We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carolina Guzman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carolina below.

Carolina, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Since I was little I always liked crafts, I spent many hours crocheting, cross-stitching, knitting… Finally, thanks to the teachings of my grandmother and my mother, I focused on the world of crochet and it soon became my passion. I started making a lot of blankets, rugs, cushions, appliques… but after a while the amigurumi stole my heart. For me it was pure magic to see how a character with personality and his own story was born from a ball of wool.

After my first daughter was born I began to create amigurumi and baby blankets for her. During this time I had a quiet period with my little girl that made me definitely decide to share my funny characters with the world.

First of all, I designed my first baby blankets and amigurumi. I wrote the instructions in my notebook but I needed to find a way to share all that information in an attractive and clear way. After some time I managed to finish my first digital pattern in PDF format, thanks to the great help of my husband who dedicated many hours and patience to me. At that time, around 2011, I created my brand “One and Two Company” and opened my first online store on Etsy. My first patterns began to sell, albeit very slowly. In the following months I opened my Ravelry store and launched my own website.

At this time I realized that social networks were a fundamental tool for people to get to know me and to get to my work. I had to learn how to manage Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest… and how to use them to attract people to my stores.

Carolina, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a crochet pattern designer since 2011. I have all my designs for sale on my website and several online stores. I have published two books and have made several collaborations. I design from baby blankets, shopping bags to amigurumis. I love creating colorful and fun designs but I think the most important thing is the possibility that my clients have to make their own versions. Sometimes I have seen projects from some of my fans with absolutely incredible colors and textures.

I think that any of my patterns offers great personal satisfaction when they see that they have managed to make a fun amigurumi or a practical folding shopping bag from a skein of wool, either for yourself or to give it to a special person.

For some years I have also been selling crochet kits of some of my designs with everything you need to make them and have a great time without worrying about anything except having fun.

I always try to improve my patterns by listening to my followers and looking for new ideas. For years all my designs that I publish are available in 5 languages (English, German, Dutch, Spanish and French), many photos to help crocheters, charts of the most complicated parts, step-by-step explanations of the generic processes with links to videos of the basic stitches and other tutorials.

Of course, I’m also always available to offer support to all my buyers if they have any questions.

Finally I think what I’m most proud of is my non-conformism, I’m never satisfied with my latest design and I try to improve in the next one, looking for new textures, new shapes, new color combinations, and complement with new uses for crochet as you can see in my folding bags.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

At first I was very excited about my new adventure. I was hoping to put my patterns up for sale and start selling enough to quit my previous job as a nurse. But things were not as I expected. In my first year sales were low and I couldn’t make myself known. The public did not know who I was, did not know what I was doing and did not buy my designs. I had to work all day (or all night) and when I got home I had to spend more time on my patterns. It was exhausting.

Then my first job ended and the company where my husband worked had to close. My small family in a few months would run out of income. I didn’t know what to do and I felt lost and disappointed. But I have always been a positive person and after a little period of discouragement I regained confidence in myself and I promised myself to fight with all my might for what I wanted most at that moment, to work designing crochet patterns.

Now I’m glad I made that decision and although it was very hard, it was worth it.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Currently I sell my products in several online stores and I have my own website. The first online store I had was on Etsy. For me it was the best option because few people knew about my work and I needed a platform that would make me known. In addition, my income was low and I could not afford to have my own online store. In addition, in its community it has many tutorials and guides for first-time sellers helping you to train you in customer service and in the sale of your items, among many more topics. As a drawback, the only one I currently find is the high cost for reduced-price items.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.oneandtwocompany.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneandtwocompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneandtwocompany
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/oneandtwocompany
• Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/oneandtwocompany Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/carolina-guzman

Image Credits
© One and Two Company – Carolina Guzman