In this episode, I answer a common listener question: How do I get my patterns published in a magazine? Even if you aren't a designer, you may want to listen as the same process is used for submitting tutorial or article ideas. But first, I shared why I was on a 6 week (!) podcast hiatus and my new philosophy about show notes. (Spoiler alert: They will be shorter.) So, how do you submit your crochet or knitting design proposals? First, if you haven't already, listen to Episode 1: Identify...

If thinking about your company's website makes your head explode (even just a little bit), you'll want to listen to this week's episode. I talk with Carol Lynn Rivera, a digital marketer at Rahvalor Interactive and the co-host of the Web.Search.Social podcast, and she shares great information about how to think about a website for your yarn-related business. You can find also Carol Lynn online on Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. This week's episode In my interview with Carol Lynn, we...

This week's episode is a special one-year anniversary episode of the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show. Listeners and former guests share their best advice by telling us the one thing they've done in the past 2 years that has had the most benefit for their businesses. Before we started on the advice, I shared the top 10 episodes from the first year of the show. Can you sense the themes? Episode 32: Journey to 100k Monthly Blog Visitors and More with Sedie Maruska Episode 8: Affordable...

If you’re in the United States, you’re being bombarded with “back-to-school” advertising. I decided to put my own spin on the back-to-school theme by sharing 8 free and low-cost resources you can use for professional development to help you launch, manage, and expand your yarn-related business. Here’s a preview of the 8 ways you can […]

In this week’s episode, I answer a listener question from Kathy Kelly, a crochet designer and teacher at Crochetbird and a jazz musician at Kathy Kelly Vibes! Kathy wants to know how to juggle two creative businesses at once. She says: I’m a jazz musician and a crochet teacher/designer. When I start to have some […]

This Week’s Episode I’m sharing 10 tips (plus a few bonus ones, too!) for attending and getting the most out of your first blogging or social media conference. As regular listeners know, this year I spoke at the #WeAllGrow Summit by Latina Bloggers Connect and #BlogHer15: Experts Among Us. These were my first two blogging […]

This Week’s Episode I’m wrapping up the Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about promoting your pattern after release. So far in this series, we’ve talked about… Planning Your Pattern, Drafting Your Pattern, Polishing Your Pattern, Photographing Your Pattern, Pricing Your Pattern, and Publishing Your Pattern. Today, I’m wrapping up this series by discussing promoting […]

If you missed the live Google+ Hangout on Air for getting the most out of Ravelry for your yarn-related business, or you want to watch or listen again, here is the updated post. In this week’s episode, I shared seven tips for optimizing your use of Ravelry. The video includes screenshares and walkthroughs, and the […]

This Week’s Episode I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about publishing your pattern. I’ll be exploring six different online marketplaces in depth (Craftfoxes, Craftsy, Etsy, Kollabora, Patternfish, and Ravelry), and will be briefly talking about other self-publishing options (such as your blog/website, ebook vendors, and printing patterns). So far in this […]

You may have heard yesterday that Marinke Slump, also known online as “wink” and “winkieflash”  from A Creative Being, took her own life last week. She was an inspiration to me and so many other crocheters, and it is really a devastating loss and shock. I do not feel ready to talk publicly about my grief […]

This Week’s Episode I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about pricing your pattern. I’ll be exploring the advantages and challenges of offering all of your self-published patterns for free, all for sale, or some combination of free and paid. This post contains affiliate links. So far in this series, […]

This Week’s Episode I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about photographing your pattern. I’ll be focusing on 3 topics: the photographer, the model (or backgrounds/props for non-wearables), and tutorials. This post contains affiliate links. Let’s talk about the photographer! As the online world has shifted to becoming more and […]

You can subscribe to the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show on iTunes or Stitcher! And, of course, you can listen to today’s episode from within the post. This Week’s Episode I’m continuing my Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series by talking about polishing your pattern through editing and formatting. If you’re new to self-publishing, or your current approach to […]

You can subscribe to the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show on iTunes or Stitcher! And, of course, you can listen to today’s episode from within the post. This Week’s Episode I continue the Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series with a focus on Drafting Your Pattern. In today’s episode, I talk about drafting the written pattern (including pattern grading) and creating […]

I launch the Crochet & Knitting Design & Self-Publishing Mini Series with a focus on Planning Your Pattern. In today's episode, I talk about style sheets and yarn support, as well as aligning your style sheet with your ideal customer's preferences and needs. You can find detailed show notes with links to everything discussed in this episode at http://creativeyarnentrepreneur.com/36. But first... Thanks to Angela Doherty from Hooked By Angel (on Etsy and Facebook) for sharing the...

In this week's mini episode, I announce a new series on designing and self-publishing your crochet and knitting patterns that will start next week. So far, I'm expecting the series to include episodes focused on: Planning and drafting your design, Polishing your pattern, Pricing, Publishing (including an exploration of different online marketplaces like Amazon, CraftFoxes, Craftsy, Crochetville, Etsy, Kollabora, Patternfish, and/or Ravelry), and Promoting. I shared some questions from...

In today's episode, I share some feedback about last week's episode on sourcing yarn inexpensively to your yarn-related business. I also talk about doing some "spring cleaning" on social media accounts. You can find the show notes for this episode at http://creativeyarnentrepreneur.com/35 More Tips for Sourcing Yarn (and Fleece/Roving) Inexpensively Two listeners shared some great feedback on last week's episode. Lindsay Lewchuk (@KnitEcoChic), the owner of Knit Eco Chic, was a guest in...

I’m talking about ways to source yarn inexpensively (or for free) for your yarn-related business in this week's episode. This topic was suggested by Beate from Patterns Tried and True. Getting your yarn for less (or for free) can have a huge impact on your profits as a yarn related business! In this episode, I'll be sharing 4 ways to source your yarn for less money. The 4 ways are: 1) Establish a wholesale, maker, or professional crafter account with a yarn company 2) Apply for yarn support...

You can subscribe to the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show on iTunes or Stitcher! And, of course, you can listen to today’s episode from within the post. This Week’s Episode Today’s topic was suggested by last week’s guest, Sedie Maruska. I’m going to share a 7 step process for pitching your ideas to conferences and events. This process is what I […]

In this episode, I shared an interview with Sedruola "Sedie" Maruska from Yarn Obsession. Sedie is a crochet designer, blogger, and crochet business consultant. I wanted to talk with her about her public journey to 100,000 monthly unique visitors to her blog. We also chatted about pricing, empowering women business owners, prioritizing different elements of your business, and more. You can find more details in the show notes at http://creativeyarnentrepreneur.com/32. About Sedruola "Sedie"...

I'm sharing an interview with serial entrepreneur Lane Kennedy today as a bonus episode. Although Lane isn't involved in the yarn industry, she has a lot to share about managing your business while being a mom. Since I'm not a mom, I thought her perspective would be helpful for listeners who are! I also thought this episode would pair nicely with my interview with Amy Ramnarine earlier this week about how she planned out her maternity leave. You can find complete show notes for today's...

Episode 31: Preparing for an Absence from Your Business, Collaboration, Blog Monetization, and More with Amy Ramnarine In this episode, I shared an interview with Amy Ramnarine from The Stitchin' Mommy. Amy is a crochet designer and DIY blogger, and a fellow New Yorker. We met up at Martha's Country Bakery in Forest Hills, Queens back in March. (By the way, Amy recommends the Strawberry Shortcake which is made with real strawberries.) I wanted to talk with her about her plans for maternity...

Back in February, I had the opportunity to meet and interview Cynthia Sanchez at the We All Grow Summit by Latina Bloggers Connect. Cynthia is a Pinterest marketing expert, so in this interview, we talked about taking your Pinterest use to the next level for your yarn-related business. (If you're just getting started on Pinterest, you may find Episode 2: 10 Ways to Use Pinterest to Grow Your Business helpful.) About Cynthia Sanchez Cynthia Sanchez has a background in healthcare as a nurse...

I interviewed Alexandra Tavel, a crochet and knitting maker and designer. Alexandra owns the Etsy shop, Two of Wands. We met up in person in New York City (where we both live) to talk about how she launched her shop, how it became her full time income, and what she enjoys about the platform, as well as other topics related to owning a yarn-based business. You can find complete show notes for today's episode, including links to everything that was discussed at...

I interviewed Grace Dobush, a full time freelance writer and part-time crafty business owner, in this week's episode. Grace and I talked about many topics including prepping for your first indie craft show, deciding whether Etsy is the right online marketplace for your craft business, tips for starting up as a freelance writer in the craft scene, negotiating for a higher rate, and more! Complete show notes for today's episode are available at http://creativeyarnentrepreneur.com/28. About...