Hi, I’m Yelena!
I’m a crocheter and a knitter living in Los Angeles, CA and I love yarn, spreadsheets, and spending time by the beach.
I believe that there is no such thing as perfection, that spending time on what lights you up is a way of self-care, that we can always find time for things that are important for us and that to take care of others we need to take care of ourselves first. Fill that cup, you are worthy.
When it comes to things we love to do, like knit or crochet, there never seems to be enough time to do them. I bet you’re surrounded by a dozen of unfinished WIPs, not entirely sure how much yarn you have in your stash and feeling like you can never get around to either. Everything else seems to be more important.
And I totally get it. I used to feel the same way. Through working on my mindset, making my desires a priority, tracking and planning my days, I was able to find time to do the things I wanted to do. As a result, I was able to write four books, take classes (online and offline), attend conferences, design 20+ patterns, open an Etsy store and make an over 280 sales.
I want to help you to find the time and inspiration to crochet every day so you can finish more of those WIPs and finally make a dent in your yarn stash.
So how did I get here??
For many years I’ve complained that I never had any time to do what I wanted. There was my Job/house/family to take care of. Everything seemed more important than me and my creative pursuits.
Then, in 2017, after a long battle with cancer, my mom passed away. I was devastated, I was at a loss. I found myself burnt out with nothing to give. You know how they say, “fill the cup”? My cup was empty, for many years. After a long reflection, I realized that crochet and knitting were the way to heal my soul, to fill that cup. They allowed me to get out of my head, to create something tangible, something to hold, something to give, something that would light someone up, make them smile.
More than anything, I realized that crochet wasn’t just some silly hobby, it was a way to care of myself, build my self-confidence, create meaning, make a difference. It was important enough, no, I was important enough to find time to do it, to start and finish those projects that were waiting for “some day”.
Once I learned how to prioritize my own needs, I tracked my days and was able to find time to do what really lit me up: to work on the crochet and knitting projects I wanted, start and finish all those WIPs and even start a business sharing my patterns with others.
If you’re ready to have time to crochet every day, finish more of those WIPs and finally a make a dent in your yarn stash, here’s how I can help . . .
- Subscribe to my Kind Tribe email and receive a free blanket pattern (it’s oh so relaxing) + weekly inspiration
- Return to this blog for new patterns, self-care and time management tips, and all things #yarnlove 🙂
- Connect with me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for crochet and knit love + motivation!
- Check out my simple but chic patterns, they are designed to be easy and relaxing to make, impressive to gift and fun to sell.
A bit about me…
I grew up in Odessa, a gorgeous town by the Black Sea and love the beach life. There is nothing like cozying up with a thick warm blanket on a foggy fall morning, listening to the sound of waves and sipping on a hot tea. I try to get away for a beachside vacation at least 2-3 times a year. My fave place to visit is Cambria, CA.
I learned to crochet, knit and sew when I was very young. My family was full of makers (by trade or as a hobby), and a sewing machine or a crochet hook was never far away. In my teens, I made clothes for myself: a sweater, a mini-dress, a romper, a scarf or two and leg warmers (I grew up during the 80s after all).
I love to read (fantasy and sci-fi) and I write books too! I am a computer geek by trade and love to tinker with technology, but nothing makes me happier than going to the yarn aisle of Michael’s!
