From Crochet Hobby to Small Business

Hey, I’m Jordyn! About a year ago, in mid-2025, I turned a new hobby into a small business called Looped in by Jordyn.

It all started with a YouTube rabbit hole. I discovered crochet creators making beautiful hexagon cardigans and immediately decided I needed to make one, even though I’d never picked up a crochet hook before. I ordered the supplies, followed tutorials, and was completely hooked (pun intended).

What surprised me was how much I loved not only the finished cardigan, but the process of making it as well. Spending hours creating something warm, cozy, and completely handmade was incredibly rewarding. After making one for myself, I started making cardigans as gifts for family and friends while sharing my progress on Instagram. As more people began asking if they could buy one, I realized this hobby had the potential to become something much bigger.

How My Business Started

From the beginning, I wanted to diversify how my business could earn income. Rather than relying on a single platform, I built three different streams:

• Sharing my crochet journey through YouTube and Instagram
• Selling handmade products at local craft markets
• Taking online orders through Etsy and my own custom order form

Each of these streams supports the others. One person might discover me on YouTube, visit my booth at a market, then later place a custom order online. Having a recognizable brand across every platform makes connections easier to maintain and repeat customers more likely.

Early Challenges

Even though people responded incredibly positively to both my content and my products, I struggled with imposter syndrome. I had only recently learned to crochet myself, so starting a crochet business felt intimidating. I also had far more ideas than I had time to execute. Every day I’d think of new products, videos, booth displays, and marketing ideas.

Instead of trying to do everything at once, I started keeping detailed lists, prioritizing the projects that would make the biggest impact, and treating every event as a learning opportunity. After my very first craft market, I sat down and analyzed everything. Which products sold first? What questions did shoppers ask the most often? Which booth displays attracted attention? And what ended up being my best sellers? I even made a dedicated YouTube video breaking down everything I learned. Those insights shaped almost every business decision I made afterward.

Business Idea and Market Research

One question I asked myself early on was, “Will people actually pay for something they could technically make themselves?” The answer turned out to be yes.

Crochet is incredibly time-consuming, and while I genuinely love making every piece, many customers simply don’t have the time – or the desire – to learn the craft themselves. They’re happy to invest in something handmade, customizable, and created with care.

Branding and Identity

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that branding isn’t just about looking professional. It’s about making your business memorable. A recognizable brand builds trust, helps customers remember you, and ultimately brings your business more opportunities and more revenue.

For me, branding started with my business name. Looped in by Jordyn is a crochet pun, and it’s become one of my favorite conversation starters at markets. People regularly stop by my booth just to comment on the name, which naturally leads to conversations about my products.

From there, I created a simple logo and had it engraved onto leather tags that I sew onto finished crochet pieces. Those little details instantly make my products look more polished while reinforcing my brand every time someone wears one.

I also carried my branding into my market setup with matching signage, business cards, and a consistent color palette that appears throughout my booth, logo, social media, and many of the yarn colors I choose. Keeping everything cohesive helps customers recognize my business whether they’re scrolling Instagram or walking through a crowded craft market.

Small Branding Changes That Made a Big Difference

When I first started, I kept costs low by buying plain packaging supplies in bulk. It was practical, but it didn’t really feel like an expansion of my business. Adding branded labels completely changed the customer experience.

Instead of investing in expensive custom packaging, I started using my Munbyn thermal label printer to create logo stickers, thank-you labels, and packaging decals that match my brand colors. It gives every package a finished, professional look without requiring me to purchase custom boxes or bags.

It’s also made packaging much faster. Since the printer uses thermal technology, I don’t have to worry about buying ink, and I can print exactly what I need whenever I need it. It’s a small change that’s saved both time and money, and provides proof that branding doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be consistent.

My Advice for Solo Sellers

If you’re just starting your own business or side hustle, don’t feel like you need to have every branding detail figured out on day one. Start with a business name you genuinely love, and choose a simple logo that prints well in color and black and white. Pick a few brand colors you’ll still enjoy months from now, then use those same elements everywhere: your social media, packaging, business cards, market booth, and website. You can always refine your branding as your business grows, but being consistent from the beginning makes it much easier for customers to recognize and remember you.

Highlight Your Hustle

One thing I’ve really appreciated about Munbyn is that they understand how much heart goes into building a small business. The Highlight Your Hustle campaign celebrates entrepreneurs who are putting themselves out there and creating something meaningful, and I’m honored to be part of it.

Whether you’re running a side hustle after work or building your dream business full-time, your brand deserves to stand out. Sometimes it’s little touches like a logo tag, thank-you sticker, or thoughtfully branded packaging that make customers remember your business long after they’ve opened their order. For me, branding has become so much more than making things look nice. It’s helped customers recognize my business, trust my products, recommend me to others, and follow along with my journey. That’s why I believe branding really does help your business grow, and with tools like Munbyn, highlighting your hustle has never been easier.