Today we’d like to introduce you to Infiniti Whitley.
Hi Infiniti , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’d wanted to learn the fiber arts since I was about 9 years old. Being from a family of creative folk having a seamstress grandmother, one could say I was predisposed to it! Growing up, I was nerdy but always had love in my heart for all things creative. This led me on a journey of pursuing the arts: whether that be first chair clarinet in orchestra band or teaching myself digital art. Coming up, I didn’t have much outlet to express myself at home so as I got older, my need to create became just that.
I learned to crochet in 2013 and knit in 2015. When it came to the whole two needle thing, I STRUGGLED but, I figured it out eventually. It became a sort of catharsis that I soon wanted to share with others. I used to call my business ‘Infiniti Crochet’ when I started out in 2016 and I knew then that it would work only for a little while. Eventually, I just started calling myself Infiniti Crafting Co., partially because it’d encompass everything I wanted to do in the future and partially to combat the imposter syndrome that follows me.
By 2016, I was crocheting hats, scarves and blankets for a community closet while I worked toward my GED. Later that year, I enrolled at St. Louis Community College for Art Education. I started teaching crochet online in 2018 as a way of building community around the hobby I loved so much. This is also around the time that I started sharing my own written patterns online. In 2019, I graduated with honors and went on to attend Fontbonne University for art and business, where I also graduated with honors in 2024.
I continue to use my varied and valued experiences to better cater to my Crafty community.
Further more, pursuing my own business has given me the opportunity to explore and speak about my faith as a Christian woman. When I finally started making social media for Infiniti Crafting Co, I knew that I wanted to have a guiding scripture for it. It took me some time because I honestly have a lot of favorites but, the most fitting one felt like Psalm 90:17. The work of my hands has definitely been blessed as I’ve been able to reach millions of people with my tutorial and design work.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not! If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that growth isn’t linear. It looks like a rollercoaster.
My biggest hurdle had been branding and exposure. Especially back around 2020. I’d been online, sure, but to thrive required more than simply posting about the products and services I offered. But the bigger question was: How do you do this, without losing yourself in trends?
After lots of prayer and research, I just figured I’d let my works stand on their own merits and grow that way.
There were also many pitfalls financially. How and when do I invest in my practice? Will it further the mission of my brand? Do I have faith to go out on a limb? These are all things I grappled with while working two jobs to get by.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always been a mixed media artist. I graduated from St. Louis Community College in 2019 with an honorific AFA – Art Education and in 2024 with a BFA at Fontbonne University. I’ve dabbled in everything from painting, to ceramics, to sculpture. My fine artworks reflect introspection where I exploit the organic properties of fluid art in stark contradiction to straight geometric lines and representational forms. My use of primary colors juxtapose black and white, representing the multiplicity of human emotion. The more complex aspects are represented through the randomness of design in the media.
All that to say, I like to paint!
These days, I’ve less time and space to paint, so I’ve been focused more on the fiber arts. If I’m “known” for anything, it would be that!
In 2018, I began using my passion for art education to start Infiniti Crafting Company, a sole proprietor committed to teaching the fiber arts online. From here, I began a career in crochet and knitwear design as I continued my undergraduate studies. Ultimately, it’s my goal to inspire others to use their creative gifts for their own cathartic release. By building Infiniti Crafting Co., I’ve found a way to use over a decade of artistic experience to create a world of intrigue for myself and others.
I’m probably most proud of longevity. I didn’t think I would make it this far! Second place would go to the beginner crochet course I built in 2023. It’s geared toward the novice and gives detailed video instruction and quizlets for mastery. If anything, I believe my background in education allows me to teach the craft with a different perspective, which many people have enjoyed.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
That’s hard to say. When I first got started, the crochet and knitting community was seen as something mostly for old people. By 2020, that changed tremendously as the crafts explodes among young people. So given that, I believe that we’ll ride out this revival for another 10 years at least. However, on the supply side, it’s hard to say because while interest has grown for consumers, yarn production has constricted. A LOT. A lot of makers are reduced to just ordering online but that takes a lot of the experience away when you can’t physically shop for materials. The quality of those materials have also gone down hill in recent years, which have left makers hungry for well made, high quality items.
I’ve personally seen the rise of many indie yarn dyers and non-standard crochet hook companies. Manufacturers of knitting needles are also constantly trying to improve their products to cater to this section of the market. For those who can afford it, this is a great bridge for having quality materials to craft with. Though I’m concerned about the lower end market that can’t access those more expensive items and are losing out on quality with the standard/legacy yarns and tools.
Maybe at some point, a balance can be struck between quality and affordability.
Pricing:
- The Ultimate Beginner Crochet Course – $34.99
- Crochet & Knitting Patterns – $1.99 – $12.99
- Merch – Starting at $22.99
- Exclusive Pattern Club – Starting at $3/mo
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.infiniticraftingcompany.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/infiniticraftingco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InfinitiCraftingCo/
- Twitter: https://x.com/InfinitiCraftCo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeChw77vh0BXdzOWfGbOK-Q
