Charm and Strange Crochet

Disclaimer: I had to work really, really hard to write this post without a lot of self-pity. Some may have bled through anyway. I mostly apologize if it did. When I re-launched my business as Charm and Strange Crochet in 2022, my head was buzzing with business advice from a highly successful crochet business owner. Pam Grice of Crochetpreneur went viral overnight back in 2013 and had to hire dozens of crocheters to help her get her orders out. Now she makes high-six figures teaching people how to be successful in their own crochet businesses, whether they focus on selling products like I do or on writing patterns. So she MUST be right. A huge piece of her advice was to "find your niche." When I first started selling as Kate's Crochets, I sold basically anything I felt like. If I made it for myself or as a gift and I liked it, I'd sell it. Cat hats, nail polish cozies (lol who actually needs that?), crocheted flowers, baby hats and booties, adult hats and scarves, han...

I have another cat-themed release scheduled for October 1st at the South Mitten's Kittens Rescue craft fair ! Introducing... CAT HEAD PLUSHIES!!! Aren't these just too cute? I am SO obsessed with these! Every time I finish one, I show my husband and we both squeal in our "it's-a-cute-kitty" voices. Cat head plushies will be debuting at the SMKR craft fair in Milford, MI on October 1st, but don't fret - these will be added to my permanent collection! As soon as I made one of them, I started having visions of creating custom cat heads based on customer photos. Wouldn't that be a lovely way to honor the memory of a beloved lost cat, or commemorate the adoption of a new one? Keep an eye out on my Etsy shop , social media , and here on the blog for the online release of cat heads! Cat head plushies will retail for $25 in person. As with the cat bookmarks, 30% of the profits from all sales made on October 1st (in-person AND online) will benefit the South Mitten...

My first event of the season, on October 1st, is a fundraiser for South Mitten's Kittens Rescue . Okay, how cute is that name?? I'm a sucker for rhymes. And I'm also a sucker for themes. My mati bookmarks were so successful at Opa Fest back in July that I decided to run with the cat theme and make some cat bookmarks! Aren't these darling? The pattern is by Justina Kacprzak on Ravelry . The pattern is free, so if you're interested in making one of your own, go for it! They work up super quickly - about 15 minutes each once I got a hang of the pattern. The best part about small patterns like this is that when I make 25 of them in a row, I end up memorizing the pattern which means I can work super quickly! These sweet bookmarks come in six colors: black, white, grey, orange, teddy-bear-brown, and orange-brown.  Cat bookmarks will sell for $4 each at the South Mitten's Kittens craft fair. They will also be available online after the event, so if you're not able...

Wow, if summer 2022 Kate thought she was busy, she'd have to sit down before hearing about what summer 2023 had in store for her! For starters: my husband Mark and I bought our first house! We closed the very weekend of Opa Fest, and moved in the following weekend. Yes - while crocheting up a storm in preparation for my first two markets ever, I was also in the process of packing and decluttering. To say it was a stressful time would be a pretty massive understatement! Embed from Getty Images stock clipart image used rather than a photo because I don't want to get doxxed with a photo of my real house ;) When we bought the house, it seemed like it was in great shape and we were looking forward to replacing carpets, painting rooms - the fun decorating parts of homeownership. Instead, we found out that the basement was in need of waterproofing, which led to all kinds of plumbing and electrical projects. And while we thought the roof had about 5 years left on it, when we got a few ...

This past weekend, June 10th, was the very first time Charm and Strange Crochet was present at an art fair. It was such a smashing success - not just the event as a whole with a great turnout, but for me personally as a business owner! In the weeks leading up to the Berkley Art Bash , I was getting really  nervous. What if I sell out of everything? That would be amazing, except that I have the Opa! Fest next weekend - and there's NO WAY I can replenish all of my inventory in just one week. So sure, selling out of everything would be amazing for that day, but I'd be screwed and embarrassed a week later when I show up to a 3-day event with maybe 25 items. Or, the alternative - what if nobody buys anything, and I'm left there trying not to cry all day while everyone walks past ignoring me? What if people think I'm overpriced and insult me to my face about it? Well, thankfully, neither of those extremes happened. I sold enough - enough to be happy with my day's income,...