We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katy, what do you attribute your success to?
Honestly? A mix of ADHD and years of teaching middle school. Working with middle schoolers taught me to embrace the awkward and the weird, and my ADHD is constantly throwing new ideas at me. Put those together, and you get Little Lemon Stitches.

The quickest way to kill a brand is to be inauthentic. There’s a difference between curating an aesthetic and building something that truly represents you. I’m not saying I’m actually a lemon in disguise, though that would be a fun twist, but I am saying I follow wherever my creativity takes me. Sometimes that means peacefully crocheting a scarf by the fire with a cup of tea; other times, it means designing something completely ridiculous, like a lemon mermaid.

Building this brand has pushed my creativity further than I ever expected, and I’ve learned to just roll with it.

My sense of humor and style aren’t for everyone. Not everyone sees the appeal of a lemon burger plush, and that’s okay. Through this journey, I’ve found my people—the ones who do get it—and that’s been the most rewarding part of all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My crochet art is playful and quirky. I love color and finding fun ways to incorporate lemons and fruit into unexpected things. When I started my brand, I really had no idea where it would go. I began a small Instagram account to document my crochet progress, and then I realized how expensive yarn was and how much space my products took up, and I knew I needed to start generating some revenue.

There’s a lot of pressure in the creative community to constantly produce new art and ideas. If you’re not always coming up with something new, it feels like followers will drop off and people will stop paying attention. Small businesses today are expected to use social media to market, adding even more pressure. However, I’ve noticed that the more followers I gain or the more attention a post receives, the less it translates into actual sales. I’m not getting more interaction on my products. It took time, but I’ve learned to let go of that pressure. Once I stopped focusing on follower and like counts, things became easier. I can focus more on what I want to create, not what I think people on the internet are going to like.

I want others to know that it’s okay to create for the sake of creating. Take time to give your brain a break from the constant doom and gloom around us. Get some yarn. Learn to crochet. Grab a paintbrush and draw a squiggle. Just put something of yours out into the world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
With two toddlers, the most I can manage for a visitor is one solid day, because good gravy, I’m tired. But let’s make it count!

The very first thing we’ll need is a coffee run because I’m probably running on fumes, so I’d take them to Lee’s Sandwich for some strong Vietnamese iced coffee and a croissant as big as your face. We’ll grab an extra coffee to bring to Bkhairadventures, where Brittany is going to give us the best hair refresh and conversation.

Next, we’re heading to Brazos Bookstore, which I’ve only recently discovered but absolutely love. It has the coziest vibes. I recently vended there for an event, and all the staff are so kind and welcoming. It’s the perfect spot to find a new read and pick up some extra goodies, like stationery and stickers.

The coffee and croissant from earlier are long gone by now, so we’ll need to make a stop by The Crumby Bakeshop for a truly incredible strawberry cupcake and a cheddar jalapeno scone. It’s the best way to refuel before the next stop!

Finally, in this perfect world scenario, the weather is ideal for a nice walk around the Houston Arboretum. We’ll find a quiet spot to crochet, read our new books, and pretend we’re far away from the hustle of the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This is such a tough question because I have so many friends and supporters in the community I’ve built around me. Throughout this journey of growing Little Lemon Stitches, I’ve met lifelong friends, in both the crochet and small business community, but the biggest credit goes to my husband.

Right now, I stay home with my two toddlers, who are absolutely adorable but also pure chaos. After my second child, I was diagnosed with PPD. Crochet became a way for me to battle it and find my own “thing.” My husband has been here every step of the way—helping me troubleshoot ideas, always hyping up my art, and taking the boys on fun adventures while I fulfill orders and record content. None of what I do would be possible without him.

Website: https://littlelemonstitches.etsy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlelemonstitches/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/159TTNNhdH/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LittleLemonStitches

Other: You can email me with inquiries at littlelemonstitches@gmail.com

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