How ThroughTheStitch got started
Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?
I am Katerina Amprikidou, owner and founder of ThroughTheStitch on Etsy. I design and sell patterns, so I actually sell PDF files. Having studied fashion design and styling, I love to consider fashion trends, select materials, and seek new shapes and colors. I've always been a knit lover; I remember knitting since I was a little girl. I love to design warm, comfortable, and lovely knits that will add a unique touch to your outfit.
My goal is to create nice, easy, and trendy designs for knitters who love timeless knitting patterns. I have been a knitting and sewing teacher since 2013, and I have been doing courses in knitting for more than a decade. After a lot of positive feedback on the instructions I shared with my students in the classes, I realized that I could sell the patterns worldwide.
I had heard about Etsy and that many knitwear designers sell their patterns there, so I decided to open my shop back in 2019, but I actually started managing the shop in 2020 when I started uploading the listings and the patterns for the first time. Since the knitting courses were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, I had the chance to work with Etsy. Because, believe me, it takes a lot of work to open a shop on Etsy.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
Well, all my patterns are my favorites! What I have to mention is that on Etsy, I noticed that my Cardigan patterns have many sales. For example, the below three cardigan patterns are the best sellers.
The fact that they are selling well is, in my opinion, because they are knitted flat, which makes it easier to knit them, and that this way of knitting is more familiar to most knitters.
Getting sales on Etsy
How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?
I still remember how excited I was when I made my first sale as soon as I started uploading my listings. On the same day, I had my first sale. So much happiness! I could not believe it!
Managing ThroughTheStitch
How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?
I ran ThroughTheStitch for about three years as a solopreneur while I run the knitting and sewing lessons at the same time. This really makes it hard, but I intend to reduce the time I spend on my knitting lessons and start spending more time managing my shop on Etsy.
The future of ThroughTheStitch
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
Well, I would like to grow my shop and upload more patterns! My goal is to reach more than 30 sales per day, and I have to work on this goal. I want to improve the things I have lost focus on, like my website and social media. I have to be more active on social media, which is not my favorite part of the job!
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
List as regularly as you can. Update your listings. Work on your shop regularly in order to remind the Etsy algorithm that you’re still there. Take nice photographs of your products since it is critical to their success because customers pay more attention to beautiful photos than anything else. Customer service is incredibly important, so you have to answer the customer's messages as soon as you can. You have to be very polite and helpful. Being a seller on Etsy takes work and determination!
ThroughTheStitch
Unique knitting patterns for sale
