Hi, I'm Mariah!

My background

I taught Special Education for 4 years (including student teaching) and earned my master’s in Learning Experience Design. I now stay at home raising my kids.

Why crochet?

When I was about 10, we moved to a new neighborhood. Across the street lived a nice couple who had dogs and no kids of their own. I spent a lot of time there — I would watch from the window and wait for them to come home so I could play with their dogs, help with home improvements, and watch Animal Planet. One day the wife was crocheting a baby blanket for a friend, and I asked if she would teach me. She did. She taught me to make blankets, and I crocheted here and there until 2023.

That year I got pregnant. I absolutely loved that crocheting had become so popular, and I wanted to be part of it — but I only knew how to make flat pieces, not stuffed animals. So I learned amigurumi, started an Instagram page, and began selling my work. My daughter’s middle name honors that incredible neighbor because of the fond memories and the impact she had on me.

Goals

I want to become well-versed in crochet. I want to know how to use all types of yarn, create all types of projects, and design my own. I’m always trying to learn new stitches, techniques, and accompanying methods (like working with resin).

This website was one of my biggest goals. I love creating, and I want a way to sustain that passion and share it with others. As I made more projects, it became clear that having my own website was the best way to do that. Although platforms like Etsy offer more reach, the hidden fees and other issues made me want my own space — something I could fully control.

Pattern designers

A lot of what you’ll see here started as someone else’s pattern, often as a pattern test. Every piece credits its designer by name. Testing is how I’ve learned most of what I know, and those designers deserve the recognition.

What CHNKY is about

CHNKY exists to create thoughtfully designed crochet creations and cultivate a welcoming community where creativity is shared, learning is celebrated, and everyone is encouraged to explore, create, and grow.

Values

🤍 Create authentically — share both successes and lessons learned.

🌱 Always learning — every project is an opportunity to improve.

🤝 Build community — welcome feedback, encourage kindness, and celebrate one another.

🧶 Keep it thoughtful — choose quality, simplicity, and intentional design over excess.

✨ Share the joy — crochet is meant to be enjoyed, explored, and shared.

I would love to hear from you

Drop me a note, or follow along on Instagram — that’s where I’m most active and I check it the most.