June has been another exciting and memorable month for Homegrown Hugs, filled with new experiences, wonderful customers and a few unexpected challenges along the way!

One of the highlights of the month was attending the RSPCA Annual Dog Show.

I was really looking forward to setting up my stall, but the weather had other plans. The strong winds meant it wasn't safe to put up my gazebo, and my crochet creations kept blowing off the table!

Rather than letting the weather spoil the day, I decided to make the best of the situation and transformed my car boot into my display stand. It certainly wasn't the setup I'd imagined, but it meant visitors could still browse my handmade creations, and I'm so grateful that so many lovely customers stopped by to support my little business. It was a great reminder that sometimes things don't go to plan, but with a little creativity, you can still make the day a success.

Another lovely highlight this month has been seeing so many of my Emotional Support Robins find new homes. They have quickly become one of my most popular creations, and it's easy to see why. Many people find comfort in the well-known saying:

"When you see a robin, a loved one is near."

Knowing these little robins are bringing comfort, hope and happy memories to so many people makes every stitch worthwhile. Hearing the stories behind why customers choose them is one of my favourite parts of running Homegrown Hugs.

As always, I'm incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported my small business this month—whether you've placed an order, visited me at an event, shared my work with others or simply followed my journey.

I'm already busy working on new ideas and can't wait to share what the next few months have in store.

Thank you for being part of the Homegrown Hugs journey.

With love,

Kerry



Homegrown Hugs 💜

From January 2026 to Today – Why Safety Matters Just as Much as Every Stitch

When people see a Homegrown Hugs creation, they see a handmade plushie made with soft yarn, lots of love and plenty of personality.

What they don't always see is everything that happens behind the scenes before one of my creations is ready to find its new home.

Back in January, I made the decision that if I was going to continue growing Homegrown Hugs, I wanted to do it properly. That meant making sure my plush creations intended as toys met the UK safety requirements, giving my customers confidence when choosing one of my handmade creations.

At first, I had no idea just how much work was involved!

Over the following months, I spent countless hours researching toy safety regulations, learning about the testing process, understanding legal requirements, preparing technical documentation and creating compliant product labels.

It wasn't always easy. There were moments when the amount of information felt overwhelming, but I knew it was worth it.

Every hour spent learning meant I was creating a safer product for my customers.

Today, every applicable Homegrown Hugs plush creation is individually labelled and made in line with UKCA toy safety requirements. Each toy includes care information, age guidance, traceability details and the information needed to give customers confidence when purchasing.

For me, this has never just been about following regulations.

It's about trust.

When someone buys a Homegrown Hugs creation as a birthday gift, a comfort companion, or a treasured keepsake, I want them to know that as much care has gone into the safety of the product as has gone into every crochet stitch.

Being handmade doesn't mean cutting corners.

In fact, I believe it means taking even greater pride in every detail.

As Homegrown Hugs continues to grow, I'll keep learning, improving and creating handmade gifts that are designed not only to bring smiles but also to give customers peace of mind.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.

Every order, every kind message and every word of encouragement has helped Homegrown Hugs become what it is today.

Here's to many more handmade hugs, made with love, care and safety at their heart.

With love,

Kerry

Homegrown Hugs

From Hobby to Handmade Business

Discover how Homegrown Hugs has grown—from my very first crochet creations to introducing the Emotional Support Collection, Zodiac Collection, Birthday Cakes, teacher gifts, attending craft markets and refreshing my branding.

When I first started Homegrown Hugs, I simply wanted to create handmade crochet gifts that would make people smile. I never imagined just how much my little business would grow or how many wonderful people I would meet along the way.

Since Christmas last year, Homegrown Hugs has grown into something I'm incredibly proud of.

One of the biggest changes has been giving Homegrown Hugs a fresh new look with an updated logo and branding. I wanted something that truly reflected my business – soft, welcoming and full of creativity. I feel it captures exactly what Homegrown Hugs has become and represents the handmade love that goes into every stitch.

One of my biggest additions has been my Emotional Support Collection. Each little character is designed to bring comfort, encouragement and a smile to someone's day. From beautiful birds that each carry their own special meaning to thoughtful keepsake gift sets, these have quickly become some of my favourite creations. Every design is carefully made by hand and created with love, making them perfect little reminders that someone is thinking of you.

I've also introduced my Zodiac Collection, celebrating each star sign with its own handmade crochet character. These have been so much fun to design and have become a lovely personalised gift idea for birthdays and special occasions.

As the school year drew to a close, I created an End of School Year Collection filled with thoughtful handmade gifts for teachers, classmates and friends. From crochet pencil keyrings to adorable keepsakes, it has been wonderful seeing these gifts become part of so many special memories.

Another exciting part of this journey has been taking Homegrown Hugs out into the community by attending several local craft markets. Meeting customers face-to-face, chatting about my creations and seeing people fall in love with something I've made has been one of the most rewarding experiences. Every market has helped me grow in confidence and given me so much inspiration for future collections.

Alongside these collections, I've continued experimenting with new ideas, from birthday cake creations and personalised gifts to superhero-inspired plushies and movie-inspired dolls. I love challenging myself to create something different while keeping the handmade charm that Homegrown Hugs is all about.

As Homegrown Hugs continues to grow, my goal remains exactly the same as when I started: to create handmade crochet gifts that bring comfort, happiness and a little bit of magic into someone's day.

There are lots more ideas already in the works, and I can't wait to continue expanding the Homegrown Hugs family with new collections and seasonal designs.

Thank you to every single person who has supported my small business, whether you've purchased something, shared a post, visited me at a market or simply followed my journey. Every order, every kind word and every bit of encouragement means the world to me.

Here's to the next chapter of Homegrown Hugs!

With love,

Kerry

Homegrown Hugs

Hello and welcome! I’m Kerry – the heart and hands behind Homegrown Hugs.

My journey with crochet started when I was just 10 years old, taught by my lovely nana. What began as a gentle hobby soon grew into a true passion – and now, something even more special: a handmade business filled with joy, colour, and a whole lot of love.

At Homegrown Hugs, every stitch is made with care, and each item is crafted to bring a smile. I specialise in cute crochet fruit, keyrings, plushies, jellycat-inspired items and cosy little gift sets – cute plushies and a meaningful quote and personalisation to brighten someone’s day.

Whether you’re gifting a friend, surprising a loved one, or treating yourself, these sweet creations come packaged in a hug of their own – inside soft bags or clear gift boxes with uplifting notes designed to make hearts feel full.

Why choose Homegrown Hugs?

• Handmade, heartfelt items

• Baby-safe materials and soft textures

• Unique gift bundles with personality

• Custom options available upon request

I’m celebrating with 10% off all crochet goodies! on your first order.

Your support means the world to me. Every like, comment, share, or purchase helps this dream grow – just like the cozy creations that come from it.

Thank you for being part of my small business journey. I can’t wait to share more hugs with you, one stitch at a time.

With love,

Kerry

Homegrown Hugs

A little fruity love for you