Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jenny Lund. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jenny , appreciate you joining us today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

This is something I’ve thought a lot about because as a very small business owner, success isn’t always one inclined line moving upward. It’s a zigzag of ups and downs. About a year after starting out, I had huge success with a dragon crochet pattern I designed, and it felt like I was finally meeting the goals I was striving and working so hard for. All the countless hours and effort I had put into this little business for a year was paying off and it felt like a huge win. After that I thought that every pattern had to reach the same success. But as I have learned in the years following that pattern, there are successes and then there are learning experiences. I used to see those learning experiences as failures until I realized that every part of my journey has fueled my passion and creativity in ways I could never have imagined for myself. I allowed myself to get discouraged so many times when my expectations didn’t meet reality. But I’ve learned that success is about perseverance and moving forward even when those discouraging times happen. I’ve watched many crocheters give up too soon. It’s not an easy business to pursue with fast fashion and cheap labor on the rise with handmade goods. If I were to give anyone starting out advice, it would be to keep going. Don’t let discouragement bring you down (even though it’s easier said than done) and find what makes YOU unique. That is what draws people to you. I am still in the process of really finding my brand but this year I have so many ideas that I am excited to bring to the table.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am the creator and owner of Oak and Ave Crochet. I sell crochet patterns I design as well as handmade crocheted plushies and “snugglers”; a stuffed animal that does not have a stuffed body to make it more like a lovey or blanket.

My mother-in-law taught me the basics of crochet about 14 years ago and then I took to YouTube tutorials to learn more. About 3 years ago, my sister-in-law introduced me to free amigurumi patterns by Jess Huff online. I became hooked on making all the animals she designed and started posting them on Facebook. I started getting attention from friends and family that said I should sell them, so I opened an Instagram business account and started posting there and then opened an Etsy account to start selling what I had made. I discovered this huge community on Instagram of other crocheters and I am so grateful for that community that has helped me learn and improve along the way! I discovered a love for writing my own patterns and seeing others enjoy and create the designs I imagined. I found this joy and passion I didn’t know I had and it has given me an identity outside of just being a mom and wife. I always loved being creative and I had no idea I could love a hobby as much as I love crochet!

I’m still in the process of building my brand and it really is just that: a process. One thing I’ve learned is that your brand, especially as a small business can change and flow as your inspiration comes. My brand to me and what I want it to reflect to others is the essence of a carefree childhood. The imagination and spirit of adventure that we have in these early years is just so beautiful to me. Watching my own children grow and interact with the world is really the inspiration behind my brand and I can’t wait to continue to grow this vision to be exactly as I have always imagined it. So stay tuned for more great things to come from Oak and Ave Crochet!

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

There isn’t really too much to this aspect of my journey because it just started as a hobby. I bought a little bit of yarn at a time and created items with it and when I sold those items I used that money to fund more yarn. I always would put the money I earned back into my business and when I started to gain more capital, I was able to invest in things like a ring light, a cube organizer for all my yarn, a rolling table and things for my boutique displays. It really becomes rewarding when you start to get income that can be used for supporting your family. Thats when I truly felt like it became a small business instead of just a hobby. Grateful to be where I am now but know I still have a long way to go to reach my financial goals.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

There are so many free resources out there and I’m definitely still learning about all of them. It’s important to use all the avenues you can to gain traffic to your products! So Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest are all great opportunities for free advertising. Instagram was really pivotal in growing my business as well as learning from others in the crochet community. One thing I wish I had done sooner was make posts for my crochet patterns on Pinterest. You’d be surprised how much traffic that can bring to your Etsy shop. Canva has been huge in helping me with designing patterns that are digitally appealing as well as make advertisements and posts for social media. Inshot is great for creating videos and Lightroom is great for improving your photos. It takes time to learn how to use each of these but in the end it is so beneficial.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oakandavecrochet.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oakandavecrochet/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oakandavecrochet

Image Credits

Jenny Lund