Over the past couple of years, I've been fascinated to learn about the natural cycles of humans, including seasonalities, hormones, habits, and more. As we lean into these natural cycles, our businesses can feel more easeful, our time more productive, and our energy more optimized. If you're ready to lean into what's already instinctual in your bod…

With Amazon's Big Deal Days just behind us and Black Friday sales just ahead of us, I have some thoughts. Did you notice how many other businesses followed Amazon's lead with Big Deal Days by hosting their own "big" sales at the same time? Do you wonder if you need to jump on all of the sale/discount bandwagons too? In this podcast episode, we dive…

If you're an abled person who doesn't have to worry about ableism in your day to day life, you're likely unaware of the many different shapes and forms that ableism can take. I know it's certainly a relatively new topic for me! And that's why I'm so excited to share this episode with you, featuring Beth Gorishek from Adaptive Knitter. Beth has been…

Hurricane Helene recently dumped a ridiculous amount of rain on western North Carolina: a mountainous region that is not used to hurricane weather. The massive amount of rainfall led to power outages, water lines breaking, houses and roads drifting into the lakes and rivers, and more. While my home wasn't touched, there are homes not far from me th…

As much as we might try to see the world through a black and white, right versus wrong lens, that's often not the case. In this podcast episode, I chat with Karel Chan from KC Knitting Co, and we discuss some hot takes for the knit and crochet pattern design industry, which are linked with a discussion of the nuances of running a creative business,…

Finding a technical editor that you work well with and that does good work can be difficult to find, and it often takes time to build a trusting relationship. I feel as though I have a great working relationship with my technical editor, but it wasn't always that way. Prior to working with Joanna (of Precision Technical Editing), I'd worked with a …

Being vulnerable and asking for help can be difficult and intimidating in any situation, let alone when you're the CEO of your business and you feel like you're supposed to be the expert - the person who knows everything and can do everything. But the reality is... you're human. We're all human. And just as vulnerability tends to be valuable in nea…

As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to take off a month or more for your business, especially if you're working alone and used to wearing all of the hats. But as a new parent, it's extremely valuable and important that you're able to step away from work to care for yourself and your new little one(s). Plus, this is why you're a business owner: …

Whether you're on the brink of burnout, you're in the middle of suffering from burnout, or you're wanting to prevent burnout in your creative business, this podcast episode is for you! In this episode, we chat with Kam of Hand Knit by Kam. Kam and I were both dealing with burnout around the same time, but she chose to take a break. Tune in to hear …

If you are a creative entrepreneur, I really really hope you'll listen to this episode, because I think it's so important for all of us to be reminded of this over and over and over and over again! This episode is a continuation of my series of diving into inspiration from other creative entrepreneurs and sharing their stories, wisdom, motivation, …

Sometimes our businesses take unexpected turns that we never would've imagined... but that turn out even better than we might have planned! Last year, an opportunity arose for Jessie Rayot of Jessie at Home to purchase Crochet Foundry, and she jumped right on it! In this podcast episode, Jessie shares all about her (unexpected) experience taking ov…

In this episode, I answer all of the questions (a bit rapid-fire style) that you submitted on the podcast survey in April. We cover picking a business name to starting a business legally, feeling aimless in your business, revenue streams, mindset, systems, and more. There are two reasons that I chose to approach these questions this way: The podcas…

Are the measures you're taking to be more "productive" actually just causing you more headache and wasting you more time? Or are your productivity habits actually moving you toward your goals? In a world of hustle culture and a huge emphasis on being efficient and productive, it seems we've sometimes lost sight of what our real goals are and what p…

When I approached Kim McBrien Evans of Indigo Dragonfly about being a guest on the Pattern Design Circle Podcast, she said, "Let's talk size inclusivity and what TRUE size inclusivity looks like!" Kim wears many hats, as a knitwear designer, yarn dyer, teacher, and passionate advocate for inclusive sizing. She shares, "I believe that size inclusivi…

I won't lie... I've been dragging my feet about recording (and sharing) this episode. At first, I had a sense of relief having spoken the words into existence... and then all the fears and imposter syndrome came creeping back in again. Why have I been procrastinating on this episode? Three main things: fear of folks thinking I'm a failure sadness a…

Creative entrepreneurs are a special kind of entrepreneur, and as a creative entrepreneur, I say that in the most positive and loving way. Our mission, our fuel, and our inspiration are different than others. We have a passion for creating, and sometimes that can make entrepreneurship difficult. Sometimes we feel like it's a constant pulling betwee…

Rather than asking what Carolyn has done, perhaps we should be asking, "what hasn't she done?!" From pattern designing to teaching classes in the local yarn shop she co-owned to working with creatives on Patreon (and so much more), Carolyn of Coulee Crafts truly has dabbled in so many areas of the fiber arts industry (and beyond)! I believe she tru…

The Pattern Design Circle Podcast just celebrated its second birthday! I don't know if I'm feeling like “it's already 2 years old?!” or “it's only 2 years old?!” But I do know that it's definitely something I really love doing, and that I've been continuing to make it more and more a focus in my business. I love how I can show up authentically and …

Recently, I've been feeling very inspired by listening to content from creatives outside the arts and crafts industries. A couple of weeks ago I watched the Project Iceman documentary produced by Yes Theory!, and I absolutely loved it, and keep mentioning in all sorts of conversations. It's one of those pieces of content that not only resonated wit…

Something I hear over and over again is, "I didn't get into this because of the business side of things; I got into it because I love knitting!" and I know it's something that most of my audience can relate to. So, chances are pretty high that you don't jump up and down with excitement over "all the legal stuff." Thankfully, I'm going to introduce …

It's no secret at all that there can be a lot of "need to," "have to," and "should" ideas that circulate the industry (and our brains) when it comes to running a creative business... and it's not always easy to discern how important those things actually are. In this podcast episode, we're diving into the topic of industry festivals and events. Is …

Maybe your current impression is a bit like mine was, and it feels a bit slimy and annoying. Or, maybe your ready to dive into it and wanting to know all the details. Or, maybe you're not very familiar with affiliate marketing, and you're looking for the basics of what it is, how it works, and how it could fit into your business. Whichever scenario…

In a world that feels like it's constantly becoming less and less "real," so much of society - and our customers - are craving what's genuine and authentic. But in a world that demands SO MUCH of business owners, how can we possibly do it all?! Showing up online, marketing, creating our products and services, and serving our audience... it can get …

In the previous episode we talked all about who might be watching you, ready to hand you your next great opportunity... but are you ready for it? In this episode of the Pattern Design Circle, let's chat all about how to be ready so you aren't scrambling to get ready when that opportunity arrives! From your social media to your website, from your pa…

You never know who is watching... and a lot of times this can evoke fear, perhaps even to the point that you choose not to show up. But have you thought of all of the POSITIVE ways people are watching you? In this episode of the Pattern Design Circle Podcast, we aren't just talking about your ideal customer that's watching you (and falling in love …

Accessibility can feel like a huge scope that encompasses so many things... because it does and it is! But in this podcast episode with Renee Van Hoy, Renee breaks down some simple easy-to-implement methods to start making your designs and business more accessible. Not only that, but she provides insight on who this helps, how it helps them, and wh…

Maybe you're sick and tired of seeing free knitting and crochet patterns everywhere. Or you're trying to figure out why in the world there are so many free patterns out there. Or maybe you're trying to figure out how to utilize free knitting patterns in your business model. In this podcast episode, we talk all about free crochet and knitting patter…

We have reached the final of seven episodes in the planning series! However, this one is a little bit different! Rather than talking about planning and goal-setting specifically, we're talking in this episode all about how to make achieving those goals and plans FUN! Yes, we're talking all about how to make business more fun, even the super boring,…

Jessica, the knitting pattern designer behind Double the Stitches, started her business as several of us do, with selling hand knit products. However, she was selling knits to photographers for baby photoshoots! In this episode, she shares a few of the challenges with that and how it lead to a pivot designing knitting patterns, leaving her job at a…

We're a month into the new year. How are your plans going so far? How are you feeling about the next 11 months, or even the rest of the quarter? Whether you feel like you've already fallen off track when it comes to your goals and plans for 2024, or you're worried about it heading that direction, this episode is for you. In this episode, I talk all…

Hortense, the knit and crochet pattern designer behind Knitting with Chopsticks, unexpectedly started her business in 2018, never anticipating it'd become her full-time job. Five years later, designing is her full-time job, plus she hosted her first crochet summit last year, is hosting her first knitting summit February 1-4, 2024, and runs a member…

Whether you've been seriously considering translating your knit or crochet patterns or it's never crossed your mind, you are in for an absolute treat in this episode! Not only is Julie an absolute gem, but she shares ALL about the ins and outs of translating your pattern to another language(s). In this episode, you will learn: Why you might want to…

Finally! Let's talk about ACTUALLY planning the year. If you've been following along, this is the fifth of a series of podcast episodes all around planning in your business for the new year. In this episode, we are going to talk about how to actually set goals (and a plan to support those goals) that you're going to be excited about and that feel g…

Confession time: I hate money goals. Actually, that's not 100% true. I love them and I hate them (and I talk about why in this podcast episode). But either way, I'm over them. I'm over them defining my business. I'm over making them the BIG goal in my business. And I know I'm not alone. The truth is, money goals just don't fit everyone. Whether it'…

Even with the most thrilling job that you absolutely adore, even with the most exciting plans and goals, the human body needs breaks. And chances are, if you're reading this description and listening to this episode, you are living in a human body. What that means is: you need breaks. You need to create time and space for rest. I feel like our soci…

I'm sick and tired of business owners following the "rules" established by other business owners, designers, influencers, you name it. Whomever it is in your sphere that's saying "you have to do XYZ to be successful" or "a successful design business looks like ABC" or "planning the new year needs to include LMNOP." I'm tired of you feeling less tha…

Do you have a habit of setting yourself up for success? I believe many of us are very used to setting ourselves up for failure, or at least make the chances of success more difficult. This is for a variety of reasons: lack of example, lack of clarity and focus, not understanding what our unique definition of success is, and beyond. In this episode …

We are each on our own journey, and we love to hear about other's journeys: what inspires them, how they got to where they are, if they have any secrets, and more. Last year I hosted a featured pattern designer every month on my Instagram account to talk about all the details that we don't usually see online. Join us for our twelfth (and final of t…

In this discussion with Lucy, we talk about what Knit It is, how it started, Lucy's business journey (including her experience with getting funding for her idea that started as a college project), and, of course, much more. Smart Knit It® is the ultimate way to knit. Sit back and relax as your Smart Pattern has everything you need. From interactive…

Sometimes life (and business) is a lot... and that's ok. It seems to me like designers, entrepreneurs, and society as a whole seem to be collectively overwhelmed and exhausted. So if that feels like you, you are so not alone. In this podcast episode, I share my own experience of life feeling like a lot and how to navigate business during the unexpe…

Megan's been designing for 10 years, and I've been designing for nearly 5 years. In this episode we share the seasonal trends that we see in our pattern sales - and the sense we make of it. There's one month in particular that really surprised us as newer designers. We share the highs, the lows, and what you can do to raise the lows... and even dis…

There are so many platforms available for selling knit and crochet patterns: Ravelry, Etsy, LoveCrafts, Ribblr, Making app... the list just goes on and on... and it's a lot to keep track of when publishing and updating patterns. Perhaps you feel like you're spread thin because you're trying to be everywhere, or perhaps you feel like you're missing …

Beliefs affect everything: what we do, say, and think; how we present ourself; how we perceive the world; and beyond. So what happens when we realize a belief isn't in alignment with who we are? Whether it's because a belief is no longer serving you, it's limiting your potential, you've discovered the foundation of that belief is something false...…

We are each on our own journey, and we love to hear about other's journeys: what inspires them, how they got to where they are, if they have any secrets, and more. Last year I hosted a featured pattern designer every month on my Instagram account to talk about all the details that we don't usually see online. Join us for our eleventh featured desig…

Sometimes it feels like AI (artificial intelligence) is taking over everything, including the business world, with platforms like Chat GPT being utilized by so many businesses; and it doesn't look like it will be disappearing anytime soon. So, how do we take advantage of these new tools and the benefits that they offer without losing ourselves and …

We are each on our own journey, and we love to hear about other's journeys: what inspires them, how they got to where they are, if they have any secrets, and more. Last year I hosted a featured pattern designer every month on my Instagram account to talk about all the details that we don't usually see online. Join us for our tenth featured designer…

We all get caught in the trap of buying solutions with the hopes that they'll magically fix everything in our business - and life. And while there are so many valuable resources and products - courses, webinars, workshops, classes, memberships, etc - that are SO valuable, there comes a point when it's time to stop buying all the things... at least …

I'm co-hosting a free workshop with Megan of Pip & Pin this Friday, June 23, 2023; to talk about using social media marketing in your knit or crochet pattern design business. To join us for the free workshop, just sign up here. Send a Fan Mail Message!Oleh Jessica Brist

You are a wonderful, beautiful, kind human. You care about other people. You're a nice person. Did you know that you can use this to your business's advantage to make more money? Not in a gross, manipulative way, but to lean in deeper to who you are. By creating and cultivating genuine connections as a thoughtful human, you build the like-know-trus…

Life is made up of journeys, and understanding your ideal customer's journey can be so valuable for several reasons, including: showing your audience that you understand where they are, what they want, and how they can get to their goal... which builds trust in you providing the resources and products to help your audience in their journey understa…