We sat down with 9-year-old Jemi—PYP4 student, crocheter, and the founder of JemiLoop (@jemiloop on Instagram)—to talk about how she turned her love of yarn and hooks into a little business, what she loves most about creating bags, and what she’s dreaming about next.
Q: What’s the name of your business?
Jemi: The business is called JemiLoop. “It’s like my name (Jemi) in it, and ‘Loop,’ like what I’m doing with the crochet loop!”
Q: When did you start this?
Jemi: Two years ago. I started crocheting then. And this summer I started the business.
Q: How did you come up with the idea of turning crochet into a business?
Jemi: I was kind of bored one day during the summer, and my sister had already made some bags. She said, “Maybe we could sell them, and you could make your own brand!” I said, “Oh wow that’s a good idea! Let’s try this!” My dad also wanted me to have a business going. So yes, I do sell to friends sometimes, but not to strangers yet. For people who go online to @jemiloop they can see what I have for sale and what the prices are.
Q: How many items have you made so far under JemiLoop?
Jemi: Maybe around 50 things.
Q: What kinds of things do you make?
Jemi: Right now I’m making bags. I have different designs: a “sandwich bag” (two sides together), a bag with a draw-string handle, a donut-bag, and a long (cross-body) baguette-bag. I imagine which colors to use and how the finished bag will look, then I get to work.
Q: What do you like most about crocheting and making these bags?
Jemi: I love it because it’s relaxing. I’m sitting at home with my hook and yarn and I imagine the bag: which colors I want, how it will look, then I make it and I see the result.
Q: How long does one bag take you?
Jemi: About half an hour for one bag like this.
Q: So if I asked you for a red-yellow-green bag, you’d finish it by the end of school today?
Jemi: Yes!
Q: What do you do with the money you make from your sales?
Jemi: I’ll save up until I have enough to buy something I want, maybe for Christmas or something like that. Then we’ll look.
Q: Is there anything else you want to tell everyone?
Jemi: Just that JemiLoop—“loop” comes from the crochet loops! If you want you can check my Instagram @jemiloop to see what I’ve made and what’s for sale.
Thanks, Jemi! We’re excited to watch your business grow!
Why we’re inspired by Jemi:
** A Quick but Important Note **
Although JemiLoop is featured on Instagram, Jemi herself does not run her own account. Instagram has a minimum age requirement of 13, and we fully respect and uphold all age restrictions on social media platforms.
To keep everything safe and age-appropriate, Jemi’s older sister created and manages the @jemiloop account, posting photos and updates on Jemi’s behalf. Jemi doesn’t have a phone and does not access Instagram directly—she simply creates the beautiful bags that her sister then shares with the world.
We’re proud of Jemi’s creativity and entrepreneurship, and equally proud that her family and our school community keep her online presence safe and responsible!
