A Real Life Crafting Business Story | Podcast Episode #136

Episode Transcript

Brittany:
You’re listening to the B.Hooked Podcast, episode 136, with Brittany. Hello and welcome! This is the place where we love yarn, we love to learn, and we believe yarn can do more for us than just make pretty things. If you’re new here, welcome—I’m your host, Brittany, and I spend my days helping you get better at your craft.

On the podcast, we mostly talk about crochet and knitting, but we also dive into what it’s like to have a crafting business. Today’s episode is one of those business-focused chats, and I’m so excited to introduce Brianna from Life and Yarn. She’s here to share her inspiring story of how she gave up a dream career she worked over 10 years to build so she could do what she loves more—and be present for her family.

I know so many of us can relate to the struggle of making a huge life change like that, so today we talk about Brianna’s journey, the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, and how running a crafting business is unique to each of us.

If you want to connect with Brianna after the episode, I’ll have all her info and website on the show notes page at BeHooked.com/136.

Alright, no more delay—here’s my chat with Brianna from Life & Yarn. Brianna, hi! Welcome to the show.

Brianna:
Hi! Thank you so much for having me.

Brittany:
It’s my pleasure. I’m so glad we connected—especially since you’re saving the day with a last-minute schedule change! I really think this happened for a reason because your story moved me, and I know it will inspire makers, side hustlers, and anyone thinking about turning their passion into a full-time gig. I’m excited to dive in.

Brianna:
Oh, thank you so much.

Brittany:
You have such an inspiring story about rewriting the expectations of your life. Where did this journey start for you?

Brianna:
Well, like many creatives, I just grew up being very creative but never had a clear plan. In high school, I took every art elective I could, building a big portfolio, and I wanted to go to art school—but when it came time to apply, I had no idea what to do with it.

I remember talking to my dad—he said, “I’m not paying for art school. What are you going to do with that degree? You have no plan.” So I asked him, “What do I do then?” and he suggested architecture.

So I went to community college for civil tech, a mix of engineering and architecture, transferred for my bachelor’s, and six and a half years later graduated. I skipped the ceremony and went right to work, while also working for my grandfather’s engineering company during school.

After graduation, I landed a great job at a big design-build firm. I loved it. I was collecting hours to get licensed, planning my wedding—life was busy but good.

I thought architecture would be perfect—I could get my license, work from home, have my own practice, create my own schedule, and take on as much or as little work as I wanted.

Then, fast forward: I was married, pregnant, working crazy hours—even crawling through a burned-down house doing inspections at seven months pregnant.

I still loved architecture—it’s amazing—but then my son was born, I worked from home, but around his first birthday, I realized something was off.

I pulled out my computer, and he started crying—he was associating the computer with me not being there. That hit me hard because I wanted to be present for him.

Architecture, especially private practice, demands so much time and attention. I wasn’t giving my son what he needed.

Meanwhile, Life and Yarn had been a side hobby, but I realized I could turn it into a business. That moment, when he got upset at the computer, was my lightbulb—I needed to make a change.

That was August 2017. So about two years ago, I started seriously shifting toward making Life and Yarn my business.

It was hard to stop chasing a 10-year dream, especially when I had all the credentials and was so close to licensing. But I had to stop. I couldn’t not be there for my kids.

Brittany:
Yeah. That’s a lot. It’s really a lot to make that decision—and actually know it’s the right one. I bet when you started out, you didn’t realize it wouldn’t be what you hoped.

Brianna:
Oh my goodness, no. You don’t know until you’re living it. That’s the hardest part—planning for something you don’t know, and then realizing it’s not working and figuring out how to change it. It’s scary. It’s hard.

Brittany:
You know? Right, right. That’s a life-changing decision. When I was married—but before we had kids—it was still a tough call for me. I went through five years of college studying biology, which is so different from what I’m doing now. So I really get that feeling of saying, “Okay, this looked great five years ago, but the reality is—it’s not what I want anymore.” For me, it took a heart-to-heart conversation with my husband to realize that it was okay to feel that way.

And when you work for yourself, you probably—well, you will—work harder and longer hours than you ever have before. But the surprising thing is, you love every minute of it and it doesn’t even feel like work. That part still surprises me. But I also have to try to explain to my family that, yeah, I made this change for more flexibility and freedom doing what I love, but at the same time, it sometimes feels like I have less. Is that something you experienced too?

Brianna:
Yeah, definitely. I knew I wanted to be home with my kids once I had them. That’s why I thought architecture would be the perfect fit—I could get my license, have my own practice, and work from home. But what I didn’t expect was how obsessive I’d be about it. I worked around the clock—holidays, 3 a.m., it didn’t matter.

I loved talking to clients about their dream homes and getting to design and build those spaces. It was amazing. But that work-from-home job just didn’t fit with having kids.

Crochet—Life and Yarn—started as a hobby, but it’s so much more family-friendly. I can sit on the floor with Jack and work on a project, and he’s okay with that. It’s not my computer. If he grabs it and runs, it’s not the end of the world. Sure, if he breaks my computer with all my designs on it, that would be a problem—but overall, it’s so much better for family life than what I was doing before.

Explaining that to people is hard. It’s difficult.

Brittany:
Yeah. So I’m curious—what did Life and Yarn look like in those very early days? Because that’s something important to think about when making this kind of switch: just because you have a business set up, it doesn’t mean it’s earning money yet. It takes time and a lot of work to get there. So what was it like then, and how is it different now?

Brianna:
I’ve always appreciated making things. I learned very young from my grandma and picked it up and put it down over the years. When I was pregnant with Jack, like many people, I wanted to make him something special—a baby blanket or whatever. That’s when I really got back into it and became obsessed just for fun.

After Jack was born, and work slowed down just a bit because I wasn’t running around job sites with a newborn, I started an Instagram account to share my projects. That’s when I discovered other makers who had blogs or were sponsored by yarn companies. I learned about affiliate links and ways to make some income from what started as a hobby.

Jack was only a few months old, and I thought, “Wow, that’s pretty cool.” So I came up with Life and Yarn, bought the website, created the Instagram handle, Facebook page, email list—all of it.

At first, I just wanted to share what I was making—I wasn’t focused on patterns or designs. The “Life” part was meant to be like a mommy blog, which didn’t really happen because, you know, life.

But when I decided to transition out of working full-time and be a stay-at-home mom, I wanted to pursue Life and Yarn more seriously—as a business that could bring in some income. Not a lot—just enough to help out, like paying the car insurance or groceries, so my husband wouldn’t be stressed.

Since then, it’s been growing—and it’s been amazing.

Brittany:
So what does it look like today? Are patterns your main thing now?

Brianna:
Yes. At one point, I thought I’d sell at markets and make the same items over and over, but I realized I’m just not built for that. Hats and repeat items? I admire people who do it, but I can’t.

Jack was about a year old when I started transitioning out of full-time work in 2017. By summer 2018, I was wrapping up contracts. September 2018 was my first month with no professional work.

So this past September marked one full year of Life and Yarn being my full-time gig. I’m still figuring it out—just revamped my brand colors and blog layout. It’s always evolving.

I really love designing garments—clothes I can wear regularly and feel comfortable in. I also do accessories and blankets sometimes, but garments are my passion. I share free patterns too, which surprisingly, people really appreciate and share widely.

Brittany:
That’s awesome. I think every business goes through a journey. What it looks like when you start is so different from 1, 3, or 5 years down the road. It’s constantly changing. I’m still learning that myself—even after almost three years full-time.

It’s also important for people to know you don’t have to have it all figured out on day one.

Brianna:
Absolutely. I still don’t have it figured out. There are always changes happening.

Brittany:
Yeah, me too. It’s a learning process for everyone. Not because you don’t know what you’re doing, but because what your community wants from you is always changing. You have to listen and respond.

Brianna:
Yes! When I started, I Googled everything. But Google doesn’t have all the answers—there’s no one right way to build a creative business. I messaged random people asking how they did things, and I often got “I don’t know, I just did it.”

Now I realize it’s not that people didn’t want to help—they just couldn’t because there’s no set formula. It’s all trial and error. It’s scary, but it’s worth it.

I never thought, back when I was designing houses, that I could find something I’d love more. But I did. And it’s amazing.

Brittany:
Yeah, now you said something earlier that really stuck with me. You mentioned some of the questions running through your mind when you decided to leave over ten years of building what you thought was your dream life to take a complete 180 and start working for yourself in a creative business. You asked yourself things like, What scares me more than failure? and What do I care about more than failing? Can you talk me through how you answered those? I think that’s such a valuable self-assessment for anyone considering a big transition like this.

Brianna:
As scary as some decisions can be, I feel like you have to ask yourself, Am I happy? Look at your life right now and ask if you’re going to be happy doing the same thing a year from now, five years, ten years. If the answer is no, are you okay with that? How much does that scare you?

For me, what scared me the most was not wanting to be a mom who was always gone. I didn’t want to push my kids aside because of deadlines or phone calls with clients. Like right now, my toddler’s running around with my mom, and I can hear them playing somewhere in the house. I’ve got our newest little one sleeping in my lap—he was seven weeks old yesterday. That’s something I couldn’t do before.

Before, depending on the client, I’d lose a lot of time I could’ve spent with my husband and kids. I’d be working all week and weekend, then get emails at 8 p.m. because that’s when clients finally had time to check in—and they expect a quick reply because they’re paying a lot for their dream home. That was the scariest part: the time I was spending on work that I felt wasn’t as important as the time I should be spending with my family.

I knew if I didn’t change, I’d look back when Jack was five or ten and realize I missed out on so much. That’s what pushed me to make the change.

Brittany:
That really resonated with me when I read it—how you identified what you care about more than failing. Because starting a business from scratch, not knowing the answers, failure is a huge part of that journey.

Brianna:
Absolutely. I know I can always go back to what I was doing before, though it would be hard. The software changes every year, styles evolve, new materials come out. Keeping up would be a challenge. But honestly, it’s easier to catch up there than to start a business as an entrepreneur from scratch.

If I decided tomorrow that I didn’t want to do this anymore, I could jump back in. Would it be difficult? Yes. But it’s way easier than trying to make that change when you have a family, a mortgage, and so many other responsibilities. It was do it or don’t—there wasn’t a middle ground for me a couple years ago.

Brittany:
Yeah, I think it’s important to have that peace of mind. But how might someone listening make that same kind of self-assessment you went through? I know a lot of people have full-time jobs and side hustles, trying to grow their maker businesses but feel held back by fear or uncertainty. How do you recommend they figure out what’s right for them? I know it’s deep and different for everyone, but as someone who’s been there, what advice would you give?

Brianna:
It really is different for everyone. Honestly? I don’t know if there’s one right answer. And I’m not a “just do it” kind of person. When I say what I did, I’m just trying to keep it simple, but it was a big decision.

For us, it was about slowly testing the waters—saving money where we could, like on car insurance and phone bills, working fewer hours at my job, and building Life and Yarn in the background. So I wasn’t jumping straight out of architecture but transitioning.

When I got down to part-time architectural work and was making the same income with Life and Yarn, that was our signal it was time to go full-time with the business. It wasn’t a one, two, three decision.

I wouldn’t tell anyone to just quit their job. But if you can find ways to transition gradually, that’s the best way to do it. Does that make sense?

Brittany:
Yeah, it does. That’s really helpful. I think it’s crucial to understand you have to build before you jump. It’s not a snap decision where you start making money day one—it takes years. I built Be Hooked for three years before going full time.

And that conversation with your family? That’s a must. Everyone needs to be on the same page.

Brianna:
It wasn’t just my husband—I talked with my parents and siblings too. Everyone kind of knew about Life and Yarn as a hobby, but when I made the decision to stop taking architectural work, it was terrifying.

I’d been pursuing architecture for so long, and my family had supported me. It was scary to say, “I’m done.” But now, I think they’re more proud of me than ever.

Trying something risky and following a dream is huge. It’s scary, but it’s also incredibly freeing. You don’t always have to play it safe—there are ways to take risks carefully. But yeah, there’s always some risk involved.

Brittany:
Now, on the flip side, we talked a bit about how as a new business owner, you work crazy hours because you’re so driven. It’s part of the deal, right?

Brianna:
Oh my gosh, yes.

Brianna:
Yeah, it’s definitely been both. In the beginning, I said yes to a lot because I wanted to get my foot in every possible door. It was both a blessing and a curse. I remember Jack was maybe closer to a year old, and I was still working full-time. I’d get him to sleep and then hide in the bathroom at 3 a.m., making things, working, taking pictures—it was madness.

Living like that taught me I have to be choosy about where I spend my time and what I say yes to. But those early yeses opened doors and gave me experiences I wouldn’t have had if I’d said no. Now, having said all those yeses and regretted some, I know better what to say yes to and what to say no to because I have a clearer idea of where I want my business to go.

So, I’d tell someone starting out to say yes to as much as they can in the beginning—that’s how you learn when to say no. But learning when to say no is the hard part because saying no to one thing means you might miss out on other opportunities. Too many people say yes to everything and then miss the right yes when it comes along. Does that make sense?

Brittany:
Yeah, it’s definitely a balancing act. I experienced the same thing—I said yes to everything I possibly could, and at times I wondered, Why do I keep saying yes? But it helped me figure out what really took my time, what I didn’t love doing, and what didn’t really resonate with my community. Everyone’s situation is unique, but by saying yes, you figure out what lights you up and what doesn’t.

Brianna:
Yeah, exactly. I probably learned some things the hard way, but if you’re just starting, saying yes to as much as you can is important. Otherwise, you won’t know what you love or don’t.

Brittany:
For sure. One thing I wish I knew then is how to manage my time better. When I was doing my…

Brianna:
Yeah, time management is key.

Brittany:
It really is a struggle. If I had managed my time better, I’d have realized there isn’t always space to commit to everything. So my advice on saying yes is: do it, but be smart and make sure you can actually fit that commitment into your schedule.

Brianna:
Oh, totally. And you have to give yourself wiggle room because you never know what’s coming. I finally got into a rhythm with Jack as a toddler, knowing when I could and couldn’t do things, and then we found out we were having another baby—and that changed everything. Right now, I’m just trying to keep my head above water and adjust to a new normal.

I think new business owners have to be flexible in those early days because life throws things at you constantly—whether it’s a new baby or something else. That’s hard to accept, especially for people like me who want everything planned and perfect. But it just doesn’t work like that with this kind of business.

Brittany:
Right, right. So now, I imagine you’ve gotten some practice at saying no. How has that been for you?

Brianna:
Yeah, it’s been good. When we found out about the new baby, I had to reevaluate a lot because with Jack, my pregnancy was smooth, but this time I had morning sickness and was overwhelmed with all the things I’d said yes to. I sat down with my husband and realized I’d taken on too much.

I wrote out a list of everything I was trying to do and asked myself if I loved it, liked it, or if it was stressing me out. If something stresses you or you dread doing it, it probably shouldn’t be on your plate. That’s where I was with a few things—they no longer sparked excitement and took way longer to get done.

You have to be willing to walk away from things, even though it’s hard because you worry about offending people, burning bridges with companies, or hurting feelings. But you have to do it. That process was stressful, especially while dealing with morning sickness. But now, after having the baby in August, everything I have on my plate is something I love and excites me for the future of Life in Yarn.

Brittany:
That’s so good to hear. Do you have any regrets? Did any of those fears about saying no come true?

Brianna:
No.

Brittany:
I think that’s so important for people to hear—we build things up in our heads, but usually it’s not as bad as we expect. People understand, and often they respect you more when you say no because it’s not the right fit.

Brianna:
Absolutely. It’s hard—the anxiety around sending that email or message to say, “This isn’t working,” is real. It’s like quitting a job in a way. You have that moment afterward thinking, Did I really just do that? That stomach-drop feeling.

You might feel scared or second-guess yourself for a little while, but in the long run, I don’t regret saying no to anything.

Brittany:
Yeah, I think that’s really important to hear. But I also don’t want to totally sugarcoat it. I remember hearing advice — and still do — where people say, Say no to more things and more opportunities will open, like everything’s rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes that’s true, but not always. Sometimes you might say no and later regret it. At that point, there’s not much you can do except learn from it.

I also think it’s important not to burn bridges, so when the opportunity comes up again — with that person, brand, or company — in a way that works for both of you, you can still say yes.

Brianna:
Exactly. How you say no, or how you change an agreement, matters. You have to do it in a way that doesn’t hurt feelings and stays professional. You don’t want someone thinking you took the opportunity lightly or left on bad terms. That’s great advice.

Brittany:
For sure. That’s practical advice from two entrepreneurs to someone in a similar situation. So, as a final word to someone who’s in a familiar uncomfortable spot — maybe about to quit their full-time job or go part-time — what’s your final piece of advice to help them find the right answer for them?

Brianna:
I think you have to be as honest with yourself as possible. Really look at what you’re doing — does it make you happy? Will it make you happy down the line? Be honest about where you are and what you want.

No one should be scared to make a change. But big changes — like going from a 9-to-5 that pays the bills to building a creative business with no set path — take serious planning.

The best thing is to make the transition slow and easy. Keep one foot in each world so you can spot what’s not working. The last thing I’d recommend is just quitting your job on a whim — it might feel great in the moment, but when you’re up late trying to figure out your website and have no income, you’ll regret it.

So, be honest, chase your dream, but play it safe when you can. There are ways to do that.

Brittany:
Yeah, I love that. And your tip about writing a list really speaks to me — I’m a list person too. It’s one thing to think something, but writing it down changes how you feel about it. You see it, you realize, Yeah, I really don’t like that. Even if you’re not a list person, I encourage you to try it.

Brianna:
Another thing I did was write goals for Life and Yarn. They’re kind of all over the place because mom life distracts me, but I recently found one list and thought, Wow, I don’t care about that anymore.

I think that’s important — write down your goals, put them somewhere, and revisit them in a month. Ask yourself, Do I still care about these? It can really help you decide if the change you want to make is the right one.

Brittany:
Yeah.

Brianna:
If you do that over time, it will guide you toward what you really want.

Brittany:
I agree — that’s a great note to end on. Now, I want to give listeners a chance to connect with you after hearing today’s episode, because I know many might be in a similar spot, and we can all help each other. Where can people find you and what you’re up to?

Brianna:
I’m Life and Yarn everywhere — except on Instagram, where I’m Life.and.Yarn (with periods). Instagram’s my main place — I post almost every day, sharing what I’m working on, behind the scenes, new designs, and day-to-day life in my stories.

My blog is another big spot: lifeandyarn.com. My newsletter is important too — a pop-up will invite you to sign up, and I keep subscribers in the loop on everything.

If you go to my Instagram, there’s a link in my bio that leads straight to my blog, which has a directory of all my places online. So yeah, I’m easy to find.

Brittany:
Perfect. I’ll include all that in the show notes so listeners can find you easily.

Brianna, thank you so much — it’s been such a pleasure to connect and share your story. I know it will help someone in a similar situation, and I’m really grateful.

Brianna:
Thanks for having me!

Brittany:
Alright, that was Brianna from Life and Yarn. Be sure to check her out on Instagram where she hangs out.

Though every person’s situation is different, one thing to remember is that when we face big decisions — like saying no to an opportunity we want to say yes to, or turning a hobby into a full- or part-time job — we often build these moments up in our heads and imagine the worst. It’s uncomfortable, and it takes a safe approach, like Brianna said.

But no matter the outcome, you learn and grow from the experience — whether it’s a success or a failure. You probably become a happier person because of it.

And remember, we have a wonderful community here. So many people are ready to help and listen. We’re building you up, strengthening you, and we understand what you’re going through right now.

Today’s episode was brought to you by my blueprint course, Tunisian Crochet for Beginners. Thanks so much for listening to these little sponsor messages — they help keep the podcast running behind the scenes.

My course teaches you Tunisian crochet from scratch. If you’ve heard the name but don’t know how to do it, this is for you. Tunisian crochet is a slightly different style that lets you make new stitches and offers a nice break from traditional crochet motions — especially if your hands feel fatigued.

If you want to give it a try and support the show, head over to bhooked.com/TCFB (Tunisian Crochet For Beginners). That’ll take you to the course page where you can see all the lessons and sign up.

That wraps up this week’s episode of the Be Hooked podcast. Thanks so much for tuning in week after week. If you haven’t subscribed yet, please do — it helps the show more than you think. Just hit subscribe in your podcast player and you’ll get new episodes every week.

Thanks again, and I’ll see you next week, my friend.