Made in Chicago: Little Loops and Layers

Crocheting started as a hobby for Deniz Evangelista in 2024, and quickly grew into a passion for her. The full-time nurse at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago says she was just looking for an escape from the stress of life and work. "I took one class, and after that, I was hooked. No pun intended. I was addicted," she recalled with a laugh. The married, mother of two says it's hard to put her finger on what drew her to the craft. "I don’t know if it’s the repetitive movement or what it was, but it just put me in this little bubble. It was a de-stresser, and it was just something that I suddenly loved to do," she said. And that love just kept growing, and she kept getting better and better. "I started making gifts. I would make blankets for baby showers. I would make little plushies for some of my friends kids," she recalled of her early days. Evangelista's skills surprised not just her, but everyone who saw her finished creations. "A lot of my friends and family would comment and motivate me and say, ‘hey this is really good. I think you could take this somewhere,” she remembers. So Evangelista did, launching her business, Little Loops and Layers in 2025. At first, she sold her creations on social media sites including facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and eventually she expanded to outdoor markets and spaces at AngMir in Pilsen and the Dollup Coffee location in the Prudential Building where we caught up with her. "I crochet all my plushies. I crochet blankets, some wearables and accessories. They’re all handmade by me," she said proudly, adding, "it makes me really happy to see that it sparks joys in those who receive or even take a look at my products." Evangelista has gotten so good, she now takes custom orders. "I'm currently making a second order of 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar.' It’s literally the caterpillar with an open mouth, and I made all the food items that get stuffed into the mouth so it’s really interactive for kids and it’s something that’s a good addition to follow along with the book when you’re reading to them," she explained. It's still hard for Evangelista to believe how far Little Loops and Layers has come in less than a year. "I’m just proud of myself. It is hard to be a working mom in this day and age so to have this and grow it into the business that it is today. It means everything to me," she said. Evangelista is also very grateful to all her family members, friends and fellow crafters who helped and encouraged her every step of the way. "I wouldn’t be where I am today without them," she said, adding "it’s brought me so much joy, especially when I see the reactions of how other people receive this." And she hopes to keep creating and spreading joy for years to come.