We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kathleen Fritzsche a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kathleen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I jumped on the Crochet train in 2012, starting with a giant Double Crochet not-so-square blanket made from chunky yarn. I was immediately hooked! I dove into the world of acrylic and cotton yarns, making enough blankets in a year to yarn-bomb a 2-story house. I continued to create amigurumi, a baby blanket, and even a set of laundry baskets.

In 2018, we were stationed in Germany, and finding yarn I liked was difficult! I had a lot of trouble finding shops that carried the brands and colors I preferred. After a chance encounter with two amazing fiber artists (now fiber besties), I took the plunge into knitting and the Wild World of Wool. I quickly fell in love with the delicious and luxurious bases but was again disappointed in the colors available.

I went down a YouTube rabbit hole leading me to the ChemKnits YouTube channel. Rebecca was experimenting with food coloring, sports drinks, and popsicles as sources of yarn dye! She created terrific colorways with items I already had in my home! So I had to try it!

My first dyeing attempt was with red and green food coloring. It looked like Christmas threw up! HAHA, But yet again, I was hooked. I quickly moved from food coloring to commercial dyes, discovering a new world of colors, patterns, and possibilities. Thus, Jolly Holiday Yarns was born!

Now I get to create beautiful, unique yarns that make my customers smile.

Kathleen, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Katt, the solo-prenuer, military spouse, and dog mom behind Jolly Holiday Yarns. I’m an avid crocheter, knitter, and serial crafter. As a military spouse, I’ve gotten the unique opportunity to be exposed to many different people and cultures. I always try to take something away from my new and unique interactions. When we moved to Germany, I found myself surrounded by knitters. As a crochet artist, I found knitting very intimidating but still decided to give it a try. Of course, I fell in love with the craft and the amazing World of Wool that I was soon exposed to. There were so many more options; suddenly, I could choose to make something from cashmere or add some nylon for stretch. Sadly I could not find the vivid colors I loved in my local German yarn store.

Inspired by a local yarn dyer, I took to the internet and ended up spending days on Youtube. Next, I slowly dipped my toe into dyeing using simple food coloring. Then I jumped to commercial dyes, and the rest is history.

I quickly discovered that the yarns I dyed could make people smile. Colors inspired by everything from a movie to a local landscape or even a fabulous rainbow evoke emotion in the people around me. The possibilities that come with yarn dyeing are endless, as are the feelings evoked. For example, a colorway dyed in a jewel-toned rainbow inspired by a friend’s daughter who passed away can comfort a mother when she’s wearing the scarf she knit. Likewise, a secret message of courage and love dyed on a yarn blank that’s completely unrecognizable once knit into a sweater for a child may help them hold their head up high on the first day at a new school.

I believe you can communicate so much through handmade items, and I think I’m pretty lucky to get to be part of it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

As a military spouse and former military brat, resilience is my middle name.

Jolly Holiday Yarns was initially started in 2018 while stationed in Germany. Due to certain laws, I could not establish my business until I returned to the US. So I started dyeing yarn for my knitting group, they would purchase the yarn, and I would dye it for free. This allowed me so much room for experimentation and time to find my brand voice without having to heavily invest in a stock room full of yarn. I bought my dyes and supplies as needed and slowly grew my collection of tools. Throughout my time in Germany, I continued to experiment, document and redefine what Jolly Holiday would be.

Once we arrived back in the states, I quickly set up shop, but unfortunately, it was right in the middle of COVID. So instead of being able to sell my yarns to local fiber artists in San Antonio, I made the pivot to online sales. I took the time COVID was so nicely giving me and, for the duration of 2021, poured work into my website and other storefronts. First, I worked with a brand and graphic designer to cement the Jolly Holiday look and nailed down my first release. Next, I started social media channels and began the uphill battle of marketing to the people of Instagram & Facebook. I’ll be honest, I didn’t make one sale that entire year, but I took the time to slowly curate a small audience and learn what brought people in.

In the summer of 2022, a little less than a year after coming back to the states, we moved again, but this time I had a plan. We knew the move was coming, so I planned out months’ worth of content to keep my social engagement up while working behind the scenes to plan out the first Jolly Holiday Yarn Advent Calendar. Again, I took the time I was graciously given by the military and the moving company to diligently create a Yarn Calendar that was unique and special.

Pre Orders opened for my yarn calendar on September 1st, 2022. I got one lone order, but it was someone I did not know! She wasn’t family or a friend, so IT WAS A WIN. I watched as September turned into October, and still, I only had one order; I was at my breaking point. I was ready to make the one box and close everything down; my husband asked me to wait a day or two… so I did. He was right. My next order came on October 18th, and they did not stop until I sold out!! All 35 boxes had homes!! I cried and still get teary-eyed thinking about it.

Entrepreneurship is HARD, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, but if you truly believe in what you’re doing and it makes you happy, never give up. Instead, take that time you’re given to plan, pivot and reattack, and you’re sure to make it.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A few books have significantly impacted my entrepreneurial thinking, all of which came from my time at Penn State pursuing my Business Degree. Of course, my focus was entrepreneurship, so we talked about all the ins and outs of running a small business.

The first book is Start Run & Grow a Successful Small Business (Business Owner’s Toolkit series). This book is helpful and has been my go-to since my first inclination to start Jolly Holiday Yarns. The practical knowledge is fantastic, and I continually mention it to my peers.

The second book is much smaller than the first, Fish: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results is only 110 pages to Star Run’s 720 pages, but it is just as helpful. Fish gives you an amazing foundation on which to build a happy, thriving business with happy and thriving employees. Even in a company of one, such as mine, focusing on morale is crucial, and sometimes it’s the only way forward when times aren’t so great.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jollyholidayyarns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jolly_holiday_yarns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JollyHolidayYarns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathleen-e-fritzsche/