SUMMERFIELD, N.C. — Erin Marshall said she spends nearly every night in her hobby house making crochet goods that range from swimsuits to sweaters, and during quarantine she decided to see if she could profit from her passion. 

What You Need To Know

Erin Marshall has been crocheting as a form of recreational therapy since she picked up the skill from a friend while finishing her education at Job Corps

During the pandemic she turned the hobby into a full-fledged small business

North Carolina was one of the top 15 states in the nation for new business applicants

"The idea really started with family support, them telling me I’m so good, and I should share this with everybody, so it's called, 'Step Out on Faith,'” Marshall said. 

And Marshall is not alone. 

From January 2021 to 2022, while many were still in quarantine, more than 150,000 new business applications were filed in North Carolina, according to Business Formation Statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

In the past year and a half Marshall says she has gained local and international support. 

“I started getting customers from Australia. It was really crazy,” Marshall said.   

“We had to figure out shipping, how to convert money. I made made flowers for a wedding happening across the world. That's when I knew this was really something,“ Marshall explained. 

She encourages anyone with a hobby they love to pursue it. 

“If you love what you do, don’t let anyone stop you,” Marshall said.

North Carolina was one of the top 15 states in the nation for new business applicants.