As a crochet business owner, there are so many tasks to get done. That may include designing, pattern writing, publishing, taking photos and videos, marketing, listing products for sale, managing your blog and social media accounts … Phew! That’s a lot for one person, especially when you’re running a crochet business while working full time. It’s time to think about hiring help and putting systems in place to help things run more smoothly!
How do I determine and implement the tasks that are most beneficial for my [crochet] business while also working full time?
– Courtney whitehead, creations by Courtney
How to Manage a Crochet Business and a Full-Time Job
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- 1 How to Manage a Crochet Business and a Full-Time Job
- 2 The Reality of Running a Crochet Business While Working Full-Time
- 3 Prioritizing What Matters Most
- 4 The Power of Delegation: When (and How) to Hire Help
- 5 Smart Task Management and Workflow Tips for Running a Crochet Business While Working Full Time
- 6 Overcoming the Implementation Hurdle
- 7 Make Room for Family and Life
- 8 Final Thoughts & Takeaways
A while back, I had a chat with Courtney Whitehead of Creations by Courtney about how to run a crochet business while working a full-time job. We discussed when and how to hire a virtual assistant, as well as work management software. Today, Courtney’s business is still growing and thriving, offering fabulous, size-inclusive crochet garment patterns! If you want to experience success for yourself, read, listen, or watch below to learn more! 👇
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The Reality of Running a Crochet Business While Working Full-Time
In our conversation, Courtney shared a the common struggle: balancing a full-time job, being a mother of three, and managing a handmade business that specializes in size-inclusive garments and practical accessories. Like many solopreneurs, the daily to-do list is overwhelming:
📝 Designing and creating new patterns
📝 Writing and formatting PDFs
📝 Photography and editing
📝 Marketing, social media, and blog management
📝Product listing on platforms like Etsy and personal websites
The hard part is that it’s all important. From the creative to the logistical, every piece feels essential.
Prioritizing What Matters Most
Step 1: List Everything You Do
First, get everything you do in your business down on paper (or digital doc). Break your week into the tiniest tasks, from writing blog posts to responding to social media comments.
Step 2: Label Tasks
Next to each task, create three columns:
| I have to do this myself. | I want to do this myself (because you enjoy it!) | I can or should delegate this. |
This simple exercise builds clarity on where your energy really should go—and perhaps more importantly, what can be handed off.
💡 Key Tip: “There are things you could offload, but you love them—so let’s not take those away,” Pam advises. Protect your joy while freeing up time for the work that truly grows your business.
The Power of Delegation: When (and How) to Hire Help
Being solopreneur doesn’t mean doing it all alone. Courtney admits hesitation: “I don’t know if I really want to make that commitment because it is an investment … I’m always watching the numbers.”
It can help to rename the delegation not as a cost, but an investment in growth. Sometimes you need to think of it as your business hasn’t grown because you don’t have the time to invest. If you would invest first, then you have the time to do what you need to do and grow elsewhere.
Financial caution is natural—but remember, investing in smart help often results in more time for activities that bring in money (and joy).
Tips for Finding the Right Virtual Assistant (VA)
- Hire for Professionalism: Look for someone whose first priority is virtual assistance, not someone juggling their own crochet business. This means fewer distractions and more commitment to your needs.
- Crochet Knowledge is Optional: A VA doesn’t have to be a designer or crocheter. You can teach them the industry specifics.
- Leverage Your Own Community: Post hiring calls in crochet business groups, or within your Facebook community. Some may not be designers, but have enough crochet familiarity to learn quickly.
- Vet and Onboard Properly: Prepare processes, checklists, and workflows ahead of time to make onboarding smooth and efficient.
What tasks can you delegate?
✅ Social media scheduling
✅ Blog post formatting and publishing
✅ Pattern formatting/uploading to various platforms
✅ Email management
✅ Customer service responses
✅ Photo and video editing
organize your business
Free Crochet Business Planner
Get this handy printable crochet business binder to help you keep your business organized and running smoothly. Always have your business details, brand kit, contacts, and more, available at your fingertips!
Smart Task Management and Workflow Tips for Running a Crochet Business While Working Full Time
Every business owner has had this relatable moment. As Courtney says, “I come up with a plan. I’m like, okay, this is what I’m going to do … and I fall off at some point. It’s such a process to get back on track.”
My preferred solution to streamline my workflow? A digital project management tool—specifically, Asana (though Trello and others work similarly).
Why Use Project Management Tools?
👍 Centralizes all tasks (No more Post-It notes lost on your desk!)
👍 Lets you track progress on multiple projects at once
👍 Facilitates delegation by assigning tasks to your VA or teammates
👍 Organizes tasks by urgency, project, or workflow stage
How I Use Asana
- Separate projects for each part of my business
- Tasks within projects broken into actionable steps
- Assign and track tasks for myself my assistants
- Keep everything visible and accessible, so nothing is forgotten
💡 Pro tip: Keep the app/tab open. Check your “Today” tasks each morning. If you don’t finish everything, simply reschedule.”
Sample Workflow: a Crochet Blog Hop
- Create a project in Asana (or your preferred system): “How to run a blog hop”
- List out the process: Contributor outreach, content collection, creating swipe files/graphics, publishing posts
- Attach files, graphics, and links directly to tasks
- Assign due dates and responsibilities
- Use forms for contributors to submit content directly into your workflow.
Sharing digital “workspace” makes onboarding help much more effective and keeps your business organized even while your life is busy.
Overcoming the Implementation Hurdle
Knowing what to do is half the battle; the other half is sticking with it even when life gets chaotic. Creatives commonly deal with “squirrel chasing”—getting distracted by urgent-but-less-important issues.
🐿️ Tips to Prevent Squirrel Chasing
- Capture “squirrel” ideas instantly: Add them as tasks in your project management tool instead of acting on them immediately.
- Prioritize daily: Start with the task most critical for business growth or deadlines.
- Accept imperfection: If you don’t finish your list, move tasks forward rather than feeling defeated.
- Batch work when possible: Organize similar tasks (like photo editing or pattern uploads) together to maximize focus and speed.
- Review regularly: Analyze what’s working (e.g., “Are Instagram reels actually bringing in sales or just chewing up my time?”) and adjust accordingly.
Make Room for Family and Life
When you’re dealing with a packed schedule, don’t forget to incorporate your real-life obligations and plan your business tasks around them. Maximize “in between” time: bring your project and tablet to games, recitals, or waiting rooms.
Final Thoughts & Takeaways
Sometimes you have to take that step [in hiring help] in order to grow as big as you want to be. Take these key steps to gain balance between your crochet business and your full-time job:
- Inventory your tasks (label what ONLY YOU can do vs. what can be outsourced)
- Start with even a small investment in help (a few hours from a professional VA can make a huge difference)
- Adopt a digital workflow tool like Asana to stay organized and empower delegation
- Continuously analyze your activities to double down on what works and trim what doesn’t
You don’t have to keep burning the candle at both ends. Smart business systems and small (but strategic) investments in help will free your time, boost your impact, and keep your passion for crochet alive.
Meet Courtney from Creations by Courtney
Creations by Courtney offers size-inclusive garment and accessory crochet patterns to curate a handmade closet. Color, texture, and minimal seaming can often be found in Courtney’s patterns. She aspires to turn Creations by Courtney into a fashion brand that highlights the beauty of all body types through fun to make, and stylish wearables. Most recently, a Creations by Courtney dress pattern was chosen as the cover design for a crochet magazine. In winter 2023, Creations by Courtney will participate in the first Crochet Fashion Week in Atlanta, GA with designers from around the world. Besides her love for crochet, Courtney loves meeting new people and has yet to meet a stranger.
