Meet The Maker: Lilibet Crafty Co.

Tell us how you got started with your handcrafted business. What inspired you?

I lost one of my favorite stitch markers a couple of years ago, and the options to replace it were boring. I wanted stitch markers that represented my interests outside of crafting—no more sheep or balls of yarn. I wanted cherry skulls, Pink Pony Club, Down Bad, and cottagecore. I wanted bright, shiny colors and interesting shapes. My idea percolated for a long time while I figured out what materials to use and how to find a laser cutter to meet my needs. Once I got started, my ideas multiplied pretty quickly. I have a TBM (to-be-made) list that is a mile long. It’s been really fun to have those ideas spill over into my other skill sets of sewing, embroidery, cross-stitch, and yarn crafting.

What was one of the most difficult pieces you’ve created so far?

The first set of stitch markers I worked on was probably the most difficult. I had a lot of design practice, too many ideas, and zero experience with laser cutting and engraving. My first set was overdesigned, with too many details, and I burned nearly every piece I put in the laser. It took me a month to whittle my designs down to something that made sense as tiny little charms and that cut cleanly every time.

What’s your favorite piece?

I love all the little stitch markers— notions are one of my favorite parts of fiber crafts, especially when they are colorful and glittery. Strangely, I also really enjoyed designing my 3-in-1 tool that is a needle gauge, wraps-perinch gauge, and ruler all in one. It was tedious, and I made plenty of mistakes, but I enjoyed the precision crafting.

Where does your inspo come from for new pieces or notions for crafting?

Books, music, art, pop culture, and inside jokes. I love overlapping themes. I absolutely do want Life of a Showgirlthemed stitch markers on my WIP (work in progress), with my yarn cake twirling on a Y2K alien-themed yarn spinner. I have been crafting with an awesome bunch of creatives every Tuesday for nearly five years now, and a lot of my designs originated because they’ve said, “That needs to be a sticker!” I have a backlog of ideas that one day will be a T-shirt or a sticker, and most of them are inspired by the crafty group of humans that have kept me creating the last few years.

What has been the most challenging part of starting this handcrafted business?

I had the idea formulating for a long time before I figured out what medium I could best use. I looked into designing enamel charms and resin before finally deciding I wanted to try laser cutting so I could manufacture most of the items myself. Finding access to a laser that would cut all the clear acrylics I wanted was the first big hurdle I experienced. Eventually, I found a space where I could rent time on a CO2 laser and got started. The space also had an embroidery machine and a whole textile studio, so I’ve spent a lot of the last six months working there.

What has been the most rewarding part so far?

Dusting off old skills and developing new ones has been very rewarding. I never stopped making art over the 10-year career break I took to stay home with my kids, but it had been a while since I made digital art. It’s been fun to apply those skills to something that’s not so serious—I haven’t really been driven by deadlines or print dates and have instead just been focused on what kind of design makes me happy or improves my craft experience.

What advice would you have given yourself five years ago?

Start! I get in my own way pretty often, obsessing about whether or not I’m doing something at the right time or if it will work out the way I want it to. I should have started creating my designs long before I worked out the logistics. I would tell myself to be bold enough to make mistakes. As a perfectionist, that’s hard.

You have been teaching others to crochet—do you have any tips you can share for someone wanting to get started with crochet or knitting? What type of pieces tend to be the most helpful to start with?

Start with a project that feels exciting. You don’t have to know all the basics before you begin something that will evolve into a perfectly functional and pretty finished product. If you start with swatches and learning all the stitches, you might burn out on learning before getting to the reward of finishing. It’s a lot more productive to start with a project that inspires you to finish while also laying foundational skills.

If you want to knit for the first time, knitting hats is a great place to start. It introduces you to knitting in the round and foundational stitches that you’ll use in every knit project. If you want to crochet for the first time, granny squares are fast and give an immediate reward but can get monotonous after your fourth or fifth one. I’d recommend starting with a deck of granny square cards, where you can learn dozens of different designs, or amigurumi (the Japanese art of yarn-stuffed figures) that give both the gratification of a finished project and the skill-building that keeps you engaged. Learning from other crafters is priceless. Take an Unglued class with another artist or me, find a stitching circle, ask your aunt to teach you. Nothing beats learning from artists who have spent years honing their craft. YouTube is also super helpful if you need to watch a specific stitch worked on repeat until you nail it.

Where can people find your work or connect with you?

For now, my products and lessons are available via DM on Instagram and Facebook or by email. Keep an eye out for me at future maker markets and classes at Unglued. You’ll also be able to find me at the Fiber Arts Festival at the Fargodome, August 1–2. As a board member of the festival, I’m really excited about expanding our outreach and organizing a diverse group of artists to share multiple skills with the community.

Lilibet Crafty Co.

Facebook | /lilibetcraftyco
Instagram | @lilibet.craftyco
lilibetcraftyco@gmail.com