As we approach 11 years in the crochet business world with Made with a Twist and Crochetpreneur, I’ve had the privilege of helping thousands of crocheters turn their passion into profitable ventures. Today, I’m sharing some valuable behind-the-scenes secrets—crochet business ideas that will help you build a successful crochet business of your own.
Some people thrive and stay, and some people struggle and leave. And so our goal is to continue to help people thrive and stay in the [crochet] industry.
-Pam Grice, the Crochetpreneur
Crochet Business Ideas Learned from Years in the Industry
In running my own successful crochet business, as well as working with clients, I have learned some things. I’m going to share some of those crochet business ideas with you today. You may have heard some of these insights in other places. However, some of them are not talked about in the industry.
Now, I would like to share with you some behind the scenes secrets of thousands of makers’ experiences in starting a profitable crochet business. So stick around—keep reading right here, catch the podcast, or watch the video below—as I share 12 crochet business ideas to build a successful business that actually makes you money. 👇
Ideas for Growing a Successful Crochet Business
1. Not everyone will like you.
In creative industries, there’s a spectrum of mindsets: some creators don’t care about others’ opinions, while others are deeply affected by rejection, such as unsubscribes, low engagement, or lack of purchases. It’s natural to hope that people will love your work as much as you do, but this expectation isn’t realistic.
As a crochet business owner, it’s vital to develop resilience and focus on serving your niche audience authentically. Rejections—whether unsubscribes or unresponsiveness—are a normal part of attracting the right customers while repelling those who aren’t a fit. Instead of taking it personally, stay aligned with your values and message.
The right people will appreciate you and stick around. It’s important not to let negative feedback or silence discourage you. Those truly interested will engage, and your business will thrive by serving the audience it’s meant for. Authenticity attracts loyalty, so embrace this process confidently.
2. Your neuroses will be challenged.
Building a business is as much a journey of personal growth as it is about creating profit. Along the way, your insecurities, fears, and even neuroses will surface, reflecting areas where you need to grow. Embrace this process as part of your entrepreneurial journey.
It’s crucial to surround yourself with a strong support system, whether through authentic friendships in your industry or professional guidance from a therapist or business coach. Sharing your struggles and celebrations with a supportive community can make the challenges more manageable. Personal growth requires resilience, integrity, or external support to navigate the inevitable self-doubt and fears.
If you’re looking for a community, consider joining spaces like the Crochet Business Chat Facebook group, where you can connect with like-minded individuals. Remember, as you face these challenges, you’re not alone, and building your support system will empower you to thrive both personally and professionally.
3. Tuck your ends like your product is going to a baby gorilla.
Attention to detail is what sets professionals apart, and this principle applies to every aspect of your work. Whether it’s crocheting or creating digital products, the quality of your finishing touches matters. When tucking in ends, imagine your product being handled by a baby gorilla—ensure it’s secure and durable by weaving it tightly, not just slipping it under a few strands.
The same meticulousness applies to maintaining consistent tension in your stitches and ensuring the overall craftsmanship is impeccable. For designers, this extends to digital products—your PDFs should be polished, easy to follow, and look professional, not hastily assembled. Investing time in perfecting these details elevates the integrity and longevity of your work, helping it stand out.
Excellence in finishing touches reflects your dedication and professionalism, ultimately strengthening your brand and ensuring your products leave a lasting impression on customers.
4. You can’t sell to everyone.
One of the most important ideas in building a successful crochet business is understanding that you can’t sell to everyone. When starting out, many business owners create products they enjoy and hope to appeal to a wide audience. However, this approach can backfire, as trying to be everything to everyone often makes you invisible in a crowded marketplace.
Instead, focus on defining your niche and targeting a specific group of ideal customers. Specializing allows you to stand out, attract attention, and position yourself as the go-to expert in your field. People are drawn to businesses that feel unique, high-quality, and tailored to their needs—qualities that also justify higher pricing.
Avoid overwhelming potential buyers with an unfocused product range. By narrowing your focus and aligning your products and marketing with your ideal customers, you can create a more profitable and impactful business. For more help with defining your niche, grab my free worksheet, below. 👇
nail your niche with this worksheet
Free Worksheet for Creating Your Niche
One of the first steps in building your business is creating a niche so you can get clear on your market, your messaging, and your most profitable product line. Nail your niche with this helpful worksheet to walk you through the details.
5. No one is obligated to buy from you.
As a business owner, it’s crucial to understand that no one is obligated to buy from you, not even friends or family. A common mistake is expecting immediate support from loved ones, only to face disappointment and strain relationships when they don’t purchase or engage with your products.
It’s important to recognize that if someone isn’t part of your ideal customer base, they likely won’t have a genuine interest in what you’re offering, and that’s okay. Expecting or pressuring them to buy can harm both your personal relationships and professional reputation. Instead, focus on building connections with those who truly value your products or services.
When friends or family show curiosity, engage with enthusiasm and appreciation, but don’t impose expectations. Avoid the pitfalls of entitlement, often seen in situations like MLM schemes, where relationships can become transactional. By maintaining healthy boundaries, you can preserve relationships and grow your business authentically.
6. Your Why and let it include serving your customers.
Understanding your “why” is fundamental when starting a business. Ask yourself: Why are you passionate about this venture? Often, the initial motivation might be personal, like contributing to family finances, saving for vacations, or supporting extracurricular activities for your kids.
While these goals are valid and necessary, for long-term success, your business also needs to focus on serving your customers. Your customers will sense when your intentions are solely self-serving, but they’ll also recognize when you genuinely care about addressing their needs and creating value for them.
Listening to your customers’ feedback, identifying their struggles, and designing products or services that bring joy and solve their pain points are essential for fostering loyalty and driving sales. By balancing your personal goals with a genuine commitment to serving others, you’ll not only achieve your objectives but also create a sustainable and thriving business that resonates with your audience.
Download my Ideal Customer Worksheet to get more insight into who your ideal customer is and what they need from you. 👇
know your Ideal Customer
Free Checklist to Know Your Customers
Understand your ideal customers, identify their needs, and create crochet products that they can’t get enough of! Sign up for my email newsletter and get access to this free checklist.
7. Desperate energy repels sales.
When your business focus becomes solely about covering your bills or validating your worth as a maker, it can lead to a desperate energy that harms your sales efforts. That anxiety—feeling a surge of adrenaline when you post a product or nervously waiting for someone to buy—can be palpable and repels potential customers.
People sense desperation, whether it’s through overly aggressive sales tactics at craft fairs or frantic social media posts, and it discourages them from engaging. Instead, confidence attracts customers. Cultivate a positive mindset by trusting the value of what you offer, sharing it authentically, and focusing on its benefits without undue pressure.
Set realistic goals for your business, recognizing that success takes time, marketing effort, and visibility. Avoid unrealistic expectations, like opening an Etsy shop and expecting instant sales. Celebrate small victories along the way to build confidence and rewire your mindset for sustainable success.
8. Step into your role as CEO of a successful crochet business.
When running a business, it’s essential to step into your role as the CEO and take full ownership of your work. Too often, we downplay the significance of our businesses by referring to them as “little crochet businesses” or minimizing their potential.
But as a business owner, it’s important to speak with confidence about what you’re doing. Embrace your role as a leader, someone who knows their craft and their ideal customer. Don’t defer decisions to others or ask for validation from random people online. Instead, trust your expertise and knowledge, make informed decisions, and stand proudly behind your products.
This mindset is crucial for growing your business and establishing your authority in your niche. By learning leadership skills, investing in market research, and surrounding yourself with a supportive community, you’ll build the confidence to lead your business with authority and passion.
9. Consistency over perfection.
Striving for perfection can lead to procrastination and prevent you from moving forward in your business. It can cause feelings of stuckness and frustration, ultimately sabotaging your success. While it’s important to aim for high-level skills and professionalism, perfectionism often becomes a barrier.
The key is to focus on consistency instead. Taking consistent action, even if it’s not perfect, will lead to progress and improvement over time. I’ve experienced this firsthand—despite feeling sick and dealing with distractions, I committed to being consistent and showing up today.
Perfection might not always be achievable, but consistency can help you push through challenges and keep moving forward. So, instead of waiting for everything to be flawless, embrace the idea that “good enough” is often the best step forward. Consistency is what ultimately builds success in the long run.
10. Build a community, not just a customer base.
Building a community, not just a customer base, is key to long-term business success. It’s easy to fall into the trap of treating customers as mere transaction sources, but true engagement comes from fostering relationships.
People are craving connection, especially in a time when many are staying home more. Instead of simply selling to them, focus on creating a sense of belonging and offering value beyond just your products. This can be achieved by engaging in meaningful conversations, understanding their struggles, and asking for feedback.
By building a community, you cultivate loyal advocates for your brand who feel personally connected to your mission, rather than just being consumers. This connection strengthens your business’s purpose and adds depth to your relationship with your audience. So, remember that when you focus on serving your community, you’re creating something far more valuable than just a customer base.
11. There is no “finish line” in business.
In business, there’s no finish line—it’s an ongoing journey of personal and business growth. While it’s natural to set goals and strive for milestones, it’s important to recognize that reaching these goals won’t bring an ultimate sense of fulfillment or completion.
Many people see business success as a race with a clear endpoint, but in reality, business is about continuous evolution and adaptation. Rather than fixating on an elusive destination, focus on building something sustainable and fulfilling that grows with you.
Enjoy the process of growth, set realistic goals, and take care of yourself along the way. Recognizing that the “end goal” will always shift helps prevent disappointment when you achieve a goal but don’t feel the way you expected. Embrace the journey, and remember that business is a marathon, not a sprint.
12. No one can read your mind.
The key takeaway here is that no one can read your mind, and clear communication is essential in business. Just like in personal relationships, if you don’t explicitly ask for what you want, others won’t know what to do. In business, whether it’s asking customers to like a post, subscribe to a newsletter, or make a purchase, you must provide clear calls to action (CTAs).
Don’t assume that people will automatically know what you expect them to do. Make sure your CTAs are obvious, visually appealing, and compelling across all platforms. For example, if you want someone to subscribe or click on a link, guide them explicitly by stating what to do. Add a button to your blog post or newsletter. Here’s a sample CTA that I use in my YouTube videos:
Like this video. Subscribe for more crochet business tips, and even save it to your account and create your own crochet business tips playlist inside your YouTube account so you can always come back and find the crochet business tips that you’re looking for.
Testing and adjusting your CTAs can also help you understand what works best with your audience. You could try AB testing, where you publish two versions of your newsletter or online listings and see which one gets the best results! Always make it easy for people to take the next step with you in your business.
Apply these Ideas for a Crochet Business that Lasts
In the crochet industry, people come and go. Some people thrive and stay, and some people struggle and leave. Our goal is to continue to help people thrive and stay in the industry. I hope that with these insights, you will get to be one of those people who succeeds in the long term!
