TO PURCHASE THE KIT:
https://rainbowdandelioncrochet.versla.shop/
*The site will show the donation options in dollars, if you are from the UK head to the very bottom of the page and their is an option to translate into GBP. If I don't hit the full target you will be contacted and offered a full refund*
Please do not feel embarrassed about donating a "small" amount, every single penny goes towards starting my dream and I am truly grateful and will never forget your kindness.
I am thrilled to tell you all that I have just received a small business award on X (twitter) #queenof (Clickable link)
I am thrilled to tell you all that I have just received another award on X (twitter) #Smartsocialaward (clickable link)
I am thrilled to tell you all that I have just received another award on X (twitter) #creativebizhour (clickable link)
OK! WHAT IS THIS CAMPAIGN ABOUT?!
I am excited to introduce you to my campaign to raise funds for the "Seedlings Crochet Kit"- a beginners mindful crochet kit for adults and children aged 8+
The journal is not shown in these images as I need the funding in order to get it published and printed but this is what it will look like...
Why have I created this combined beginners mindful crochet kit?
Lets solve a problem:
Stress, anxiety, and the demands of daily life can leave us feeling overwhelmed and disconnected from ourselves.
Traditional crochet kits often focus on producing one specific item, you receive one hook, a pattern and the yarn, which for the seasoned crocheters is great, but for the beginner crocheter, what is there? A kit full of all sorts with no explanation on what they are or how to use them, a pattern you may have no idea how to follow and no support once you have purchased the kit.
Solution:
Seedlings - a beginners mindful Crochet Kit.
It includes high-quality yarn, a variety of crochet hooks and items with full explanations as to what they do, a waterproof handmade drawstring bag, a beginners crochet pattern with several learning styles, a mindful journal that I have designed, fidget toys to help you stay focused and present and access to a Facebook support group dedicated only for those who purchase the kit.
Target Audience:
The kit is aimed at adults and children over 8
The Seedlings Kit provides the tools and guidance to embark on a journey of personal growth and relaxation.
Campaign Goals:
I am trying to raise funds to have my journal printed, cover the cost of production and delivery. With your support, I can bring my product to more people, helping them to discover crafting and the benefits of mindful practice.
In the future my aim is to work alongside charities and health professionals to design disability friendly kits/kits for hospitals etc
Impact:
The aim is to try to help people to move past those dark days by giving them a focus, an outlet and support all in one kit.
I want to encourage creativity, pride and self-expression through handcrafting projects and foster a sense of community and connection through the group.
By contributing to the campaign you are helping me to make a positive impact on the lives of others, for me it was life saving, it may well be for others too.
Perks:
I am very passionate about supporting small local businesses, as such I have collaborated with some incredible little companies, please see the bottom of the campaign for information.
Let's explore in more detail
This is an example of the blanket you could make. The kit comes with 3 balls of yarn, in any colours that you can imagine!
Once you have made the blanket and you feel more confident in making other items you can use all of the items in the kit over and over again, you can go on to make items such as the viral Ticktock Hexagon cardigan
So, would you like to end 2024 with a different mindset?
The Rainbow Dandelion Seedlings kit isn't just about learning a craft, it’s an invitation to discover more about who you are.
To end 2024 differently we need to start at the beginning.
My kit combines mindfulness with the soothing craft that is crochet. As you rhythmically loop yarn through your fingers and create intricate items, the repetitive motions engage your senses, this is said to promote a sense of focus and presence.
It becomes a meditative journey where the tactile sensations - feeling the texture of the yarn, the rhythmic motions of the hook, and watching the slow creation of your item helps anchor attention to the here and now.
What will be included in the Seedlings kit?
The beginners mindful crochet kit is called Seedlings, it includes everything that you will need to start to learn how to crochet a 31 inch blanket in a relaxed state of mind, you will use the items as directed in the pattern and will be prompted to use the mindful journal throughout. This all inclusive luxury kit includes everything you need to start your journey.
Yarn
Enter a world of sensory calmness with soothing soft yarn textures, I have provided enough to crochet a blanket. You may choose 3 separate colours, 2 of the same and 1 different, or 1 of each, this is an example
Hooks
Feel the ergonomic grace of the beautiful crochet hooks as they effortlessly glide through the yarn. There will be other colours available
Pattern
Explore my crochet pattern, designed to lead you gently into the therapeutic art of crocheting, it includes graphs, pictures and the written pattern in different learning styles, along with access to a support group on Facebook. The pattern comes in a transparent A5 folder
Waterproof bag
I have hand-made a storage bag. Crafted with a waterproof lining it ensures your precious crochet items remain shielded from the rain. This is available in a choice of fabric patterns and colours to suit you and your style
Scissors and cutting ring
Scissors are an essential component of any crochet kit. Within the kit, I have provided you with scissors and a cutting ring for ease of use (only available in the adult kit unless requested for the child’s)
Darning needles
Within the crochet kit lies a humble yet indispensable tool—the darning needle! Darning needles plays a vital role in finishing your crochet projects, ensuring every stitch is neatly finished and every yarn tail is securely fastened.
Stitch markers and row counters
These unobtrusive little helpers play a vital role for even the most experienced crocheter in ensuring you don’t lose your way as you crochet your blanket. You can attach them to corners or rows.
Tape measure
This allows you to meet your gauge and match the designers crocheting style, although for this particular pattern it is not required it may become an essential piece of kit for your future journey
Yarn bowl
As you work on your crochet project, the yarn bowl serves as a focal point, inviting you to embrace the present moment. The act of gently pulling yarn from the bowl becomes a meditative exercise, fostering mindfulness and a sense of calmness.
Posture cushion
I provide you with a posture support cushion to rest your arms on whilst crocheting, its supportive design aids in maintaining a comfortable seated posture, allowing you to focus on crocheting mindfully.
Fidget toys
Fidget toys are an unconventional addition to crochet kits but I am nothing if not unconventional! You may find that when learning this new skill you become frustrated, that’s OK, their inclusion in my kits allows you to stop and take a moment, squeeze your frustration into them and then go back to what you were doing, enriching the crafting experience by promoting relaxation and mental clarity.
Journey Journal
Having trialled this journal myself and with a focus group of people all experiencing different mental health diagnoses, I have developed the "Journey Journal".
The crochet journal is designed to capture not just your learning experience but your thoughts, inspirations, emotions and what makes you - you.
The journal starts with pages dedicated to your crochet journey, you will be encouraged to document your feelings before and after the session, if you cannot write your feelings you can circle the dandelion which best suits you, there is also a space for detailing anything you would change for your next session
The Journey Journal will become a testament to your personal growth, your mindfulness, and your new skill.
Mindfulness Meets Crochet with the "Journey Journal"
Lets explore a bit more about why I have combined Mindfulness and Crochet:
Mindfulness is a therapeutic practice which teaches you to feel at ease being in the present moment, this allows us to slow down, to stop thinking about the million things swimming around in our heads and to fully focus on just one thing.
Creating something (crocheting the blanket) promotes a sense of accomplishment.
So, combine them: creating something mindfully encourages an overall sense of positive mental well being.
As described earlier the first part of the journal allows you to document your crochet journey, the next part of the journal will contain very gentle activities aimed at finding out a little bit more about you.
As an example from one of the pages: You will be asked which colour you are drawn to, there will then be an explanation about what this colour could mean, this is drawn from the Psychologist and colour consultant Luscher.
Following the gentle introduction the journal will guide you through a deeper understanding about who you are.
An example from one of the pages: Lets talk about the senses, we will work through each of them, this will allow you to discover more about what you like and don’t like. Throughout the journal you will notice that we always end on a positive.
Smell: A scent can create a flood of memories, write down a smell that you associate with something negative, then write down your favourite smell.
Following the deeper dive into you, I will guide you through some ways to create and maintain boundaries, what you can do when you become overwhelmed and finally we can work on making a "chill box" which you can fill with everything important to you to help you stay grounded and positive.
An example from the Journal: Lets talk about boundaries. You will be discovering that mindfulness is about self awareness, this awareness allows you to determine what is good for you. As such we cannot ignore the importance of creating and maintaining healthy boundaries. Below are examples of how to say “no”.
Write down your feelings against each of the following examples about how you might feel if someone said this to you.
You may notice that you don’t feel offended by these boundaries, as such try not to let your fear of offending people stop you from setting your own. Write down your own.
Make it fun!
Mindfulness does not have to be serious to work! You and a friend can get together and enjoy a cuppa and cake, encouraging each other to work through this wonderful skill of crochet and mindfulness.
The journal will seek to remind you that mistakes are part of the journey, the crafting journey and in life. You do not have to go through either journey alone, I have created a Facebook page specifically for those who purchase the kit. It will be a private group and act as a source of support and encouragement,
I believe that in each mistake we make a lesson in patience and adaptability is born.
Before crochet I would feel intense frustration with things that weren't perfect, my high expectations of myself was destroying my creativity, I started to embrace the mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow, I realised that mistakes made me human and I began to feel a sense of calm and belonging that I had never felt before, I realised that nobody expects perfection from me other than me, I had to let that go and I had to grow, imperfections give us a chance to grow and change, and I like that.
The children who may require more support with the pattern I am including my email address for the children’s responsible adults to use to contact me with any queries. The children will not be able to join the group as I am following Social Media guidance on age restrictions.
Can you explain to me more about the pattern?
The pattern is aimed at complete beginners, I explain what the labels on the yarn packaging mean, the different items in your kit and what they do, the anatomy of the hook and how to hold your hook and yarn.
I will explain the different stitches and how to do them, this will be shown on a graph, in picture format and in a very "wordy" write as I crochet style pattern with no abbreviations in the lengthy pattern.
The abbreviations used by crocheters will be added at the end of every section so that you start to learn what this looks like in formal pattern format.
Making the waterproof bags:
I hand make the waterproof storage drawstring storage bags, the material used will be cotton outer and a thick waterproof lining, it is drawstring so can be closed tightly and will come in an assortment of patterns and colour choices.
Let's get down to the business:
I'm hooked! (Pun intended!)
How do I donate?
There are two options, click the bright pink button at the top called "see options"
Here you will have the opportunity to donate without receiving a perk or you can donate and receive one of the perks. Indiegogo suggests leaving a tip for them - you do not have to do this just change this section to 0.
If the campaign does not reach it's full target you will be contacted by me and offered a refund.
When I back you, what will you use the crowdfunding money for?
Following the necessity to leave my career meant my family and I had to use the very small amount of savings that we had for living, as such in all honesty I do not have the money to bulk purchase the items I need to make the bags etc.
Crowdfunding means that I am not bound by a loan with huge interest rates. I have been donated the money by people who believe in the product, my vision and my brand, which means the world to me.
Crowdfunding also enables me to promote my business without substantial advertising fees. If the campaign is unsuccessful you will receive A FULL REFUND.
The quotes for the items below vary depending on the manufacturers pricing for that month, for example if the manufacturer of my fabric has a sale on, I will pass that saving onto you the customer, if they have increased their prices then unfortunately my pricing will also reflect this.
Total capital required £6000
Potential fees £2000
Total to cover business costs and Indiegogo fees approx £8000
With your donation I will purchase...
Journal printing, fabric, thread, Seedlings kit contents Child, Seedlings kit contents Adult, yarn, packaging, business insurance
Campaign fees – unknown at present as the fees vary based on the amount raised and the number of supporters it takes to raise the fees, 3%*fee +£0.20 per transaction plus one £25 transfer fee (as I’m in the UK)
I would like to purchase a more up to date sewing machine, as alas my lady has seen better days.
Website design and management for the first year
Storage solution for my fabric, yarn, invoices etc
I would like to purchase my yarn and fabric in bulk, this is a more environmentally friendly way of producing my kits and makes less of a carbon footprint as I am not ordering items daily/weekly, I can simply place one order which equates to one delivery.
However, I have decided to set my campaign goal at £1000, this is a huge amount of money for me and will allow me to buy the basics to start me off.
Environmental concerns:
The scraps of fabric that are left over from bags will be sewn together to make new bags and then donated to charities.
The off cuts of thread and yarn are stored and used for stuffing door stoppers or teddies.
Because I want to be as Eco friendly as possible my packaging will be recycled packaging, they will not contain excess items such as stickers/little thank you notes or cute little extras (as lovely as they are). Instead they will be packed with just enough material to protect the items in shipping and the materials can then be recycled.
Apart from supporting your business purely because I believe it's a great idea, what goodies will I get when I back you?
Regardless of the amount that you pledge, the amount of shares or re-posts of the campaign that you do, please know that I will be eternally grateful and will never ever forget your kindness and support.
All pledges will be entered into two raffles - the first is to win a full set of crochet hooks, the next is to win a full crochet kit - adult or child!
Seedlings kit adult - £70 (rrp £89.99)
This is the Seedlings kit as detailed in the campaign, you can get it at the early bird specially discounted price, go on! be one of the first to get your hands on the seedling kit for adults. This is an example, there are many awesome fabrics to choose from, you can even choose the colour of your waterproof lining!
Seedlings kit child - £65 (rrp £79.99)
This is the Seedlings kit as detailed in the campaign, you can get it at the early bird specially discounted price, be one of the first to get your hands on the seedling kit for children. This is an example, there are many awesome fabrics to choose from, you can even choose the colour of your waterproof lining!
Contribute with no perk
You may contribute any amount to the campaign, this is your donation to help me to start my business, it comes with my eternal gratitude.
In the interest of full disclosure and so you are fully aware before you jump to the checkout, delivery charges will be added on to your donation.
You are responsible for any shipping costs/import fees relevant to your country.
PERK COLLABORATORS
It is very important to me to support local businesses who's values align with mine and vice versa, these wonderful people have offered their products in order to support my business.
I am thrilled to introduce you to the first collaborator of the business: Mya's Makes:
Where to find her:
Website
Instagram
TikTok
I am over the moon to introduce you to the second collaborator - PrintsBySophGB (clickable link)
We will contact you when the campaign ends with all of the combinations of designs that you can choose from, these are some examples.
Introducing you to the third and final collaborator to the campaign: 3dprint.land
https://instagram.com/3dprint.land - clickable link
A bit about Rainbow Dandelion Crochet (me) and why have I started this business - The video above also explains this
I am a wife; I am a mother; I am a carer; I am a crocheter; I am a gardener and probably a lot more than that! I have a working knowledge of business administration, experience in psychology and counselling, homelessness, learning disabilities and in mental health care.
I have personally undergone many years of trauma informed therapy and cbt/dbt which has helped me to get to where I am now.
During the pandemic I was advised to shield by my employer because I was pregnant, the ward I was working on cared for unpredictable patients suffering with their mental health and it became a risk to work there.
To give back to key workers who had to wash their uniforms more frequently than before, my daughters and I handmade 100's of drawstring bags for uniforms and donated them. I found that the drawstring bags were ideal for holding my crochet items when I went in to have a c-section.
Voila – crochet storage that was durable, waterproof, and washable.
Unfortunately the baby suffered with a condition known as Sandifer Syndrome, this meant she would have seizure type episodes when in contact with 9 food groups.
I was breastfeeding so I could't eat these foods either, it was a very exhausting time. I attended countless hospital scans and appointments alone because of Covid rules and to keep my mind calm I took my crochet with me, it became a running joke with some staff - "here she is - Granny Sarah with her knitting" - "it's crochet" I would remind them!
The next few sections of the campaign contains background information which may upset some readers, this is not my intention, only to let you know how I arrived at starting my business.
The Seedlings Crochet Kit emerged a while after the pandemic, it was following an extremely traumatic experience in my personal life with one of my children, my mental health was severely impacted and due to the lack of support from my employers I had no other option than to leave my lifelong career in mental health.
However, before leaving I continued to introduce as many of my patients as possible to “Mindful Crochet”, I taught them not only to crochet but to do so with purpose and in a mindful way thereby reducing the need for physical interventions on the wards and improving their mental health.
Following becoming unemployed, managing the stress and emotional turmoil that the traumatic event had had on our family, coping with our poorly baby I experienced a bout of severe, mind-numbing postnatal depression and (not to sound dramatic) an existential crisis which lasted for a very long time, with the support of my incredible husband and close friends and family, I began soul searching.
I had to improve my mental health in a safe, non-destructive way where I wasn’t staying in bed all day contemplating the alternatives to living, this happened to be by crocheting, it was something I could include my children in as well by teaching them how to do it too.
One cold and windy morning I was walking my baby through the forest to clear my mind; I saw a patient whom I had cared for, we chatted for a while and I asked them if they were still crocheting, they said that they were and that it was “amazing, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever learned, it keeps my mind from going to bad places, thank you for having patience and teaching me”. We finished our conversation and parted ways.
The conversation was echoing in my mind “thank you for teaching me”, “stops my mind from going to a bad place”, the idea of turning my life saving hobby into a business emerged, the brain was all of a sudden in overdrive mode and I finally felt that I had another purpose, (other than my caring roles), I was excited again!
The “seedlings crochet kit” was born.
After sharing my story on Tiktok (well the bits I'm allowed to tell) I received this beautiful message from Mind.
What is my logo all about?
The yarn heartbeat
Everything about my business is aimed at serenity and calmness, even the logo, notice the heartbeat going through the yarn? This signifies that crochet helped me to keep going in the darkest of times.
The rainbow
The rainbow soothes my inner child, it shows her that there is still brightness in the world when things look gloomy, it shows her that there are still things to be excited about, and it reminds her that nature will help to ground us.
The dandelion
The dandelion signifies strength – ever tried getting rid of these flowers? Exactly! Stubborn!
They are small but tough. Dandelions provide nutrients for the soil, children can use them to make wishes or tell the time, they are multipurpose, understated and essential to the eco system.
They are underestimated, but they are important.
The dandelion survives out of spite. In many cultures they represent hope, healing and resilience; this is what I've designed the Seedlings kit to help you with.
The semicolon
This signifies that “my story is not over yet”, it stems from the late Amy Bleuel, who in April 2013 took to social media with a semicolon on their wrist. The semicolon symbolised that a sentence wasn’t over yet, and neither was their life.
I felt it important to include this powerful symbol because sometimes we need a reminder that our life isn't over.
Trust the Process
Carol Dweck is a pioneering researcher in the field of motivation, they have discovered that adding yet to a sentence dramatically changes the way we respond to negative thoughts. For example - "I can't do it", change this to "I can't do it yet", the difference is that we are not giving up, we have not failed, we have given ourselves a break and a chance to complete whatever it is we can't yet do.
This also applies to crochet when following a complex pattern we can sometimes feel like it isn't working or that we have done it wrong, so we need to remind ourselves to "trust the process" .
Trust our skill, trust our ability, trust the pattern and above all just trust the process. Have HOPE (Hold On, Pain Ends).
What are my plans for the future?
I would like to design a crochet kit suitable for people who have physical and mental ill health, but this requires research and funding which is my next step once this campaign is fully funded, and my business is up and running.
Following this I would like to produce hospital friendly kits.
Following this I would like to open a small crochet café, I would like to have an area for children to be cared for by a fully qualified nursery nurse so that parents may relax, the café will be catered for as many allergens as possible as this is very close to my heart.
Spread the word!
If you can't donate personally please do not worry.
You can still help me by sharing the campaign, there may be someone you know who may be interested.
Feel free to follow me on social media or contact me to find out more. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Where can you find me:
TIKTOK: Rainbowdandelioncrochet
ETSY: https://rainbowdandelion.etsy.com
LINK TREE: https://linktr.ee/rainbow_dandelion_crochet
I will give regular updates on my campaign's progress via social media
Disclaimer:
I am not a qualified medical professional. The creation of my mindful crochet kit has come solely from my own personal experience and has been trialled with a focus group, it worked for me on my dark days, it is not intended to replace any therapy or medication that you currently take, it is simply another tool for you to use to see if it helps.
If you are feeling low please reach out to a professional service in your area, you can always message me on any social media site and I will listen and try to help in any way that I can.