Hi maker! Welcome to E’Claire Makery, a crochet and cross stitch blog! Here I will teach, share, and chat about all things crochet and cross stitch. Even if you don’t know how to crochet or cross stitch, you don’t have to worry because I have created resources to help you to learn how to do both. I want you to have no fear about making something, and instead be able to have fun making the handmade items of your dreams!
Before we get started with that though, I wanted to introduce myself and share my journey of how E’Claire Makery came to be! E’Claire Makery was born a long time ago, on a couch in my grandparents’ farmhouse, when my Grandma taught me how to crochet when I was five years old. She sat each of us young grandkids down, handed us each yarn and a hook, and with a smile told us she was going to teach us how to crochet. Once I picked up the crochet hook and yarn, I was hooked (pun definitely intended). I was amazed that I could make something so special out of yarn and my creative spirit! A few years later, I picked up some knitting needles, and learned how to do that too. Both of those led me to trying out cross stitching, and I loved being able to draw with thread. There was no turning back from creating for me! I can crochet, cross stitch, knit, sew, quilt, weave, embroider, and the list keeps growing.
My designing journey started when I made my first amigurumi plush from a crochet book when I was 13. It was a misshapen disaster of a dog, but I decided to keep trying because I loved how cute homemade plushies were. I made anything from a koala to the fire flower from Super Mario Brothers. After years of making other people’s patterns, I decided to try my hand at making my own, and created a brightly colored cupcake pincushion. From that moment on, my dream was to design patterns and sell them to share all of the things I loved with fellow makers. I made a few more designs, such as Lego Han Solo and Leia dolls, but never quite found the motivation or confidence to pursue it beyond that. I spent quite a few years trying to find the perfect thing to design and sell.
One of the major things that set me back, was a variety of health problems that arose when I was in high school. It started with intense, chronic acid reflux, which eventually led to surgery and chronic pain after that. It took me years to get my life back. Even though I still struggle with the chronic pain, through my faith and determination, I have found a way to live again. I’ve discovered how to be creative in the midst of the struggles I have experienced, and learned how to find ways that I can express myself creatively with minimal pain. I never thought that I would get to this point now, where I could open up my own business, but here I am! I want to inspire you that even if you think you can’t do something, don’t give up on it. You can do it!
When I started designing my own cross stitch patterns, it jump started my desire to design again. I loved how by using the same stitch over and over, I could create beautiful and fun pictures in a variety of colors. 
I decided to combine my love of puns with cross stitching, which helped inspire all of my cross stitch designs. Seeing so many amazing makers on Instagram also encouraged me to get back into designing crochet patterns. I was determined to find a way to work around my chronic pain, and I did! Cross stitching and crocheting are the perfect activities to do for me because neither aggravates my chronic pain. Seeing my love of both things crafts, my fiancé was inspired to help me combine the two with puns, and came up with the name E’Claire Makery. It changes the spelling of E’Clair, the dessert, by adding the “e” to make it my name, and instead of having a bakery I have a Makery where I make all sorts of adorable craft patterns. He’s a genius!
When I’m not crafting, designing, or shopping at the yarn store, you can find me spending time with my fiancé, Stephen. We are getting married in October, and I couldn’t be more excited for that day to come! Together we love to read, hike, explore, adventure, cook, see movies, play board games, obsess about Marvel movies and comics, play with kids at church, or talk for hours. I also love to bake, which is another reason why E’Claire Makery is such a perfect name for me! This year I’ve fallen in love with gardening, and enjoy taking care of plants and watching them grow. It’s so much fun to see something grow from a seed! I can’t wait to share more things about myself with you as I continue this maker journey.
Let’s get crafting!
~Claire
