Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Kostelyk.
Sarah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always loved making things. From the time I could use scissors, I was cutting out clothes for my paper dolls and making these elaborate homes for them. I learned to sew at my mother’s feet and she instilled the idea of handmade as an act of love in me from the time I was tiny. She was amazing about letting me go and make messes and use hot glue, needle and thread, rotary cutters, sewing machines, and things many might consider dangerous for a little kid. My mom is a quilter but I had more of an affinity for fiber art so she taught me to crochet when I was in nursing school in Chicago and I started making small purses and beanies to sell around the holidays for a little extra cash. Seeing the joy on people’s faces when I handed them something I made gave me all kinds of feelings. I got busy with school and work and marriage and when I had my first baby, I picked up my crochet hook again and got a new level of joy making things for my babies. I turned my hobby into a small business about eight or so years ago and learned to knit to stretch my skills a little farther. I made a lot of things while I was deciding what I wanted to focus on and when I was pregnant with my fourth baby, I was watching Call the Midwife and loved how the midwives would include as part of their readiness assessment, a look at the layette the mother had knitted for her baby. I loved the idea of a small but precious handmade layette made with love for this new life coming into the world. I got to work knitting for my little Margot and I still have the tiny sweaters and booties and bonnets that I made for her lovingly tucked away for her children and I packed them up with the confidence that they would last for another generation. I got the idea, then, that I wanted to provide knitted baby goods for mothers that want the same thing for their little ones. That’s when I focused my business on the tiniest humans and came up with the name Small Batch Babes because it’s literally me and my needles doing the work. I do all the stitching, I sew on the buttons, attach the tags and labels, and package and ship. The sweater you get has probably gone camping, traveled to soccer games, pick up lines, track meets and spent time in front of Netflix watching cheesy holiday movies with me.
Has it been a smooth road?
I tackle obstacles by setting small, achievable goals. I am a wife, a mother of four, I work nights, and homeschool part-time. All of these things come before my business so I am realistic about what I can do and the size my business can grow. I put Small Batch in the name as a reminder to myself that small is good and personal and what my business plan was from the start. It is easy to dream big and listen to the voices around me telling me all the ways I can grow, but I also want to have time to be present for my family. My job is an important act of community service for me, and I want knitting to always be something that I love, not something that is keeping me from where my heart wants to be.
My advice for young women starting out is to find other women at various stages of business growth that support you and also reach out to women starting new businesses and tell them how brave and amazing they are. I have received such wonderful opportunities from other creative women in San Diego and they encourage me in great big ways. There can be a lot of negativity and competition in the small business world and it”s important to surround yourself with people that will encourage your creativity, not doubt it. When you put your handmades out into the world, it is a very vulnerable place to be and people are not always kind. Finding women that will lift you up or just share their own experiences is a huge help and they are out there. Never stop looking for them.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I work as an OBGYN nurse on the night shift. I love being around growing families and tiny babies. The little faces I care for are what inspire the knitting that I do. I love the way my nursing job enhances my business. I have a good handle on baby sizing, fit, and practicality. I get a lot of ideas when I see what moms are bringing into the hospital with them to help me keep on trend. Colors and styles of baby clothes change in the same way they do with adult fashion so I can see what’s going on that people like while still staying true to my aesthetic. It all works together for me. The last show I did, I helped a mom try a bonnet on her baby while the baby was breastfeeding and we had a good laugh. I love that when moms know what I do at my other job, it creates safety, trust, and understanding that might not come with every business they interact with. When it comes to our babies, that’s exactly what we want, right?
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My parents always encouraged me to explore my talents and set the example in our home of feeding curiosity and creativity no matter what profession you end up in. My mom sat through countless hours of musical theater auditions, practices, plays, piano recitals, art shows, and when I wanted to learn to sew and crochet, she took the time to teach me. Still, she told me, “if you like science and want to be a nurse, you should do that too.” So I think my parents encouraged me to say yes to a lot of things, work hard, never stop learning and that is definitely something I still carry with me. I’ve also been partnered with someone who believes I can succeed in whatever I try. When I’m feeling discouraged or frustrated, he listens to me and makes sure I know that he supports me. We’ve been together since we were teenagers so in a sense, we’ve grown up together and that continued validation and support has definitely helped me feel free to explore all of my interests and ambitions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.smallbatchbabes.etsy.com
- Instagram: @smallbatchbabes
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/smallbatchbabes
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