Today we’d like to introduce you to Ann Carpenter
Hi Ann, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was 16 and heading to Mississippi to visit my sister who had moved there with my baby nephew. I checked out an airport bookstore on a layover, sitting on display was a book called “Stitch ‘N Bitch” by Debbie Stroller. I didn’t think twice, I grabbed it and when I returned home went right to Jo-Ann’s and bought a cheap skein of grey yarn and some knitting needles. That summer I finished my first knit scarf. For the next 15 years I knit on an off but only made scarves. One day in 2018 I picked up a skein of chunky yarn and started to knit with no plan in mind, then the yarn ran out. I was left with a rectangular shape, I sewed it up the back and turned it into my first hat, it was also grey. Since then, I haven’t stopped knitting. I started taking custom orders for friends and family, then added pop up maker markets and in 2022 I registered as an LLC and opened my online storefront, annmadegoods.com.
I knit because it brings me joy to create and the repetitive nature of it is like meditation to me. I started my business to have an outlet for the inventory my passion creates and to share my creations with the world.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The knitting part comes easy for me, the business side is a lot harder. I’m a knitter, but I had to learn small business taxes, how to build a website, SEO, manage social media, take marketable photos, the list goes on and on. When I started to expand my shop to include a curated selection of knitting notions- including designing my own line of knitting needles, I learned a lot about the process of product design & patience. It took a full year- filled with tons of back and forth to get my needles in hand, then I had to tackle pricing. Pricing is always a struggle for small businesses, and makers have to remember to pay themselves at a rate that is reasonable without pricing themselves out of the market, which is extremely hard these days. Another challenge I always face is remembering not to stretch myself too thin, I mostly run this thing solo, have a full time job and a small kiddo at home. My busy season is the holiday season, and shows can be 2 or 3 days in a row and up to 10 hours a day, so I have to pick and choose wisely.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
More recently we’ve been curating a collection of “makery” for fellow crafters and those looking to learn how to knit. We truly believe that anyone can knit and wanted to offer high quality tools without pretentious attitude and modernize them. Knitting comes with a tired “old lady” stigma and we want to change that. We’re most proud to offer our signature matte black knitting needles that come in an array of sizes. I designed these lightweight, wooden knitting needles (and their packaging) very deliberately and with a mission to give back. For every pair of knitting needles sold we donate to Mama Cash, the oldest international woman’s fund in the world. We chose Mama Cash because we want to help them in their efforts to create a just world for women, girls, trans and intersex people. The packing of these needles was just as important to me. Each pair comes in a sleek and sturdy tube that is not only recyclable but reuseable. When we purchased our packaging we joined the producers “eco alliance” and they planted 10 trees in the production of our tubes.
Currently we’re most excited to start back our “knit knit, bitch” knitting classes in 2025. Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned @annmade.goods
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
My very small business runs mostly on in person markets and Covid definitely put a damper on those for a while. But I also had a baby in the middle of Covid and was diagnosed with cervical cancer, so my energy shifted. The most important lesson I was able to learn through all of it was how to let go, to let go of what I thought my business would be and be open to an even wider range of opportunities. In moments where business seems to stop, due to covid, seasonality, health issues or lack of motivation- I look inward for creativity, to come up with a new idea, learn a new technique or even just make time for play, because life is short and we should all have a little fun.
Pricing:
- Signature Knitting Needles $22- $32
- Classic Collection Beanies $40- $60
- Lux Collection Beanies $60-$90
- Headband/Earwarmers $30-40
- Bows $12
Contact Info:
- Website: https://annmadegoods.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annmade.goods/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annmadecle/
