Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Thorpe.
Hi Erin, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in MI and I started crocheting back in high school around 2007 with my mom. We would sit in the basement and make anything square. She only knew a few patterns but it was enough.
We would find yarn at garage sales and from other families and put it all together. Later I learned how to make hats and gloves even belts! As I got older I stopped crocheting and continued life. I later moved to TN and started working on furniture pieces. I love remaking and designing old things into new ones and still work on this currently.
Once COVID hit I put a hold on the furniture part and picked up the crochet again. What else do you do when you are stuck inside for eternity?! From here, I found a pattern for a cat butt coaster. I have two cats and thought it was funny. As a test run, I started making Koozies and gave them to my friends to get feedback. It went well! I started trying new things and using different yarn and patterns and figured how to get good detail too.
I’ve made pet Koozies, flamingos, dragons, giraffes, penguins, and more. It’s so much fun and I really enjoy a good night in crocheting. It brings me peace in the crazy world and selling them on Etsy is an added bonus! I’m working on “making it big” by Koozies! A little added fun part is all animal Koozies have a little surprise underneath them, a little booty of their own just like the cat butt coasters I started with.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It’s been a learning road really. This year was the first year seeing people’s reactions and getting feedback. Has it grown as much as I’d like, no but nothing does overnight. I’m not giving up! Watch out 2022, I’m coming!
We’ve been impressed with Knottedtable, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Coming up with a name felt like it took ages. Once I settled on Knottedtable I was ready. I wanted something to join my furniture remodel and crocheting into one. It was perfect, I was driving blind through most of it and still am. I have no idea what I’m doing but try it all, right? I took a big focus on my Koozies by expanding my abilities and learning new things.
I love making them and they seem to make others smile and laugh so that’s a success. I know it’s weird and I still feel weird explaining it but what sets my Koozies out from others are the bootyholes on the bottom. (Sorry). Every animal has one so I added it to the Koozies! When you are taking a drink, others get a sneak peek of a little secret too. It’s a great conversation starter and makes people interested, or at least I hope so! I’m proud of myself for not quitting and continuing to grow my skills and sharing with the world.
I love that I’m known for Koozies with a booty because it makes me smile and others. I would like readers to know that I specialize in pet Koozies, currently with dogs but it’s growing. Still working on the cat Koozies but trying all things! I love being able to put a pet into a koozie because that pet owner will be happy when they use it each time!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Starting a new business is a risk especially during COVID. You heard about so many small businesses closing shop which is unfortunate. I want to be big, I want to grow and it’s scary to think you can lose it all just like that but if you don’t try then you’ve failed. I am not letting the risk of it keep me from trying out something I love to do. It makes me happy and if I don’t get big then it is what it is but at least I tried!
Pricing:
- Standard Koozies $8
- Animal Koozies $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://etsy.me/3iKnw2x
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knottedtable/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069749785741
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdMjpEdX/
