Hi friends! In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I’m diving into a concept that has completely transformed my life and business—ikigai. This Japanese idea, which means “a reason for being,” helps you find the sweet spot where your passions, skills, purpose, and the world’s needs all intersect.

I’ll share the history of ikigai, how it’s tied to joy and longevity, and how it helped me align my crochet business with deeper purpose. Plus, I’ll walk you through a simple ikigai exercise you can use to:
✨ Discover your unique purpose and creative gifts

✨ Brainstorm crochet business ideas and income streams that light you up

✨ Design a handmade business and lifestyle that feels deeply meaningful

Whether you’re a crochet enthusiast, a handmade business owner, or simply searching for direction in your creative journey, this episode will inspire you to use ikigai to align your crochet business and life with purpose—and craft a life that excites you.

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome to the very first episode of Threads of Wisdom, a mini-series within Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! In this short and powerful reflection, I share one of my favorite Jim Rohn quotes—an idea that has shaped both my life and my crochet business mindset.

This episode is about how self-improvement helps creative entrepreneurs turn challenges into opportunities for growth. Just like crochet, where every stitch builds something beautiful, our personal development happens one step at a time.

Inside this mini-episode, you’ll discover:

✨ Why Jim Rohn’s wisdom is timeless for makers and crochet business owners

✨ How small mindset shifts create big results in life and business

✨ Encouragement to keep creating, dreaming, and becoming the best version of yourself

Whether you’re growing a crochet side hustle, scaling a handmade business, or simply looking for creative inspiration, this Threads of Wisdom reflection will remind you that progress always happens one stitch at a time.

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠Join the Next Kit Club⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠

📖⁠Grab Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠

In this hilarious and relatable episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I share how my bathroom unexpectedly became my productivity palace. As a crochet mompreneur juggling business and motherhood, I’ve had to get creative with my time—and sometimes the bathroom turned out to be the perfect solution!

Whether you’ve worked from your car, hidden in the laundry room, or carved out a tiny corner of your home, this episode celebrates the adaptability and ingenuity of moms building handmade businesses in the margins of daily life.

Inside this lighthearted episode, you’ll discover:
✨ A funny behind-the-scenes story about balancing life as a crochet mompreneur

✨ How to embrace unconventional workspaces when juggling kids + business

✨ Encouragement for moms growing crochet or handmade businesses in small pockets of time

✨ Practical productivity tips to make the most of the minutes you do have—even if it’s in a bathroom!

If you’re a mom, maker, or creative entrepreneur trying to juggle family and your dreams, this episode will make you laugh, inspire you, and remind you that it is possible to keep creating in the chaos.

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠Join the Next Kit Club⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠

📖⁠Grab Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠

In this heartfelt episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I open up about my own journey with imposter syndrome as a crochet designer. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why would anyone choose my work when there are so many crochet patterns and makers out there?”—this conversation is for you.

I’ll share personal stories (including how one surprising trip to the frozen food aisle shifted my perspective!) and give you practical tips to overcome imposter syndrome in your crochet business.

Inside this episode, you’ll learn how to:

✨ Reframe negative thoughts and celebrate your unique creative strengths

✨ See the value of variety in a crowded handmade and crochet market

✨ Build confidence as a crochet designer and creative entrepreneur

✨ Remember that your creativity matters—someone is waiting for what only you can create

Whether you’re a crochet pattern designer, handmade business owner, or creative entrepreneur, this episode will encourage you to embrace your voice, trust your work, and step boldly into your creative calling.

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠Join the Next Kit Club⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠

📖⁠Grab Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠

In this episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast, I dive into the science-backed connection between crochet and mental health—and why this creative practice is so much more than making something beautiful.

You’ll discover how crochet benefits mental health by:
✨ Reducing stress and calming the nervous system

✨ Improving focus, mindfulness, and mental clarity

✨ Boosting happiness through feel-good brain chemicals

✨ Supporting long-term brain health through creative engagement

✨ Fostering community and easing loneliness

Along with the research, I share my personal stories of how crochet became a powerful tool for stress relief, mindfulness, and self-care—plus practical tips for fitting crochet into a busy schedule. I’ll also suggest simple crochet projects for mental health and mindful making that are quick, soothing, and beginner-friendly.

Whether you’re brand new to crochet or a seasoned maker, this episode will inspire you to pick up your hook not just for fun—but for your mental health, mindfulness, and overall well-being.

For a deeper dive into growing your handmade business, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Hi friends! Welcome back to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast. Today, I’m sharing 9 amigurumi hacks every crocheter should know if you want to take your crochet plushie skills from beginner to professional level.

These amigurumi tips and tricks will help you make stuffed animals that look clean, polished, and consistent—perfect for gifting, selling at markets, or adding to your handmade collection.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to:
🧶 Choose the best yarn and hook size for amigurumi plushies

✨ Master invisible decreases and seamless color changes in crochet

👀 Add safety eyes, noses, and facial features for extra cuteness

🎯 Stuff crochet plushies evenly for a professional, huggable finish

📏 Adjust your stitch tension to get perfect proportions every time

Whether you’re brand new to crochet or have been making amigurumi for years, these crochet hacks will help you create adorable amigurumi animals and plushies that stand out from the rest.

✨ Explore my beginner-friendly crochet patterns and Learn to Crochet course at [marcymade.co].
🧶 Subscribe, leave a review, and join me each week for more crochet tutorials, amigurumi tips, and handmade business inspiration.

* Find sharp pointed embroidery needleshere.

* Find aida clothhere.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome to the very first episode of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! I’m Marcy—crochet artist, mom, and creative entrepreneur—and today I’m sharing my full crochet journey. From learning how to crochet 13 years ago, to selling finished pieces on Etsy, to designing beginner-friendly amigurumi patterns and launching my Learn to Crochet online course, it’s been a wild ride of persistence, creativity, and faith.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
● How I turned my love of crochet into a thriving handmade business

● The struggles and wins I faced while starting a crochet brand

● Why I launched a crochet podcast to inspire beginners and creative entrepreneurs

If you’re searching for crochet for beginners, amigurumi tutorials, or crochet business tips, this episode will help you take the next step in your own maker journey.

🎙️ Plus, I share some of my favorite podcasts that have shaped my journey—both for business and for mindset.

🎙️ MY FAVORITE BUSINESS PODCASTS: Business Made Simple, Smart Passive Income, Grow My Etsy Shop, The Product Boss, Product Powerhouse Podcast, The Product Biz Podcast, Winning With Shopify, Simplify Your Sales Podcast, Etsy Conversations Podcast

🎙️ MY FAVORITE MINDSET PODCASTS: Abundant Ever After with Cathy Heller, The Resilient Mind Podcast, Plenty With Kate Northrup, The School of Greatness, The Mel Robbins Podcast, Ignite Your Dream With Amber Lilyestrom, The Mindset Mentor

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

RESOURCES & LINKS

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoy a FREE donkey pattern!⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Welcome to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast! I’m Marcy—crochet artist, mom, and creative entrepreneur—sharing my journey of designing beginner-friendly amigurumi patterns and building a thriving crochet business from the ground up.

This podcast is about more than just crochet. Together, we’ll explore:

🧶 Amigurumi tips, crochet tutorials, and creative maker inspiration

💡 Crochet business tips to turn your hobby into a profitable side hustle or full-time business👩‍👧 The real-life balance of motherhood, crochet, and entrepreneurship

✨ Mindset shifts and motivation for creative entrepreneurs embracing their unique gifts

Whether you’re learning how to crochet, growing a handmade business, or navigating mom life while chasing your dreams, this podcast is your go-to space for encouragement, practical tips, and community.

👉 Subscribe now to Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast and start creating the life you were uniquely made for—one stitch at a time.

For a deeper dive into each of these lessons, check out my new book, ⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠, which goes into much more detail on scaling!

🔆⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠

📺⁠My YouTube Channel⁠

🔆Simply Hooked on Facebook

🔆Simply Hooked on Instagram

🧶⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠