If you love listening to real makers talk about real life—from carpool lines to crochet pattern launches—this episode of the Simply Hooked crochet podcast is for you. I sat down with Emily of Emily Makes Crochet, a Baton Rouge–based maker and mom of two who picked up her first hook around age 12 and never looked back. In our conversation, Emily shares how crochet became her creative therapy, how Instagram helped her discover a supportive maker community, and what it took to publish her very first crochet pattern: the Daisy Pop Blanket (yes, you’re going to want it).
Crochet as Therapy: Why Making Stitches Feels So Good
One of the most powerful themes in our conversation was the idea that crochet is therapy—a steady, soothing rhythm that brings calm, creativity, and accomplishment.
● Repetitive stitches can support focus and relaxation—many crocheters describe the flow as grounding and meditative.
● Completing a project delivers a sense of progress (and a tangible result) even in the busiest seasons of life.
● Choosing colors and textures you love adds a layer of joy that keeps you coming back to the hook.
🎧 Listen to the episode on the podcast. Choose your listening platform here.
Meet Emily Makes Crochet: Baton Rouge Roots & a Family of Makers
Emily grew up watching her mom crochet with a church group (how sweet is that?), and the two still trade ideas, yarns, and color palettes today. That early exposure created a creative throughline: blankets first, then plushies, then more sophisticated projects. Her branding—soft, cohesive, and unapologetically pink—reflects her personal style and the life she’s building with her two girls.
● Started crocheting around age 11–12
● Lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
● Loves blankets, florals, and bold, happy color combinations
● Built a consistent Instagram aesthetic that feels warm and recognizable
If you’re building your own maker brand, there’s a lesson right here: consistency + authenticity = memorable. Even a simple, repeated photo backdrop (Emily painted her own canvas!) can make your feed feel curated and cohesive.
The Daisy Pop Blanket Pattern: A Floral, Flexible, Beginner-Friendly Design
Big news: Emily’s first crochet blanket pattern, the Daisy Pop Blanket, officially launched. It’s designed with blanket yarn in mind but is flexible enough to adapt to any yarn weight—from plush chenille to worsted and beyond. Think floral motifs, on-brand color play, and a comfy throw you’ll want to cuddle all year long.
Why crocheters will love the Daisy Pop Blanket:
● Adaptable yarn weights: Designed for blanket yarn (hello, Bernat Blanket / Premier Basix Chenille vibes), but easily customized with your stash.
● Beginner-friendly flow: Straightforward stitches with high visual payoff—great for confident beginners and soothing for seasoned makers.
● Color-happy design: A floral theme that invites playful color palettes, from neutrals to pastels to bold, modern combos.
● On-brand aesthetic: It looks like Emily—cozy, cheerful, and fresh.
Want the pattern? Head to Emily Makes Crochet on Instagram or her shop to grab your copy and start planning your color story.
Yarn Talk: Why Blanket Yarn Wins (and When to Switch It Up)
Let’s talk yarn selection—because the right fiber can make your project more enjoyable and more durable.
Emily’s go-tos for cozy projects:
● Bernat Blanket – plush, gentle on hands, perfect for snuggly throws and plushies
● Premier Basix Chenille – a similar feel with excellent color options
Why makers love blanket yarn for throws:
● Comfortable to work with: Less hand strain than some cottons or tightly-spun worsteds.
● Quick results: Bigger stitches = faster blankets = motivation stays high.
● Kid-approved texture: Soft, cloudlike vibes that kids (and adults) love.
Want a lighter weight or more drape? Try worsted acrylics or blends for year-round throws, and bump your hook size to keep the fabric supple. The Daisy Pop Blanket plays nicely with both approaches—choose your yarn, check your gauge, and stitch your happy.
Maker to Business: How Emily Turned Crochet Into Income
Emily’s journey from hobby crocheter to small business owner mirrors what many of us experience—one small step at a time.
The turning point:
Spring 2022. She started posting makes on Instagram—especially loveys and plushies—right when demand for handmade gifts spiked. Orders rolled in. Confidence grew. A business was born.
Smart early moves you can copy:
● Sell seasonally relevant items: Bunnies at Easter, cozy throws in fall, giftable plushies for the holidays.
● Offer multiple price points: From keychains to blankets to custom orders, a range helps more shoppers say yes.
● Capture demand on Instagram: Share WIPs, color polls, and restock drops to keep your audience warm and ready to buy.
Craft Fairs & Markets: Inventory, Variety, and Sanity
Emily has done everything from sweet school fairs to a three-day market (yes, she survived—and had fun!). Her approach to inventory is refreshingly honest: make what brings you joy, and don’t feel forced into mass-producing duplicates if it drains you.
Market tips from the trenches:
● Aim for variety: A table of unique items can be just as compelling as rows of duplicates.
● Mix sizes and price points: Pair “grab-and-go” keychains with showstopper blankets.
● Pace yourself: One market a year can be plenty depending on your season of life.
● Watch what sells: Kids tugging grandparents toward plushies? That’s data.
Pricing Handmade Crochet: Confidence, Quality, and the Middle Ground
Pricing remains one of the toughest parts of running a crochet business. Emily shared a mindset that will help you price with integrity:
● Experience matters: Years of practice show in tension, shaping, finishing, and durability—and customers notice.
● Avoid the race to the bottom: Pricing too low hurts you and fellow makers. Aim for the sustainable middle ground.
● Qualify custom orders: Use a quick custom order form to gather info and signal commitment before diving into long DMs.
● Invoice first, color chat second: Once payment is in, finalize details; protect your time and energy.
If you need a simple system, create a Google Form for custom requests and connect it to your email list or website. It’s a small shift that saves hours.
Instagram, Community, and the Power of Encouragement
Emily credits the Instagram crochet community for much of her momentum. Positive comments, color love, and saves (“I’m keeping this for later!”) fueled her confidence to launch a pattern and keep creating—even when time was short.
How to grow with community:
● Post consistently (not perfectly): Life happens. Show up when you can.
● Share behind-the-scenes: WIPs, color tests, and “maker life” moments build connection.
● Use story polls: Let your audience help pick colors or borders—they’ll be invested in the result.
● Celebrate others: Pattern tests, shout-outs, and genuine comments create win-win visibility.
Real Life Balance: Motherhood, Markets, and Making Time to Make
Makers wear a lot of hats—often literally in the school carpool line. Emily keeps it real: some days balance is beautiful, other days it’s a beautiful chaos. She leans on nap windows, early evenings after bedtime, and help from family a couple of streets away.
Simple rhythms that help:
● Weekend power hours: One focused session can move a blanket miles forward.
● Deadline triage: Testing a pattern? Reserve a few evenings and protect them.
● Let some things slide: The dishes can wait; your mental health matters.
● Say fewer yeses: One holiday pop-up may serve you better than four.
If you’re juggling a crochet side hustle with work and parenting, remember: consistency beats intensity. A few rows a day becomes a throw in a few weeks.
Design & Branding: From Canva Learning Curves to Pattern Layout Wins
Publishing a crochet pattern takes more than great stitches; it takes layout, proofing, and clean visuals. Emily drafted by hand, then shifted into Canva for the final design—like many indie designers do.
Pattern-maker tips you can use:
● Draft on paper first: It’s faster to think with a pen, then polish digitally.
● Keep pages scannable: Short paragraphs, clear headings, and stitch notes up front.
● Photos matter: Good lighting, consistent backdrops, and true-to-life color help makers succeed (and leave great reviews).
● Brand it: Fonts, colors, and motifs that match your feed make your pattern instantly recognizable.
Passive Income for Makers: Why Patterns Multiply Your Impact
Selling crochet patterns is one of the best ways to turn your skills into passive income. You create once, then sell repeatedly, helping makers everywhere stitch their version of your design.
Why patterns scale:
● No shipping line: Digital downloads deliver instantly.
● Unlimited inventory: You never “sell out” of a PDF.
● Global reach: Etsy + your website = discoverability + brand control.
● Community flywheel: Every finished object shared on social media markets your design for you.
Launching on Etsy alongside your website helps new crocheters discover you via search while keeping loyal fans purchasing on your home base. Yes, fees exist—visibility is the tradeoff. Many designers do both.
Favorite Yarns, Coffee Orders, and Rapid-Fire Fun
Because we love maker life details:
● Favorite yarns: Bernat Blanket and Premier Basix Chenille (soft on the hands, rich colors)
● Best “proud project” moment: Layered crochet throws by Jen Tyler (The Floral Hook)—intricate, educational, and stunning
● Night owl or early bird? Night owl (same, Emily, same)
● At-home brew: Mr. Coffee with Chobani Pumpkin Spice creamer—seasonal magic
● Starbucks treat: Medium roast with a splash of vanilla cream + pumps of brown sugar and pumpkin spice (extra hot)
Maker Mindset: Redefining Success by Joy
Emily’s definition of success isn’t a revenue target; it’s a joy target. She’s learned to look for hope in chaotic seasons, savor small wins, and keep moving the ball “over the net” one stitch, one row, one post at a time. That mindset invites longevity—exactly what you need to build a sustainable, soul-nourishing crochet business.
Final Thoughts: Creativity Fits Every Season—Even Carpool Season
Emily’s story embodies what so many makers know: creativity can fit inside any season of life. From nap-time rows to late-night finishing, from first markets to first pattern launches, progress happens one stitch at a time. And with a community cheering you on, it’s a lot more fun.
If today’s conversation inspired you to try a new blanket, test a bold color combo, or finally list that pattern you’ve been sketching in a notebook, consider this your gentle push to begin.
● Explore Emily Makes Crochet for the Daisy Pop Blanket.
● Share your WIPs and tag your maker friends.
● Keep your eyes on joy, and the results will follow.
