, craft fairs, Etsy shops, and bedtime routines around the world. That’s not selfish—that’s contribution.
The peace of mind this perspective gave me is priceless. And I hope it gives you the same encouragement: chasing your creative dreams is not indulgent—it’s impactful.
About the Author
Marcy Gardner is the crochet designer behind Simply Hooked, where she creates beginner-friendly amigurumi patterns that help makers of all skill levels create adorable, giftable plushies.
With over 13 years of crochet experience, Marcy has taught hundreds of crocheters through her patterns, kits, and online courses.
