Join host Misty Doan on Homespun as she sits down with Tian Connaughton, a talented knitter, crocheter, designer, and tech editor who made the bold leap from corporate finance to pursuing her passion for handmade crafts. In this inspiring episode, Tian shares her fascinating journey that began with learning to crochet from a coworker in 2001, evolved through watching knitting shows during naptime with her toddler son, and ultimately led to creating her groundbreaking book "Cardigans for Everybody." Discover how a corporate layoff became the catalyst for building a fiber arts business, her mission to create wearable garments that fit every body type, and her approach to blending financial savviness with creative passion.
Key Episode Highlights:
- Tian's unexpected entry into fiber arts - learning crochet from a suspicious coworker who turned out to be a gateway to her future career
- The transition from hobby crafter to professional designer after a corporate layoff provided the perfect opportunity to reassess life priorities
- Her revolutionary approach to inclusive sizing in knitting/crochet patterns and why standard pattern grading often fails real bodies
- The business side of creativity - implementing "CEO days" and using corporate finance skills to build a sustainable craft business
- Why she tells beginners to skip washcloths and scarves and start with what they actually want to make
- Her philosophy on celebrating bodies that "have done a lot" rather than constantly seeking the "perfect" fit
- How she's inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs by involving her son in business discussions at the kitchen table
