Today we’d like to introduce you to Katera Frazier.
Hi Katera, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Katera Frazier and I am the owner of a brand called Crochet with Passion. I started crocheting nine years ago and I learned from a club at an after-school program. My teacher at the after-school program ran the crochet club. It was only 10-15 students in the club and once a week, we would all come together to learn this beautiful hobby. I am the only one that continued crocheting from the club and four years ago, I decided to start my business. I loved my passion for crocheting and I wanted to take that next step. My business has grown tremendously since I started. I’ve done dozens of local markets, selling my handmade products and meeting other small business owners. I’ve had multiple people reach out to me about doing interviews for them and allowing me to speak about my journey. I am more than grateful for the numerous opportunities I have gotten thus far. I look forward to continuing to share my work with others and putting my small business out there!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road. Being a business owner is fun but it definitely requires determination, effort, and patience. I am the only person making my crochet items. Therefore I have to take the time to come up with ideas, purchase the yarn, and make the products. Products take between 15 minutes to two weeks, depending on the item I am making. I will say the most challenging part is getting people to realize that my items are handmade. I do not use a machine to make my pieces. I put in a lot of time, money, and thought into my work. I am very passionate about crocheting. I love it. When it comes to handmade items, prices are usually going to cost more than the clothing and accessories in bigger corporations. They are able to produce more inventory due to the number of workers and the use of electronic tools. There are so many people that appreciate handmade items. However, business owners who hand make their items sometimes experience that some people do not understand the amount of work we put into our ideas and products. I use this as an opportunity to explain the behind-the-scenes work that goes into my products.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a crocheter. I am mostly known for going to a lot of markets and promoting my items consistently. I love connecting with other small business owners at markets. Everyone is so nice and supportive of one other. I enjoy supporting local businesses and I am grateful to be able to buy local every week. I know what it feels like to have people support my small business and I want to do the same with other small businesses. I am most proud of how much recognition my business has received. I have had people reach out to me about interviews, exhibits, and selling products in their stores. It’s been an amazing experience and I look forward to continuing to spread the word about my business.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I have always been a creative person. I would get excited when I had the opportunity to be unique and design. When I was younger, I remember saying that I wanted to be a fashion designer. Although I no longer want to be a fashion designer, I am still in the area of fashion with my crochet business. Elementary school projects were my favorite because I had the chance to do research on my given topic, but I also could decorate my poster board in a way that represented my artistic skills.
Contact Info:
- Email: crochetoutlet@gmail.com
- Website: etsy.com/shop/crochetwithpassionn (two n’s)
- Instagram: @crochetwithpassionn (two n’s)
- Twitter: @crochetxpassion
- Other: TikTok: @crochetwithpassion
Image Credits:
Photo of myself and three other customers at my booth – Sammy Tuttle @its_sammy2.0
