Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Kruse.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I learned how to crochet from Youtube in January of 2021! Like anything, it took a lot of patience and practice to feel confident in what I was creating. At the time, I was studying for my marketing degree at University of St. Thomas. Flash forward to January of 2024, I launched my website to begin officially selling my pieces! I never expected something that started as a creative hobby to turn into a business, but seeing people connect with and wear something I made by hand inspired me to keep growing it. Since then it’s been a crazy journey. I now have seasonal pop-ups and host brand events to showcase my items, connect with my community, and celebrate slow fashion. It’s been really rewarding to watch LK Crochet grow from something I taught myself into a business that continues to evolve.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I think for anyone, pursuing your dreams is challenging and risky – that’s why not everyone does it. I’d be lying if I said I’ve never had any doubts. Every day looks different for me. Some days that can be exciting, but some days it’s beyond overwhelming. When it gets difficult, I remind myself that I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. As the only employee of LK Crochet, when I’m not crocheting, I’m sourcing yarn, finding new patterns, coming up with my own designs, running my social media, orchestrating new pop-ups and opportunities, restocking branding materials, prepping for my next event, and let’s not forget the most important part… maintaining my personal life. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the constant support I receive from the people I surround myself with. I’m beyond grateful for them, and grateful that I get to wake up every day and continue growing LK Crochet.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
LK Crochet is my handmade brand! I post new listings and take orders through my website and DMs on Instagram. I specialize in women’s crochet clothing and accessories. Something that sets me apart is that I don’t make something just because it’ll sell, I make things that genuinely inspire me. I love following fashion trends, experimenting with color, and turning those ideas into handmade pieces. I’m passionate about making pieces that I would genuinely wear myself. It’s so rewarding when people love the final product just as much as I do. I’m so proud of all the hard work I’ve put into LKC but I’m most proud of the community that’s grown around it. Seeing people choose to support handmade, wear my pieces, and come back for another one is something I’ll never take for granted.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
It’s so hard to choose just one memory because some of my favorite parts of childhood weren’t just one specific moment. My best memories were from being outside and growing up in Minnesota. I loved experiencing all the seasons: skiing every winter, spending summers on the lake, watching the leaves change in the fall, and even playing in the rain during the spring. All those moments gave me a deep appreciation for the beauty of nature. I think that’s one of the reasons sustainability has always been so important to me. It’s actually big part of why I started LK Crochet. I wanted to create a meaningful alternative to fast fashion by making pieces that are unique, high quality, and made to last.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydiakruse.crochet
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lydiakruse.crochet
