This mom owned website has three different directions it goes in. Be Still & Knit offers knitting and crochet classes, hand-knit baby and children’s items as well as a charity program called Blankets for Deployed Daddies which gives hand-knit blankets to the babies of deployed soldiers.
With the many years experience to back her up in the world of crochet and knitting, Lisa Akers has taken something she already loved doing and turned it into a business that she could do at home while taking care of her children. Previously a rocket scientist, she is now a successful mompreneur.
How long have you been knitting and crocheting?
I have been crocheting for more than 30 years, and knitting for the last five years. I learned crochet from my mom and grandmother, and I taught myself to knit. I found that learning it yourself, while somewhat less expensive, comes with many more challenges. It’s much easier to grasp the concept if you can see someone demonstrate the process. You just can’t use enough pictures and words to accurately describe the movements required.
When did you decide to start your business?
I started be still & knit in the summer of 2005. I had been teaching knitting to some of my friends for free, and then decided to make it a business. The creation of the hand knit items was really more of a marketing strategy as I was taking them to craft shows to promote my classes. Little did I know that it would soon become the largest part of what I do!
What was your inspiration?
My inspiration for the company is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God…” I wanted to create a way for women to connect with their families and be able to take some time for themselves without feeling guilty over it. when you take time to knit, you can get in some quiet time and still be creating something that’s beautiful, functional, and full of the love we want to shower on our families.
How often do you offer classes and how can someone get in to one?
All of my classes are private lessons, so I schedule them to suit my and my students’ schedules. I do occasionally teach a larger class through some Denver based organizations, but the majority of my classes are one on one or small groups. All you need to do to schedule one is visit my webstite at bestillandknit.com and send me an email or give me a call.
What steps did you need to take to get your business up and running?
Of course, there are all the tax and legal aspects to get going, and all of that varies by state. There is no licensing requirement for knitters in Colorado, which is nice. I did create a business plan and have continually updated it. I am always trying new skills and learning new ways to teach so I can reach the largest audience possible. It has been invaluable to have kept good records from the beginning so I can see what aspects of my business are flourishing and where I need to re-evaluate my offerings.
Have you learned anything since you’ve started that you wish you’d known before?
The one big lesson I have learned is to keep focused. In the beginning, it’s so easy to become distracted by the next “big idea.” If I had remained focused on my true goal - to create peaceful knitters, I would have been far more successful earlier. Now I keep a journal full of those “big ideas” and when it is the right time, I can implement them. It keeps me more focused on my goals and more successful in achieving them.
Did you have any previous experience that you were able to apply to your business?
I come from a military background, and spent the first fifteen years of my work life as a rocket scientist. When my children were born, I took the time to be with them, and because I felt like I needed my own way to bring in some income and focus my efforts, I started my business. I took a lot of the problem solving, organization, and discipline from my previous work experience and used it in starting out. I’ve since learned to be more flexible, but having the foundation in being organized was a big help.
Has parenthood taught you anything that you’re able to use in business?
The most important thing I’ve learned from parenting that I use in my business is patience. As a teacher, it is critical to be patient with students. They are already frustrated enough with learning a new skill. Having a frustrated teacher makes it harder for them to learn. I want all my students (and my children) to walk away believing they can do whatever we’ve learned. The patience I learned from my children carries through to my classes.
How do you manage your time between a business and your family?
I don’t look at it as managing between a business and my family. My family is a part of my business. My children are my models for my knitwear, my husband is my photographer, and my friends are my “advisory board.” I have integrated much of my business into my family and friends. I don’t set specific “work hours” or “play time” because I find that it makes me more stressed if something changes (as it always does). I prefer to let my schedule be more fluid. I start each day with the top three things I plan to accomplish, and I go about my day making choices and setting priorities to get those things done. It allows me to do what I need to do for both family and business without being stressed over meeting a deadline.
Do you have any advice you’d like to share with other crafty moms who’d like to turn their craft into a business?
Being a crafter is a great way to create a business. I know so many moms who have turned what they do into something to bring in a little income. I’d encourage everyone thinking about a crafty business to limit your offerings to just a few products in a few colors/styles. By offering only custom work, people get turned off. Offering hundreds of choices makes people confused. While it is fun to create one of a kind pieces, if you want to get a lot of business, you really need a catalog of choices from which customers can choose.
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