From Hobby to Business: Emily Makes Crochet on Joy & Balance

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 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 can make your feed feel curated and cohesive.

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.

Want the pattern? Head to Emily Makes Crochet on Instagram or her shop to grab your copy and start planning your color story.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.