Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenelle Huddleston.
Jenelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I was always fascinated with how my grandma could crochet the most intricate blankets and lacework. She attempted to teach me numerous times, but I can’t say I was the most patient child. After college, I moved to Southern California – My evenings in Anaheim were spent mostly in front of the TV, and I remembered that my grandma would be spent her days taking in “her shows” while producing beautiful crochet work.
Fast-forward to two months later, I was armed with an assortment of bright chunky yarn and enough crochet knowledge picked apart from YouTube videos to make some pretty “okay” projects. One of my first commissions was for a pink possum with a big yellow bow, so there was a lot of trial and error early on with creating unique designs.
Over the next few years, I made my way back to the Midwest with a growing collection of yarn animal designs. In 2016, after five years of making crochet creatures, I finally turned the hobby into the business that Pennyknot is now.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Putting yourself out there, especially creatively, is really hard. What if no one wants what you make? I personally thought the things I made were adorable, but Everyone Else was terrifying. A lot of the confidence came from picking a company name and having help from my fiancé with developing branding, but the rest came the first time I attended a craft show here in Chicago – Seeing small kids run up and hug these animals made me realize that Everyone Else was not as scary as I thought.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Pennyknot story. Tell us more about the business.
Pennyknot makes happy handmade crochet creatures. Traditionally, the art of crochet stuffed animals calls for thin yarn and creations only about 6” tall – Pennyknot stuffed animals sit between 16–20”, so they are impressive! We also offer smaller toys like rattles and mobiles, but I think that the big guys bring the biggest smiles.
I’m very proud of the fact that all Pennyknot creations are unique – I develop all of the patterns from scratch. Having this knowledge means that I can be flexible enough to bring in seasonal items and offer custom creatures.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m incredibly lucky to have the support team that I have! I would be nowhere without the people that help me carry show displays across town, tie hangtags to paws, and don’t mind me bringing yarn to every social event.
Pricing:
- Stuffed Animals start at $72
- Rattles start at $22
- Mobiles start at $66
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pennyknot.com
- Email: hello@pennyknot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pennyknot/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pennyknot/
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