Today we’d like to introduce you to Blair Edwards and Nat Vorel.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Nat and myself make crochet chalk bags. It started over 10 years ago when a young Blair started crocheting. 6 years ago and I made my first chalk bag by myself. A rather ugly thing but I wore it for year, until I met Nat in 2021. During the time I made a few other bags, only slightly better than the first, but meeting Nat changed everything. With his extensive years of sewing under his belt we joined forces and starting make even better chalk bags. Prettier and sturdier than before.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This is more is a side gig for us. I would love to make this more prominent but we have other carriers we focus on. I am pursuing a career in theater as a lighting technician and Nat is working hard and training for paraclimbing competitions. So our lack of time is a big obstacle for us. Between the vigorous hours at work in theater and the travel we do for climbing there doesn’t leave much time for preparing and sewing the bags.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We make crochet chalk bags, more often than not, they are very colorful and unique. You don’t often see well made crochet chalk bags around the climbing gym. Sometimes, when we booth at climbing events, I also make other little crochet animals which is mostly jellyfish, for no particular reason but that I want to. Although our bags are really what people think of first. When we are climbing in public, in different climbing gyms and in different states, it’s the craziest thing to see our chalk bags on people we don’t know. It’s crazy to see our work be used by those around us.
Most companies have been making chalk bags for year before us, although almost all of the companies make the same chalk bag, almost always made of fabric alone. Some make bags with zippers or pockets to store stuff, there is even a company that makes little monsters. But I have yet to see any other company make bags like ours.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I (Blair) was pretty outgoing for awhile but when I entered middle school a lot changes. I became really quiet and closed off, which is why I picked up crafts like crocheting. It started with scarves and then blankets, eventually I starting making plushies. Throughout the years I’ve picked up and put down crocheting but I keep returning to it.

Pricing:

• Chalk bags are $30
• Shirts are $20
• Jellyfish range from $15-20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chaosclimbingusa.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaosclimbingokc?igsh=Mmo2cWhkN21ieXF0&utm_source=qr

Image Credits
Blair Edwards and Nat Vorel took most of these photos. Unknown for the phone photos.