My Knitting Journey: From Hobby to Community to Business

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My Knitting Journey – A Lifetime of Knitting

Knitting has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From the moment I picked up my first pair of needles as a teenager, I was hooked. I was mesmerized by the way simple loops of yarn could transform into something beautiful, something useful. Over the years, knitting has been more than just a hobby—it’s been a source of joy, creativity, healing, and even community.

My journey with knitting has taken me places I never expected: from teaching classes at craft stores to live-streaming my knitting to thousands of people online, to building an incredible community of knitters who share more than just stitches—we share stories, struggles, and victories.

This is my knitting story.

Where It All Began: The Teen Years

I learned to knit in my early teens, watching a knitting show on TV back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. My first projects? A stocking cap that doubled as a scarf—a popular style back then. I also tackled sweaters and gave them to family members.

Funny enough, knitting wasn’t something passed down to me. My mother and grandmother were both crocheters, but knitting? That was all me. I was the oddball in the family, but I loved it.

For years, knitting was my quiet passion. It was something I did for fun, a way to create something tangible with my hands. But then life happened—I moved, I got busy, and my knitting took a backseat.

Finding My Way Back to Knitting (And Never Looking Back)

In the ‘90s, after a decade-long break from knitting, I picked up my needles again while living in Hawaii. I was shocked at how muscle memory kicked in—my hands still knew exactly what to do. It was like coming home.

With the explosion of new yarns, patterns, and resources available, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I made a shawl for a friend, and her mother loved it so much that when she passed away, they buried her with it wrapped around her shoulders.

That was a profound moment for me. Knitting wasn’t just about making things—it was about weaving love, memories, and comfort into every stitch.

Knitting on Twitch: From Small Beginnings to an Incredible Community

At one point, I was teaching knitting classes at local craft stores, but I wanted to see if I could teach online. I had been a gamer for years, playing World of Warcraft, so I was familiar with Twitch, a platform mostly known for video game streaming.

Twitch had recently opened up to crafters, and I thought, Why not? So I set up a camera, went live, and…

Nobody showed up.

For weeks, I streamed to absolutely no one.

But I kept going.

I talked as if people were watching, explaining my techniques, sharing stories, and interacting with an imaginary audience. And then, slowly, people started trickling in.

I built a dedicated following—people who tuned in every day just to hang out, knit, and chat. It wasn’t just about knitting anymore. It was about connection. You can see some of my live streams still up on Twittch.

Eventually, I became a Twitch Partner—the first knitter to do so. That meant I had built a community strong enough to reach partnership status, something almost unheard of for a non-gaming channel.

Knitting Through Cancer: The Community That Supported Me

My Twitch community became more than just viewers—they became my lifeline during one of the hardest times of my life.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I kept streaming. Even on the days I felt sick from chemo, even when I had no energy, no hair, I still showed up. My viewers showed up for me, too.

One day, I received a package in the mail.

Inside were tiny pink knitted and crocheted ribbons—made by my viewers, sent with notes of encouragement telling me to stay strong, that I wasn’t alone.

I opened it live on stream, and I cried like a baby.

They weren’t just my audience. They were my people.

That’s the kind of magic knitting can create.

You can see the beautiful pink knitted and crocheted ribbons behind me on the wall. This photo is me with hair, and I had just had my port surgery.

Screen shot Jen on Livestream looking at port for chemo

The 2nd photo is my first stream being completely bald. What a journey!

Taking a Step Back (And Finding My Way Forward Again)

After years of daily streaming, I hit a wall. I was emotionally drained, and as an introvert, constantly being “on” had taken its toll. I took a long break from knitting online, stepping away from Twitch, YouTube, and social media.

For years, I resisted the idea of coming back.

But recently, I realized something: I still love knitting.

I still love teaching. I still love connecting with people who share the same passion. And I’ve realized that I don’t have to go back to the old way of doing things—I can create content in a way that feels sustainable and fulfilling.

So here I am again. Sharing my passion, building a community, and seeing where this new journey takes me.