We recently connected with Rachel M and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

When I was 8yrs old my mom randomly decided to teach me and my siblings how to crochet. She had taught herself through books and wanted to share the craft with us. I remember making my first crochet bag with a poorly sewed on button. I really enjoyed being able to make something from yarn and I kept with it and started making clothing for myself like dresses and sweaters. Crocheting was really relaxing for me and I never felt rushed to learn more about it. I would pick a pattern, look up tutorials and learn how to do a new stitch and just enjoy the creation process.

As I got older, I eventually stopped reading patterns and branched out into making my own designs. This required a different kind of patience and I will admit – in the beginning it was very frustrating. Fortunately, I had already developed some patience from previous projects and in 2011 I finished my first freehanded crochet cosplay.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Yarn Goddess and I’m known in the cosplay community as the one who crochets all of their cosplays. I initially got into cosplaying in 2011 and thought I would take up sewing. I tried a few patterns and didn’t care for nor did I have the patience for sewing. A friend suggested that I could crochet my cosplays and I thought the idea was silly – no one does that…so I had to be the first one to try, right?

I made a few outfits – Ezra Scarlet from Fairy Tale, Mizore from Rosario Vampire, Raven from Teen Titans and others and they were well received. In 2016 I got laid off from my job and I had a decent amount of people asking if I ever sold my crochet. I eventually decided to open up my store. The first year was rough but I had a bunch of support and now 6yrs later I’ve been a full time crocheter. I’ve made outfits for other people, accessories, plushies and there hasn’t been a project I couldn’t complete.

Crocheting is one of the few fiber arts that cannot be mass produced by a machine. When people book me to make them an item they frequently have a story about a family member or friend that used to crochet for them. The fact that I can create an item that is so personal to each client is one of the main reasons why I enjoy crocheting.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

NFT = No. F********. Thanks.

In so many words that’s how I feel about NFTs. Just pay the artist for their work.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Turning your creative process into a business drains your ability to be creative. I’ve met a few people who think my job is easy because I get to do something fun but they fail to realize that “fun” doesn’t always = monetizable. Some of my favorite items created flopped and I’ve had to learn how to not take it personally. I enjoy this line of work more than I ever did working for someone but sometimes I wish the projects I enjoyed the most would sell at the same rate I love them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ygcosplay.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ygcosplay/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ygcosplay
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/YGCosplay
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/yarngoddesscosplay
• Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/ygcosplay