Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Hawkins.

Stephanie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was a child, starting with simple cotton dishcloths and aluminum knitting needles. I didn’t pick it back up until my 20s, after giving birth to my son. I wanted to knit him a beanie, and wandering through the yarn aisles at my local craft store reignited my passion. Inspired, I began learning new patterns and techniques, knitting something special for each of my family members. I remember making a scarf for my mom—it wasn’t perfect and had plenty of mistakes, but she wore it proudly, telling everyone her daughter had made it.

After some encouragement from my husband and family, I decided to open an Etsy shop in 2011. I wanted a unique name, so I combined my maiden name, Minielli, and my married name, Hawkins, to create Ellikin. In the beginning, I kept things small, selling primarily on Etsy and occasionally at local markets.

I dedicated countless hours to learning and teaching myself more complex knitting techniques. Each time I mastered a skill, I felt the urge to push further and learn something new. Everything I know, I taught myself. While growing my business was important, I also wanted the flexibility to care for my son, homeschool him, and travel back to my hometown to support my mother through her health challenges. As my business grew, I began doing more local markets and eventually expanded to my own website.

My mom was one of my biggest supporters, always reminding me that I could achieve anything as long as I believed in myself. She had always been that way—even as a child, whenever I had a wild idea, she encouraged me to follow my heart (within reason). In 2018, after a long battle with chronic illness, she passed away. Losing her made it difficult to keep growing my business because she was the one who always cheered me on, especially in moments of self-doubt.

Losing my mother was incredibly painful, but in some ways, it also gave me a sense of drive. I needed a distraction from my grief, so I decided to go all in and truly grow my business. Around that time, I also adopted a dog from our local SPCA. I didn’t realize then that he had special needs, but he turned out to be exactly what I needed. A little fun fact—his estimated birthday is the same day my mom passed away, and I couldn’t help but feel like it was a sign.

We named him Cooper, and within days of bringing him home, he started having health issues. Our first scare came at just nine weeks old when he developed pneumonia. As he grew, his challenges continued—multiple orthopedic surgeries, seizures, vision loss, and neuro rehabilitation. The cost of his care was overwhelming, but it only strengthened my determination to grow my business so I could support him and give him the life he deserved.

I began applying for larger markets in my area and launched a new website on Shopify, transitioning away from Etsy. I focused on growing my business as organically as possible—staying active on social media, regularly updating my website, and applying to as many markets as I could. In just a year, my business grew tremendously, and I connected with so many incredible, like-minded makers who helped boost my confidence and inspire me to keep pushing forward.

Today, I attend large markets, design my own patterns, sell knits almost year-round, sell wholesale and have even added a yarn section to my website. My dream is to one day open a storefront where creative people can come together, hang out, and chat about all things yarn (or anything else)—everyone would be welcome. I don’t see myself slowing down anytime soon. I’ve learned to pivot when things needed to change, and though I’ve made my fair share of mistakes, I’ve learned from every single one of them. I don’t think you can have a successful business without making mistakes and using them as lessons. A lot of my determination comes from my mother, and all the incredible women on her side of the family. They’ve been my inspiration, instilling in me the drive to pursue whatever I want and never let anything or anyone hold me back.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

One of the hardest parts of running my small business has been figuring out how much product I’ll need for a season. I started doing wholesale last year, and balancing that with markets quickly became overwhelming. For a few months, I was working nonstop—every time I felt like I was finally ahead, another wholesale order would come in, or I’d sell out at a market I hadn’t expected to be so busy. It was a constant cycle of trying to keep up, but it taught me a lot about planning and pacing myself.

When January rolled around, I had a plan in place to keep myself from feeling so overwhelmed once my busy season started. I gave myself the month to knit at a slower pace, be more creative, and design new patterns. The chaos of last year—constantly trying to catch up—taught me an important lesson: I need to take time for myself, no matter how busy things get, or I’ll burn out and lose my love for what I do. Now, I make sure to schedule time for myself if needed. If it’s on my calendar, I’m much more likely to follow through and actually take that break—whether it’s a quick walk at the lake with my dog, going kayaking, or just sitting outside having a conversation with my husband.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I am a fiber artist specializing in knitting. While I’ve explored other fiber arts like macramé and weaving, I always find my way back to knitting. There’s something magical about transforming yarn into wearable art—it never ceases to amaze me and brings me so much joy. I especially love working with hand-dyed merino wool for my beanies. Each skein is unique, ensuring that no two hats are ever exactly alike, making every piece truly one of a kind.

What sets me apart is my commitment to quality and craftsmanship. I take immense pride in every piece I create and refuse to sell anything that hasn’t been thoroughly tested. Before offering a new design, I personally wear and evaluate a sample to ensure durability, comfort, and performance. I want my hand-knit beanies to withstand the elements—not fall apart after a few wears. Each season, I carefully select patterns and yarn, knitting test pieces for myself and my husband to wear before releasing them to the world. My goal is for each piece to feel like a hug—bringing warmth, comfort, and a sense of coziness to the wearer. I want my knitwear to be something people cherish for years to come.

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?

For me, success isn’t just about sales or growth—it’s about creating with purpose and staying true to my craft. I find fulfillment in knitting pieces that bring warmth and comfort to others, knowing they’ll be cherished for years. Quality and sustainability matter more to me than mass production, and I take pride in making each piece with care. Success also means building genuine connections with my customers, seeing my knitwear loved and worn, and running Ellikin Knits in a way that aligns with my values. Most importantly, it’s about maintaining a balance—growing my business on my own terms while still having time for my family and the things that bring me joy.

Pricing:

• Merino Wool Hats $60 – $65
• Wool Blend Hats $40-$45

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ellikin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellikin_knits/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EllikinKnits

Image Credits

All photos taken by my husband or myself. All are my property.