A primary school teacher in Harrogate has turned her hobby into a new business after launching a project in the first lockdown.
After setting up online tutorials last year, keen crafter Felicity Jennings said interest in her work has soared – and she is now being invited to teach sessions around the world.
As president of Spa Sweethearts WI, Felicity said she was completely taken aback by how quickly everything changed in 2020.
“At our last WI meeting in March, I stood there saying, ‘People say we’re going to have to close down. I don’t think that’s going to happen!’
“That was on the Thursday, and we were locked down the following Monday, so it shows what I know! But I moved our craft sessions online straight away.”
Soon, word began to spread about Felicity’s online craft tutorials, both among local WIs and in Facebook groups for WI members around the country.
Read more:
- Painting, knitting… have you discovered a new lockdown passion?
- Boroughbridge boys cure lockdown blues by litter-picking
Although her crafting abilities were proving popular, Felicity said her technical skills were not up to the same standard – but youngest son Frank, 15, soon stepped in. He helped to create a home studio where she could do all her filming, and set up cameras to show close-ups of the crafts she was demonstrating.
He also created a YouTube channel for all the videos, making it easier for people to find them and watch as many as they liked, all completely free.
Meanwhile, Felicity was leading live, interactive sessions for groups via Zoom. By September, demand was so high that, with advice from Spa Sweethearts treasurer Sam Pugmire, she set up a business, Felicity Crafts. She said:
“I totally didn’t expect to have a different carer at this age.
“My experience in the classroom has definitely helped. Because I’m a teacher, I’m used to things falling apart! The computer doesn’t work or the kids don’t understand what you think they will – you just adapt and keep going.
“One of the things that’s odd about teaching on Zoom is you’re teaching into the void. You’re just having to do it and hope they’re keeping up. You can keep flicking back and seeing what they’re doing and slow down if they’re all still working, but you don’t get that direct feedback as you go.”
The advantage, however, is that Felicity can teach almost anywhere. After the end of a school day last year, she found herself teaching a session for a WI on the Isle of Wight, while enquiries have come in from groups in Canada, New Zealand and Nicaragua.
Christmas workshops proved popular for Felicity, though were sometimes interrupted by her cats
In the run up to Christmas, Felicity was leading sessions almost every night of the week. She expected interest to tail off in January, but she’s now booked up two or three times a week for most of the year.
Meanwhile, she continues to post videos for people to follow in their own time, including a week-long course teaching crochet for beginners, which went live on Monday. The first session was seen by almost 700 people in just one day.
The secret behind her success, says Felicity, is that crafts can be enjoyed by anyone, no matter what their personal circumstances.
“There are going to be some people who just want to carve out one hour to make something really simple. They’re trying to work at home with a small child and just want something to do that’s just for themselves.
“Others want something they can go mad with – they’re at home on their own or need to be occupied because they’re anxious or missing their grandchildren.”
Knowing her work is helping other people through lockdown also gives Felicity a sense of purpose. Even if lockdown restrictions are eased, Felicity intends to continue her online videos and workshops as long as possible. She added:
“I only started it to have something to do and show people how to do crafts. It’s amazing it has turned into a job and a career and a business.”
