The Morning Crafter

I joined TikTok in early 2020. Stuck at home during the pandemic and craving connection after being used to daily social interactions, I turned to the app to see what the hype was about. Like many, I experimented with the platform, trying my hand at roller skating and even filming a few cringe-worthy videos early on.

But then something shifted.

The start of something unexpected

One day, I posted my first crochet video. It wasn’t trendy or groundbreaking—just a simple clip of two throw pillows I made for my couch set to a non-trending sound. That video garnered a couple of hundred views. For me, it felt big.

Later, for a friend’s birthday, I crocheted a pillow with the word “FUCK” in bold letters and shared it on TikTok. To my surprise, the video exploded with about 20,000 views. Someone in the comments asked for a pattern, so I wrote one, uploaded it to Etsy, and received a few orders.

From there, I kept creating. I posted new patterns to TikTok and saw a steady increase in orders. One pattern led to hundreds of sales, then thousands. Since those first tentative videos, I’ve gained over 140,000 followers on TikTok and sold more than 12,000 patterns on Etsy.

Beyond sales: Embracing growth and creativity

TikTok didn’t just bring me monetary success—it transformed my creative journey. Thanks to the platform, I was able to:

• Expand my workspace: I bought a 160-square-foot she shed, where I now work and operate my business.
• Share knowledge: I offered tutorials for beginners, breaking away from the traditional crochet aesthetic and making the craft feel approachable and modern.
• Find inspiration: I connected with artists and creators from various mediums who pushed me to stretch beyond my comfort zone.
• Build community: I started a monthly in-person craft meetup, further deepening the connections that began online.
• Embrace authenticity: I overcame the cringe of putting myself out there on the internet, learning to celebrate who I am and what I offer.

TikTok also encouraged me to explore new crafts and experiment with bold ideas. It wasn’t just a platform—it was a space for growth, connection, and discovery.

The strength of community

TikTok wasn’t just about content creation; it was about community. Fiber artists, creators, and even casual viewers forged connections that felt real and deeply personal. Some of these connections were parasocial—one-sided relationships where viewers felt connected to creators they had never met—but that didn’t make them meaningless. For many, these relationships provided comfort, inspiration, and a sense of belonging during an isolating time.

At the same time, TikTok allowed for genuine, two-sided connections. Comments turned into conversations, and mutual interests blossomed into collaborations and friendships. The platform’s algorithm had a way of connecting like-minded people, fostering pockets of community where everyone felt seen and understood.

In my own experience, I’ve had people reach out to share how my work has inspired them to start crocheting or embrace their creativity. I’ve had others express gratitude for offering an alternative to the traditional fiber arts aesthetic. These moments of connection, both big and small, have been transformative. They’ve reminded me that art—and community—have the power to heal, inspire, and bring people together.

Grieving TikTok: A community lost

It feels strange to grieve a social media app. As an elder millennial, I’ve watched the rise and fall of platforms like Xanga, LiveJournal, AIM, AOL chat rooms, MySpace, and more. Facebook and Instagram have morphed into shells of their former selves.

TikTok wasn’t perfect, but it felt different. For the first time, it felt like a true community. It was a place where we were all in on some inside joke—those who got it were part of something special, and those who didn’t never truly understood the platform’s magic.

Now, with a potential ban looming, I feel a deep sense of dread. It’s like saying goodbye to a close group of friends you’ll never see again. Sure, paths may cross on other platforms, but it won’t be the same. The thought of losing this space brings both grief and uncertainty:

• What will replace TikTok’s unique sense of connection?
• Where will creators and communities like ours find a new centralized home?
• How will we rebuild the algorithmic magic that felt so personal and interest-driven?

Everyone is scattering to different platforms, but it’s unclear where we’ll land or how we’ll recreate what TikTok gave us.

The rise of fiber arts on TikTok

TikTok didn’t just foster individual creators; it revolutionized entire creative communities. Fiber arts—once relegated to stereotypes of knitting circles and domesticity—experienced a vibrant resurgence. Communities like KnitTok, CrocheTok, NeedlepoinTok, RugTok, and SewTok became hubs of creativity and connection.

During the pandemic, Millennials and Gen Z turned to crafting as a way to pass the time. Yarn and fabric sales soared, and the traditional notions of fiber arts were reimagined:

• Feminist spins: Women reclaimed crafts historically dismissed as “domestic work” and infused them with bold, modern ideas.
• Non-binary creators: Non-binary fiber artists began to express themselves openly through their work, bringing fresh perspectives to the craft.
• Breaking gender norms: Men joined the conversation, proving that fiber arts weren’t just “women’s work.”
• Innovation and experimentation: The community challenged traditional methods, embracing excitement and creativity.

Watching this transformation unfold in real-time was inspiring. What once seemed like a dying art now thrives in ways few could have imagined.

Moving forward

TikTok wasn’t just a social media platform—it was a catalyst for connection, creativity, and change. It blurred the lines between parasocial relationships and authentic friendships, creating a space where both had value. As we face the uncertainty of what’s next, I hold onto the lessons, community, and inspiration it brought into my life.

Whatever the future holds, I’ll continue crafting, connecting, and creating space for others to do the same.

If you followed me on TikTok, thank you. If you want to connect with me elsewhere, I’m @the_morningcrafter on Instagram and The Morning Crafter on YouTube. I hope with every fiber of my being (lol get it?) that we get to keep TikTok, but in the event we don’t, it’s been a wild ride.