Fargo – When the Lutheran Social Service Center in North Dakota closed in January last year, Erin Kitzman, a child care consultant, lost her job, but she was not upset.

Instead, Ms. Fargo turned her love for the development of children and babies into a creative side. Kitzman has mastered the crochet technique, a skill she learned 10 years ago, and began to produce and sell carefully crafted, exquisitely detailed, through the Unglued handmade gift shop in downtown Fargo and the proud shopping site ShopND.com in Dakota Baby products.

Kitzman's booties, sherbet hats with pompoms, animal-themed teething rings and super soft sensory blankets are sold under her "Heartmade by Erin" label and have been selling well so far. But more important for Kitzman is that they help children stay warm and comfortable, and at the same time accomplish something that her child background is very concerned about-encouraging healthy development.

"The two loves of my life are babies — I love babies, and I like working with babies — and crochet. So this is a great way to combine the two,” said Kitzman, who she wore Jeans, slippers and a celery green sweater. Crochet yourself. She is sitting in the basement family room of the South Fargo home, where she lives with her husband Jon.

Although the Kitzmans have no children, the room is full of toys. Kitzman explained that they were there for their 6-year-old niece Sydney, who would spend every Friday night with the couple.

"I told my husband that one day Sydney doesn't want to hang out with us anymore, so we need to use it as much as possible," she said with a smile.

When she talks about her niece, Emily, her affection for the child is also obvious. Emily is the daughter of Kitzman’s identical twin sister, Alyssa. Kitzman taught Emily to crochet when she was 7 years old, and taught her crochet lessons through Zoom during the pandemic. "Even far away, she accepted," Kitzman said, proudly showing a photo of a 10-year-old kid showing a squeaky octopus with her Little sister crocheted tooth ring. "That was a super proud auntie moment."

Kitzman is especially proud of the interactive octopus toy that her 10-year-old niece Emily crocheted for her little sister. Contributed / Irene Kitzman

Kitzman knows firsthand how difficult it is to master crochet, an ancient process of making textiles by interlocking loops of yarn, thread or other material strands using crochet hooks.

Ten years ago, she took her first class as a childcare worker at the YMCA Child Care Center. One of her colleagues, a college student, knew how to crochet, so she suggested to Kitzman and other childcare workers that they should have a crochet night.

Kitzman hosted the party at her home, where the young woman taught everyone the basics.

Kitzman kept the first lesson in mind and continued to practice-although it was not easy. "Your first year or so, you were not very good," she recalled with a smile. "I made a completely trapezoidal baby blanket because I had to sew one stitch in each row, and I didn't know until I was finished. I had to tear off the whole thing."

Even so, Kitzman still likes this kind of craftsmanship, so stick to it. "You have to start somewhere," she said. "It just requires practice and a willingness to learn from mistakes."

Kitzman likes crocheting to keep her hands busy, and it also makes her feel more efficient and purposeful. "I persevered, it gave me something to do, especially in the winter in North Dakota," she said, "you can sit there and watch TV, watch Netflix and crochet, and finally, you have this beautiful blanket ."

Pastime also has a relaxing quality. She said: “I have contracted COVID and lost my job in the past few years. This is just a way to relieve stress for me.”

In fact, after the closure of LSSND, a small plush bear crocheted by Kitzman became an unofficial "support animal" for her and her displaced teammates.

This bear named Chester was mailed to home from every former teammate's home in the state. He carried a notebook with him so the team members could write down what Chester did that day.

Kitzman created this little "support bear" after learning that her workplace, the North Dakota Lutheran Social Services Department was about to close. In the next few months, she sent the little bear to her colleagues to boost morale. Author: Tammy Swift / Forum

The members also posted photos and videos of their children playing with Chester, which made Kitzman the happiest. After seeing how her daughters would miss Chester, a former colleague of Minot ordered two more bears for her.

Today, Chester returned home and was permanently placed there by Kitzman’s underground workstation. His slightly worn appearance proves the philosophy that the "fluffy rabbit" often repeats: when a stuffed animal is put on it, it shows that it is affected. Loved.

For years, people have been telling Kitzman that she should consider selling her crochet items. After the closure of LSS, the time to do so seemed ripe.

Kitzman brought her baby products to Ashley Morken, the owner of Unglued in downtown Fargo. Morken already knows that Kitzman is a long-term patron of this popular handmade gift shop. "So when she asks us to sell her things, it's easy," Moken said. "She knows our store, she knows what the people shopping here like, so it's really a perfect moment for her to start selling things here too."

Then Moken asked her the name of the company.

Kitzman realized that she hadn't even thought of a name. However, her twin sister designed some small labels for her-depicting a crochet hook, a ball of yarn and the word "Irene's Heart Made"-sewn on her baby products as decoration. She realized that this is a very good name.

So far, "Heartmade by Erin" products have sold well, even though her business hasn't been more than a year. Her best-selling gift is a baby hat, crocheted in her so-called "unicorn" and "mermaid" colors, with oversized pompoms.

Judging from his smile, Jude wore his Heartmade by Erin crochet hat with fluffy pompoms, warm and happy. Contributed / Irene Kitzman

Also popular is her sensory blanket. Kitzman stimulates infant exploration and early learning by adding extra features, which she designed by herself.

The small blanket contains hidden surprises, such as squeaky toys sewn in a pocket, a bell in one corner, a wooden tooth ring in the other corner, and a caked silicone tooth ring in the other corner.

"This is actually my favorite item I made," she said. "I also like early childhood. I know babies put everything in their mouths. They like touch, feel, taste and sound, so I cut the existing blanket pattern short so they can throw it away. In the bag or in the stroller."

She said that even the blanket can be used in a newborn's crib, although it will take 3 to 4 months for the child to actually start noticing it. Once this happens, it is the perfect brain stimulation learning tool for "time on tummy" or sitting in a car seat.

Bismarck’s natives took into consideration the frugality and practicality of the Midwest when designing each piece. She chooses neutral colors so that the blanket can be passed from one family member to another. Most items are crocheted with soft polyester yarn and can be thrown into washing machines and dryers. Her booties are a warmer wool blend, but they can also be washed and dried.

She always has a sense of safety, double and triple stitching all sensory features on the blanket to ensure that the baby cannot take out the added accessories from the pocket or corner. (However, you will want to keep the blanket away from the family puppies, because "squeak" is actually a dog's alternative to squeak toy.)

Kitzman's baby booties are available in a variety of different sizes and colors. She uses a coordinated button to complete each one. Author: Tammy Swift / Forum

The price of Heartmade products ranges from a $20 hat and booties to a $34 sensory blanket.

Kitzman also weaves tiny "succulents" for those who, like Kitzman himself, cannot keep real plants alive. "My little perk is that they won't die. I killed every plant I owned," she said with a smile. "I even killed the bamboo."

Morken says that crocheted succulents are popular as gifts and even as a way for shoppers to reward themselves. She said that the "epidemics" of the past few years have prompted people to switch to gardening and plants. "If someone wants a plant, it's perfect, but if it doesn't succeed, you won't feel like you have failed," she said.

Although currently working as a temporary national employee in an early childhood care center, Kitzman welcomes the additional income that Heartmade brings.

One of Erin Kitzman's favorite things is when her friends, family and customers send her photos of her Heartmade products being used and appreciated. Here, Madi immediately tested the molar ring on her new sensory blanket. Contributions / Irene Kitzman.

But the greater benefit is the spiritual reward. When her friends, family or customers send pictures of their children, her day is as comfortable as wearing a bug in a warm Heartmade hat, or happily exploring the bells and squeaks of the Heartmade sensory blanket.

"I can make a little money, and if I give people crocheted gifts to make them happy, that's even better," she said.

Kitzman's items can be found in Unglued. She also has a Heartmade website on Facebook, which links to her www.ShopND page in Pride of Dakota: https://m.facebook.com/Heartmade-by-Erin-108314951480241/