Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast

Wish you could hire a marketing copywriter but don't have the budget? Meet your new free virtual assistant: ChatGPT.

In this episode of Simply Hooked, I break down the 9 specific ways I use AI to save hours in my crochet business. From conquering writer's block to optimizing Etsy SEO, I share the exact workflows I use to work smarter, not harder.

In this episode, we cover:

• Etsy Domination: How to use ChatGPT to write keyword-rich titles and descriptions that actually rank.

• Content Creation: Generating endless ideas for Pinterest pins, Instagram captions, and blog posts.

• Strategy & Funnels: How to map out email sequences and growth plans in minutes.

• The Human Touch: Balancing AI efficiency with your God-given creativity.

Stop staring at a blank cursor. Tune in to learn more.

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

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Are you unknowingly sabotaging your crochet business success? If you feel stuck despite working hard, you might be hitting your "Upper Limit."

In this episode of Simply Hooked, I dive into The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks—a book that completely reshaped how I view my time and talent as a crochet designer. We explore why you might be burning out in your "Zone of Excellence" and how to finally step into your "Zone of Genius."

In this episode, we cover:

• The Upper Limit Problem: How hidden beliefs limit the amount of success and happiness you allow yourself to have.

• The 4 Zones of Functioning: Identifying if you are stuck in Incompetence, Competence, Excellence, or Genius.

• Breaking Through: Practical encouragement to step boldly into your unique, God-given creativity.

Whether you are scaling a handmade side hustle or longing for more fulfillment, this episode will help you stop playing small.

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!

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Balancing a crochet business and a growing family is messy. In this raw episode, I open up about the fears of welcoming Baby #2, postpartum body image, and the struggle to maintain a creative identity.

This isn’t a polished "how-to" guide—it’s a personal look at the tension between motherhood and entrepreneurship. If you are wondering how to carry it all with grace, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, we share:

• The 1-to-2 Transition: The emotional reality of preparing for a second child while running a handmade business.

• Postpartum Real Talk: Dealing with invisible pressures regarding body image and "bouncing back."

• The "Return" Timeline: Guilt over taking time off vs. the urge to get back to your crochet business.

• Identity Crisis: How to hold onto your creative self when motherhood demands everything.

You are not alone in the chaos. Tune in for an honest reflection on the beauty and tension of the mompreneur life.

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!🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

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🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Melinda walked away from her job in housekeeping after chemical exposure caused debilitating migraines—but she didn't just quit. She walked straight into her God-given creative calling.

In this episode of Simply Hooked, we share a raw and real story of a complete life pivot. Melinda discusses how a health crisis became the catalyst for building a business rooted in faith and service.

In this episode, we share:

• The Pivot: How to find the courage to leave a "safe" job when your health demands it.

• Pain to Purpose: Transforming a personal struggle into the foundation of a creative business.

• Faith in Action: Why trusting God is the most practical business strategy for handmade entrepreneurs.

• Finding Your Calling: Encouragement for anyone wondering if their creativity can actually support their life.

If you are navigating a transition or wondering if your detour is actually a divine direction, this story will inspire you to step forward with courage.

VISIT MELINDA's BUSINESSES

Shiplap & Sage

The Stables Marketplace

Sacred Honor

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!

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to the very first episode under our brand-new name: Creative & Called! In today’s episode, I’m sharing the heart behind the change, why I felt led to shift the direction of this podcast, and how sometimes the best thing we can do in business (and life) is pivot.

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to force something to work the way you thought it was supposed to—or if you’ve started a project that ended up evolving into something entirely different—you’re not alone.

This episode is your permission slip to change direction, follow the nudge, and trust that your God-given creativity will lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.

Let’s talk about why this podcast name changed, what that means moving forward, and how embracing the unexpected might be the very thing that sets you free.

🧶 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Hooked on Growth⁠⁠⁠⁠ – now on Amazon

🌐 Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠marcymade.co⁠⁠⁠⁠ for crochet patterns

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

🔹 This episode was originally recorded during the Creative & Called season and is now part of Simply Hooked: A Crochet Podcast—your go-to show for crochet inspiration, creative business tips, and mindset shifts to help you craft a life you love.

Your mindset shapes your crochet business just as much as your stitches do. In this Threads of Wisdom mini-episode, we explore Earl Nightingale’s timeless concept: "You become what you think about."

Inspired by The Strangest Secret, this episode is a quick dose of encouragement to help you align your thoughts with your business goals.

In this mini-episode, you’ll discover:

• The "Thought-Stitch" Connection: How your daily thoughts create the fabric of your life and business.

• Earl Nightingale’s Wisdom: Why setting clear goals and focusing on what you want (not what you fear) is the key to growth.

• Practical Positivity: Simple ways to shift your mindset to build confidence as a maker.

Stop letting negative thoughts unravel your progress. Tune in for a quick reminder that you have the power to craft the life you want.

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!

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join Our Skool Community⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠Join The Next Crochet Kit Club⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop My Crochet Patterns⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔆⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab The Crochet Snuggle Buddies Pattern Book⁠⁠

🧶⁠⁠⁠⁠Grab Some Crochet Merch⁠

🧶⁠⁠Grab The FREE Donkey Pattern⁠⁠⁠

You can master SEO, email funnels, and product photography, but if your mindset isn't aligned, your business will always hit a ceiling.

In the final episode of our Scaling Your Crochet Business series, we tackle the most important piece of the puzzle: your brain. I share the specific shifts that fueled my biggest growth as a designer.

In this episode, we cover:

• The 90% Rule: Why your business can only grow as much as you do personally.

• Hustle vs. Alignment: How to shift from fear-based working to faith-based growing.

• Guru Wisdom: Lessons from Les Brown, Jim Rohn, Bob Proctor, and Jay Shetty applied to the handmade world.

  
  

• Breaking Blocks: Identifying the mental barriers keeping you stuck at your current revenue level.

If you have ever asked, "Can I really make a living from this?"—this episode is your answer.

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

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Struggling to juggle your crochet business with a full-time job and family life? You need systems that work as hard as you do.

In Part 7 of the Scaling Your Crochet Business series on Simply Hooked, I’m sharing the exact tech stack and workflow secrets I use to run a profitable handmade business without burnout.

We dive into the best tools for crochet business owners—from Canva and Trello to Shopify, Mailchimp, and ChatGPT. Learn how to automate the boring stuff so you can spend more time with your yarn.

In this episode, we cover:

• Crochet Business Tools: The essential platforms for marketing, inventory, and design.

• Content Batching 101: How to plan social media and record episodes on a busy schedule.

• Shipping & Logistics: Time-saving hacks for fulfilling crochet product orders and digital downloads.

• Workflow Systems: How to streamline your process from idea to finished object.

Whether you are looking to start selling crochet or are ready to scale your Etsy shop or website, this episode is packed with productivity tips for makers to help you grow with confidence.

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

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

Social media algorithms change, accounts get hacked, and posts get buried. Your email list is the only asset you truly own.

In this episode of Simply Hooked, we dive into why email marketing is the smartest strategy for a sustainable crochet business. We break down how to move followers from Instagram to your own list so you can sell on autopilot.

In this episode, we cover:

• Owned Audience vs. Rented Land: Why you cannot build a business solely on social media.

• The Lead Magnet: How to create a freebie (pattern, guide, or checklist) that your customers actually want.

• Simple Funnels: Setting up a "set it and forget it" email sequence to drive pattern sales.

• Nurturing Fans: Turning casual subscribers into loyal customers who buy every time you launch.

Stop chasing likes and start building a direct line to your customers. This is your roadmap to long-term growth.

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

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠

When selling online, your customer can't touch the yarn—they buy with their eyes. If your photos are dark or blurry, you are losing sales no matter how beautiful your stitching is.

In Part 5 of Scaling Your Crochet Business, I share the exact tools and strategies I use to make my products stand out. We discuss why I ditched the lightbox for natural light and how to create a brand that builds trust.

In this episode, we cover:

• Lighting 101: Why natural light is king for crochet texture (and how to master it).

• Gear Guide: Getting started with DSLR photography without breaking the bank.

• Canva for Makers: How to create polished graphics and branding assets easily.

• The "Click" Factor: My #1 tip that instantly boosted pattern and product sales.

Whether you are using a phone or a professional camera, this episode will help you stop the scroll and get the click.

RESOURCES & LINKS

🔆⁠⁠⁠More About My Learn to Crochet Course⁠⁠⁠

📺⁠⁠My YouTube Channel⁠⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Facebook⁠

🔆⁠Simply Hooked on Instagram⁠

🧶⁠⁠Simply Hooked Crochet Patterns⁠⁠