Meet Erin from Juniper & Oakes! Over the course of her crochet journey, Erin has come to love designing mosaic crochet patterns. What is mosaic crochet and how can you explore more? Read our interview with Erin and learn how you can expand your knowledge into the wonderful world of mosaic crochet.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your business!

Hello crochet friends! My name is Erin and I LOVE crochet! I am the lady behind Juniper & Oakes. My mom taught me to crochet when I was just a kid, and I’ve been carrying a crochet hook ever since! 

My focus is mainly mosaic crochet and generally love teaching new skills to curious crocheters. I crochet and record tutorials in a she-shed in my back yard. 

When I am not crocheting, I am going on adventures with my husband and 3 kids, trying not to kill my house plants, and maintaining my WORDLE streak. 

When did you first launch Juniper & Oakes?

I started my crochet business in 2019. It started off slowly just taking custom orders from friends and family. I published my first pattern in 2020. 

How did you decide you wanted to start a crochet business? 

I wanted a way to maintain my own identity in the midst of motherhood, and it has grown in ways I never thought possible. What began as a side-hobby business selling hats and wall hangings to my friends and family, grew into designing original patterns, publishing books, and hosting the Mosaic Crochet Summit.

What inspired you to start designing your own patterns?

After about a year or two selling custom orders and having a booth at a few markets, I learned that 1) I don’t like making the same thing over and over, and 2) if someone asks me to make something, then I loose all interest in crocheting. I need to crochet what I want on my own time. Once I learned that selling original pattern was a thing, I went all in! 

What is your favorite thing about running Juniper & Oakes?

I love pouring my creativity into a stunning blanket design, putting the pattern out in the world, and seeing crocheters from around the globe making my design. It is such a tangible way to see that I am making a difference in the lives of so many people.

I also love seeing their creativity in the colors they choose or the adaptations they make.  

How did you land on mosaic crochet for your niche?

My mosaic crochet niche started with a lack of impulse control. Lol! I am a “yes” girly by default. I love trying new things! When one of my testers asked if I wanted to design a mosaic crochet section for a crochetalong, I said “YES!” right away… even though I had never even heard of mosaic crochet at the time. Through trial and error, I designed and then crocheted my first mosaic pattern and immediately fell in love. My crocheters fell in love too, and I knew I finally picked a niche. 

For those who don’t know, what is mosaic crochet?

Mosaic crochet is a crochet colorwork technique that isn’t actually colorwork – it’s stripes! Using basic stitches (single crochet and double crochet), the magic of mosaic crochet is simply where you place the stitches to overlay to the design. Single crochet stitches are simply worked in the back loop only of the stitch below. Double crochet stitches are worked in the front loop only of the stitch two rows below– which hides the color you don’t want to see.  There are various types of mosaic crochet: inset, tunisian, and overlay.

Is mosaic crochet hard?

Mosaic crochet is easier than it looks! I would say the hardest part is just committing to trying it for yourself! Many crocheters think it looks too hard, so they never try it. But when they do, they say “I wish I would have tried this a long time ago!”

What advice do you have for beginners to mosaic crochet?

Start with a small project swatch. Once you spend 10 minutes crocheting a few rows, you’ll know all you need to know to tackle your first project!

Also, use stitch markers to mark the pattern repeats to cut down on counting errors. 

What is your favorite thing to design in mosaic crochet?

I love designing mosaic blanket patterns. They are a commitment, but the payoff is incredible!

Do you have an all-time favorite design you’ve done?

My favorite mosaic crochet pattern I’ve designed is the Mosaic Gingerbread Blanket. It uses the negative stitch to have the reverse image on the back.

It was a creative challenge that was well worth the risk! I have Sheri, one of my favorite crochet friends, to thank for that! The colors and the design came out beautifully, and it is one of my most popular patterns to date!

Tell us about the Mosaic Crochet Summit!

The Mosaic Crochet Summit is a free 3-day virtual event focused solely on mosaic crochet. There are 15 different speakers teaching everything from the beginning basics, to yarn suggestions, to inspiration, and designing your own patterns. This event is perfect for you if you are curious about the magic of mosaic crochet. Even if you already know this technique, there is something for everyone to learn!

Where can people go to learn more?

Registration opens September 3rd, 2026 – MosaicCrochetSummit.com