At just 14 years old, Ezra Huelsewiesche is already making a name for himself as a young crocheter, weaving together threads of tradition and modern creativity. His skill with a crochet hook may not be something you'd typically expect from an eighth-grade boy — but thanks to the guidance of his 99-year-old Polish great-grandmother, Ezra has found a passion that bridges generations. 

Ezra’s journey with crochet began in 2016, but it wasn’t until late 2020 that he truly dove into the craft. 

“You can basically make whatever you want,” he said, adding that the appeal lies not just in the endless possibilities of what he can create, but also in the meditative process. “You can just zone out and not have to think about school. I can just think about the stitches.” 

The sense of accomplishment he feels when he’s completed a project, especially those with intricate shapes that come together through careful, precise adjustments, fuels his dedication.

While many teenagers might be glued to their screens, Ezra is busy transforming balls of yarn into whimsical figures, often inspired by popular video game characters. If he can’t find the patterns he needs online, he adapts what he has to suit his vision, like when he crafted a special “octopus on fire” for his mom’s cousin, based on a concept the cousin came up with as a child. 

“I just added flames to its head,” he recalled, noting he was “shocked” when he received $100 for the piece.

Ezra’s love for crochet has not only given him a creative outlet but also a budding business. He sells his creations to friends and classmates and at local art fairs, often surprising customers who don’t expect such skilled work to come from someone so young. 

“People don’t usually assume that a kid can make all of these,” he said. “They’ll walk past my display and say, ‘Huh, where’s the owner of the booth?’ So I have to stand there and constantly crochet so that they see that I really make these.” 

Ezra’s mom, Jennifer, first noticed her son’s growing interest in crochet in the midst of the COVID pandemic, when he started following YouTube tutorials and commenting on the creators he preferred — not for their aesthetic appeal, but for their use of particular stitches and techniques. For Ezra, crocheting goes beyond simply following patterns; it’s about problem-solving and pushing the boundaries of his craft. His mother describes his work as more akin to textile sculpture, noting his attention to detail and ability to visualize complex patterns.

“He gets giddy when it all comes together,” she said.

Jennifer has seen both his confidence and creativity grow as Ezra has learned how to navigate the business side of his craft, from managing deadlines for craft fairs to understanding operating expenses, both in time and materials.

“He is learning that his work has value and really makes people happy,” she added, recounting how he once combined small, unfinished projects into playful “Odd Bits” that quickly became a hit at a craft show, the first to sell out.

“Ez has these ‘aha’ moments when he will wake up early and start a very specific project for a friend. ... These are almost always given as gifts, and I think he enjoys the giving as much as his friends enjoy receiving,” she said. “When he did begin selling them, he already had his first purchase in mind — a Nintendo Switch. He managed to buy it and had enough left over to open his own bank account.”

At home, Ezra is surrounded by a family of makers — engineers, artists, woodworkers, bakers, teachers — who all value the joy of creating something with their hands. That includes his maternal grandfather, “Grandy,” an artist and retired art teacher, who has seen firsthand how crafting can boost confidence and forge connections. Ezra’s great-grandmother takes pride in watching her great-grandson’s skills evolve, their crochet-strengthened bond proof that no hobby is bound by age or gender. 

“We have several pieces that she crocheted years ago, and I love that he can appreciate the time and skill that went into making these heirlooms,” Jennifer said.

At once preserving a cherished tradition while also carving his own path, Ezra’s contributions are now adding to these family treasures — and just as his great-grandmother taught him, he has also begun to teach others how to crochet, including his mom as well as a few friends at school, where he shares tips on hooks and yarn types. Jennifer said several of Ezra’s friends’ mothers have also picked up the hobby, inspired by his art, and his little sister is eager to be next.

“(She) swears that he is going to teach her so she can make more money than he does,” Jennifer said. “I imagine that in about 10 years, I’ll be opening crocheted gifts from both of them at Christmas and adding them to a growing gallery of past projects. That makes my heart so happy.”