We recently connected with Christine Minor and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine , thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been crocheting since I was 14yrs old. I learned from this library right across the street from my grammar school. I use to make hats and blankets, little things for people nothing too major, it was an on and off thing like a hobby. One day I was just sitting in my room bored, so I started looking up things that i can crochet other than blankets, hats, and scarves. I came across this cute bralette with fringes and decided to remake it. Had to go on youtube 1st because I never made one before, got the basics and started working. When I was finished with the bralette I was too souped up like “yassss chrissy”lol gassing my self up to the point where I decided to post it on facebook. Now when I posted the picture of me in the bralette I didnt expect anyone to actually want me to make them one, I was just being a show off lol. My inbox was flooded, and the crazy thing about it , I was out of work at this time, so i definitely needed the money and I had the time so why not. I charged $25 a piece for them and people paid so that got me thinking maybe I can make this into a business, it’s something I love to do in my spare anyways so why not. All spring/summer long my hands stayed with some yarn and a crochet stick, tired and all lol. That one bralette just opened the door to me making so many other things, stuff I didnt even know you could crochet, this definitely wasnt planned but I’m happy it happened.

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

I’m Christine Minor owner of “Crochets by Chrissy”. I’m 29yrs old. I’m an Aries so naturally I’m a creative lol. Born, raised, and still reside in Jersey City, NJ.I have a support system of one brother, parents, family and friends that are very supportive in everything I do, Christian background so I put God 1st in everything I do. I’ve been crocheting since I was 14yrs old but made it into a business in June of 2018. Crocheting was introduced to me at the age of 14yrs old through my local library. I used to visit the library every day after school, and it was a librarian there that would be teaching kids and some adults how to crochet. I took to it right away which isn’t shocking because as a kid I was always creative and like to learn new things, Crocheting was just something that stuck with me. Crochets by Chrissy offers custom crochet apparel and accessories as well as making my own designs from infante to adults, male or female, all shapes and sizes, I do it all. What sets me apart from others is my creativity, my style, my color combos, the things that I make, my original pieces, some pieces may be similar to others, but it’s always made MY WAY with my own spin to it, I put a piece of my personality, me, into every piece I make. I’m most proud of how far I’ve came and how each piece I make is better than the next. i went from just making hats a scarfs to making blankets but not just any regular blankets like with different names and designs, to making clothing, something I really didn’t think I’d be doing, like actually making my own designs. Maybe small to some but its big to me. I want people to know that every piece I make, I make with love for sure, I don’t just hand people anything, quality is definitely some thing I take pride in, it has to be RIGHT. my work is a reflection of me, nothing about me is slacking so neither will my work. I have a long way to go and so much more to show, so stay tuned and watch growth and thank you to all that have supported me through out the years you are appreciated.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

During this journey I had to learn a lot of things like for one that everything isn’t for everybody. everyone isn’t going to loke everything I create. like ill create something and think “yo this piece is so fire, I know they’re going to love this” just to get zero orders for it lol and that can be really discouraging at times. I had to unlearn pleasing everyone. Secondly, I had to learn to keep it pushing. just because that piece wasn’t a hit doesn’t mean the next isn’t going to be. Got to keep pushing and keep creating. unlearning self-doubt was a hard one cause I’m hard on myself. Third I had to learn pricing. I used to feel bad for charging a price for certain things but then I had to realize that the things I make, you can’t buy at the store, its handmade and custom to the persons liking. so unlearning guilt for charging my worth. Being more consistent is something I had to work on as well. I would have pictures of things I’ve made but wouldn’t post it in fears that it wouldn’t get the reaction i thought it deserved. Lastly, I had to unlearn rushing my creative process. When I did that, it would be just anything or something I wasn’t proud of and it was a flop for sure, so I create on my own time but at a reasonable time if that makes sense.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience one follower at a time lol. posting on a consistent basis without sacrificing my creativity. its a small group but its a supportive group. I’m still building and growing and I may not be as big as others but ill get there eventually. the advice i would give is to keep going whether you have 50 followers or 10k followers and be consistent.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.etsy.com/shop/CrochetsByChrissy
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/crochets_by_chrissy
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrochetsByChrissy