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

Sara, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

I was always a quiet, shy and interoverted person living in the Midwest just doing the usual “go to school, get a job, eventually get married, etc…”. When I was 27 (2012) I started craving something different from the norm and had an opportunity to move to California and go back to school to start a new career as a medical laboratory technician. I had also met and married my husband there. We were having fun, bought a house, and he began his career as a motorcycle officer with the California Highway Patrol. In 2019 he was tragically killed in the line of duty. I moved to Texas a few months later to be close to family.

Fast forward to 2023 when I began knitting. This was a game changer! More like LIFE changer! I couldn’t put the needles down. I started making realistic animals, and in 2024 the thought of trying to sell them crossed my mind. But me, in my old ways, thought “nah, no way”. A few month later I decided to open an Etsy shop and give it a try. I get it, LOTS of people have Etsy shops, no big deal. But for me, it was a HUGE deal! I never in my life had even a thought about starting a tiny business or selling anything at all. Sales was always off the table in my world.

Pretty quickly after starting Etsy and sales were doing good, I decided to add knitting needles to the shop. I wanted to do this because when I was a beginner knitter I was constantly ordering new needles of various types from all kinds of companies. I wanted to provide a place where people can access many of the premium brands in one shop. More importantly, I wanted to share knitting. If I could help someone get the supplies they needed for that project, who knows how that craft will impact that person?! Just about every crafter has a story as to how they got started. For many, it is their therapy.

Etsy was going well. I then added crochet hooks. Next came my own website. Now, I hand-dye my own yarn! The Purling Squirrel keeps expanding and new business opportunities frequently come up. My yarn is available in yarn shops, I do markets, and I collaborate with other small business owners to help them and myself grow.

Knitting helped me come out of my shell when I was in a really dark place. It helped me to gain a confidence in myself that I never had before. It helped me find a sense of belonging and purpose. Knitting ultimately helped me to try something I never dreamed of doing- starting and running my own small business. What’s better? I LOVE doing this!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Sara, I’m 39 years old, I was born and raised in Illinois, and I now live in Texas with my awesome husband and our cat, Rolo. I started knitting in January of 2023 and quickly became addicted! My small business began in 2024 when I opened an Etsy shop to sell my hand-knit animals. That soon shifted to knitting needles and crochet hooks. I supply some of the most well-known brands of needles and hooks. I wanted to create a one-stop shop for fiber artists- beginners and advanced alike. I now also hand-dye The Purling Squirrel LLC’s very own yarn!

I created the name “The Purling Squirrel” because, well, I absolutely adore squirrels! My love of squirrels began as a child when a neighbor handcrafted a squirrel feeder with wood for us to put on our back deck. We put corn cobs on it and my sister and I were just so entertained watching the squirrels.

I take pride in going above and beyond for my customers. I will help them get the tools they need in any way I can. This isn’t just about yarn and stitches; it’s about all the wonderful things that come with it, like happiness, creativity and community.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Throughout my 20’s and 30’s I worked in different healthcare settings. I was a dental assistant, caregiver, receptionist for a chiropractor, and, finally, a medical laboratory technician. For several years I worked in a lab in a hospital with all kinds of specimens and it was fascinating work! And, I got to help people. But in 2019 my then-husband, a California Highway Patrol officer, was shot and killed in the line of duty, and EVERYTHING changed extremely fast. I left my lab tech job at the hospital and eventually moved to Texas to be close to family. I had to learn how to do things on my own. I had to start a new, different life.

I decided not to go back to doing lab work in Texas because I was not prepared or ready to retake the Board Exam. I also felt like there was something else out there for me, I just wasn’t sure what that was yet. A few years later I discovered knitting and that opened up a whole new world for me! I started The Purling Squirrel LLC and absolutely love running my own business.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

For my small business, the most effective way to grow is by simply talking to people, face to face! I’ve done presentations for groups of crafters, set up booths at markets, and even made lunch dates with fellow fiber enthusiasts. And the best part of it is actually talking with people and hearing their stories, seeing their projects, and discussing our favorite yarn and supplies with each other. I truly love it!

I’ve also learned to not be afraid to reach out to other businesses, both small and large, to ask for advice or propose a collaboration. Many great opportunities come from talking, and the sense of community of is amazing!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepurlingsquirrel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepurlingsquirrel/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepurlingsquirrel
• Other: Etsy: https://thepurlingsquirrel.etsy.com