For the first time in BHooked Podcast history, I’m hitting the pause button and planning for growth. But this is not goodbye! The BHooked Podcast will return with episode 145 in 2020. I explain all of this in this episode, including why I’m hitting the pause button and what you can expect in the coming months from B.Hooked as well as what to expect from the show when it returns. If you want to get your crochet podcast fix in the meantime, browse through the archives of this podcast including...

In this episode of the BHooked Podcast you’ll hear from, Brittany, creative entrepreneur behind the popular blogs Ideal Me, Dabbles and Babbles and My Yarn Club. She shares her best strategies for starting a crafting blog in 2019, growing an audience and maintaining a balance to keep you on the right track with your goals. Click Play to Listen! This episode is brought to you by my online Blueprint class, “Tunisian Crochet for Beginners”, everything you need to learn Tunisian crochet and make...

In this episode of the BHooked Podcast you’ll hear Jessica from The Hook Nook share her biggest, most exciting secret. When you’re hearing this, it’s no longer a secret, however, when we recorded this episode I had no idea what the secret was and therefore what we were going to talk about. The resounding message is to kick fear in the face because no dream is too big. Click Play to Listen! Links & Resources Mentioned in this Episode Details about The Hook Nook Collection – Please check...

In this episode of the BHooked Podcast you’ll hear from Sarah at Warm Up America about this seasons Made With Love | Crochet Challenge for Warm Up America event and why we would love for you to consider participating. The items made and sent in from the challenge will be hung in low-income areas, primarily in the Dallas TX area, so anyone walking by who needs them can keep them for warmth this winter. The challenge officially kicks off in just a couple days (as of when this episode is...

In this episode you’ll hear from Caitie of Thoresby Cottage, talented designer and crochet addict located in South Africa where yarn resources are a bit limited. In order to grow in her craft and pursue her passion as a designer, Caitie has needed to be resourceful to create patterns and projects she loves. She shares tips for finding and substituting yarn in patterns, ordering online as well as some clever projects for those one or two special hanks in your stash that weren’t easy to get....

Are you looking for a way to take your projects to the next level? Try dying your own yarn! In this episode you’ll hear from Ashley, talented dyer and maker behind Montana Crochet. Her passion for dying yarn really shines as she shares some tips for getting started and for achieving some really great looking coloration. Ashley is also very passionate about her maker business and the community as a whole. We wrap up this episode chatting a bit about where you can find inspiration for your yarn...

Being a maker means lots of decisions and lots of “stuff”. I don’t know about you but sometimes that can feel a little overwhelming. Yarn that seems it’ll never get used. Pattern decisions. Project decisions. Do I use this color or that color? Wait maybe that stitch instead of this one? If you create with yarn, chances are you have thought some of this before. I think about this stuff on a daily basis! A refreshing change of pace came in my chat with T from Debrosse, a maker, business owner...

What does knitting and crochet do for you? I’ve been on a journey this year of discovering my place in the community and how my strengths and values can enrich someone’s life. I’ve learned that although knitting and crochet effects many areas of my life, at it’s core, the process of creating a knit or crochet item is what fuels me the most. Yarn does more for me than just make a pretty thing. That has become sort of a mantra for me and you’ll hear me say it more and more as B.Hooked grows and...

Have you been thinking about trying to earn additional income from your hobby? Whether you’re ready to take the plunge and turn your hobby into a full time job or you just want to earn a little extra money each month, you’re faced with a big decision. Do you make this change or not? Will it be worth it? Will it even work? The question Brianna from Life and Yarn asked herself “what do you care about more than failing” helped her realize the decision that needed to be made and she’s here to...

A (flexible) routine keeps me focused, productive and happy. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without my daily and weekly routines. You can say I’m a creature of habit – for good reason. Habits just work for me. I’m often asked how I manage to do so much work and there’s no way I could get it all done without a solid plan. In this episode, I want to share my updated routine, schedule and habits with you. My goal is to share what works for me and give you some ideas to explore of your...

Hate seams in amigurumi projects? Me too! I’m always worried I’ll seam the piece on crooked or that it’ll fall off someday. I know I’m not alone in this struggle so I was absolutely thrilled to chat with Melanie from Knot Too Shabby Crochet about how she eliminates seams in amigurumi altogether. Her new book, Hooked On Amigurumi, 40 Fun Patterns for Playful Crochet Plushies is filled with cute little projects to help you learn how to use shaping and color changes to eliminate the seams and...

You don’t have to be a designer to use your surroundings to inspire your projects. Truth is, you can inject little aspects of you, your likes and your world into anything you make. This episode and my chat with Vincent from Visuvios Crafts opened up my eyes to unique ways to find inspiration for projects and I’m even more energized to start something new. So whether you publish your designs or you just like to free style projects for your self or others, we can all benefit from Vincent’s...

Did you know you can use crochet as the foundation for embroidery? I was blown away when I learned about Andy from O & Y Studio, a talented maker in this community who blends her crochet and embroidery skills into one gorgeous project. Whether you know how to embroider or not, Andy tells us how possible it is for anyone to embroider on crochet and I learned so much from her. I know you will too! Click Play to Listen! This episode is brought to you by my online Blueprint class, “Tunisian...

Are you still completely confused by gauge? No worries! I’m back this week to answer even more of your questions about gauge. Here’s the scoop… Don’t worry, you’re not alone! I turned to my Instagram community again this week to bring you another “what you wanted to know episode” to find out exactly what you need to know about gauge. So many questions were submitted that I’m breaking it into two episodes so I can answer as many of your questions about gauge as I can for you! Click Play to...

Are you completely confused by gauge? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! I turned to my Instagram community again this week to bring you another “what you wanted to know episode” to find out exactly what you need to know about gauge. So many questions were submitted that I’m breaking it into two episodes so I can answer as many of your questions about gauge as I can for you! Click Play to Listen! If you enjoyed this format and would like to hear more episodes in the future where I answer your...

Do you want to increase your engagement on Instagram? Although it’s the place many of us hang out for fun and for the community, if you’re using it for your maker business you need to master the basics to get the most out of it. In this episode, you’ll hear from April from OTH Crochet Nook as she shares her best tips for increasing engagement on Instagram so you can up your maker business game! Click Play to Listen! This episode is brought to you by my online Blueprint class, “Tunisian...

Ready to create your first basic crochet garment? It’s probably not as difficult as you might think but it’s good to have a feel for basic crochet garment design before diving in. You don’t know what you don’t know, right? Here to help you understand the basics and get a little extra confidence boost is, Emily, designer behind Hooked Hazel. She brings many talents to the crochet industry but she really has a nack for designing and making garments. She’ll share her knowledge and experience...

What does “Crafting Made Simple” mean to you? This episode is about exploring what it means for yarn to do more for us than just make pretty things. Specifically how simplicity and stories can help us identify what type of crafter we are, why we do what we do and how to inspire the next generation so they can enjoy these things too. To help me with this is Jen from Stitch and Story, a resource that’s dedicated to simplifying the often complex processes in our craft. Jen and I had a wonderful...

Curious about why so many crocheters love working with wooden crochet hooks? This episode will help you see the benefits of working with wooden crochet hooks so you can decide if they are right for you. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect wooden crochet hook for me and after my chat with today’s guests, I’m anxious to give them a try. You’ll hear from Rick and Danny, the father-son team behind the family business, Laurel Hill. They share how their hooks are made and why they are the perfect...

Have you ever made a pattern yarn substitution and it didn’t turn out quite right? Either the size was off or the finished project didn’t look the same. Can I get a yes?! I had to learn the hard way that you can’t use whatever yarn you want with the same hook or needle size and have it turn out the same. That’s not to say yarn substitution isn’t possible, however! You can avoid the frustration that comes from finishing a project you’re not happy with if you do a little prep work first. That’s...

Confused about what fiber to use for your project? You could learn the hard way or you can listen to this episode of the yarn mini-series for a place to start! Truth is, selecting the “right” fiber for your project involves a little knowledge and personal preference. I reached out to my Instagram community to learn exactly what you want to know about choosing fiber for your projects. So you guided the conversation! In this out-of-the-norm episode, I answered as many of your questions about...

Are you afraid of ordering yarn online because you need to see and feel it first? Maybe you’ve tried before and it wasn’t the right color or even worse, the textured wasn’t what you expected. This has happened to me too! There are so many variables potentially working against us. Is our screen to bright? Too dim? Am I familiar with this yarn already or is it brand new? I’ll be honest, I love the “thrill of the hunt” – going to a store like Joann’s or Michael’s not knowing what I’m going to...

Is your yarn stash out of control? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us! I usually need to sort through and organize my yarn stash at least once a year. Admittedly, this isn’t something I love scheduling time for but it does save me time in the long run! Here’s the deal – organizing your yarn stash can do four things for you. First, it will save you money because you won’t be buying yarn you already have (that you forgot about). Second, it will save you time when looking for the right...

Are you looking for a quick and portable project? The granny square is perfect! You can turn them into just about anything – blankets, purses, coasters, totes…and they work up with scraps and a few spare minutes. In this episode you’ll hear from Kate from Jellybean Junction and get an earful of granny square inspiration. You’ll hear of different ways to use granny squares, how to incorporate color and texture to change things up and ultimately why the granny square is the perfect little...