Category Archives: Inspiration

Thicket: Nature Inspired Cable Knits

Neisha Abdulla’s Brushwood Wrap Here at Knit Picks we’ve made a tradition of starting the new year with a large cable collection. I’m not going to lie, these collections have always been my favorite to work on, from start to finish. When conceptualizing our first collection of 2022, I took inspiration from literally right outside my door – the earthy colors and beautiful trees of the Pacific Northwest. Anni Howard’s Slalom ...

Read more »

Wonderfluff patterns to warm up with

It’s the time of year to snuggle up in a soft handknit! Whether you’re spending time reading a book on the couch or heading out into the cold for a spot of fresh air, the silky-soft alpaca in Wonderfluff will keep you cozy. Here are a few of our favorite patterns to knit with Wondefluff. To keep warm from head to hand, the Ultra Cozy Hat and Mittens by Emily Kintigh are the projects to cast on! Knit on size 10 (6mm) and size 8 (5mm) needles, they’re an incredibly speedy set to work up, perfect for last minute gift knitting. Blankets will keep ...

Read more »

my new friends at Moose Creek Ranch
Meet Jen, the new Content & Outreach Administrator

Hi friends! I’m Jen Burt, and I am tickled to be joining the Knit Picks and We Crochet teams as the new Content and Outreach Administrator, which means I get to play with the new yarns and work with amazing designers to create pattern collections that you will want to stitch! My new friends at Moose Creek Ranch – I think they could smell the wool in my project bag. As a longtime stitcher, my love of yarn and fiber runs deep. I am bi-crafty and split my love equally between knitting and crochet, so I could never pick a favorite (cough cough, knitting socks). From ...

Read more »

Meet Andi, Our New Marketing Manager

Hello! I’m Andi Satterlund, and I’m delighted to be joining the Knit Picks team. I’ll be working hard to put together the newsletters you know and love, and I will also be diving in on expanding content here on this blog and beyond! I’ve been knitting since 2003, and for a decade I was an independent knitting pattern designer and knitting blogger. If you thought my name looked familiar, that might be because you’ve seen my patterns before or maybe even knit one yourself. I’m primarily a sweater knitter and ...

Read more »

Meet Alena Ruman, our new IDP Program Administrator

Hello everyone! My name is Alena Ruman and I am so excited to introduce myself as the IDP Program Administrator! In case you do not know, the Independent Designer Partnership is a platform where Knit Picks and We Crochet host patterns from independent designers that showcase the gorgeous yarns under our brands. Designers retain all rights to their patterns as well as receive all revenue from pattern sales. I have been a designer in the IDP program for many years and I’m excited to now work on the other end to make it even better for our designers and customers. I grew up as a crafty kid in northeast Ohio and knitting was one of the many ...

Read more »

Autumn News: Fall comes to the High Desert

Happy Fall’idays, fiber friends! We’ve reached peak gift-knitting season and things don’t appear to be slowing down for us anytime soon. Oversized cowls, colorwork mitts, and cuddly toys are on our loved ones’ wish lists this year, so we better put the kettle on and get to it. But first, here’s the latest in knit-related news!

Read more »

Holiday Season Inspiration starts now

Surprise! It’s the end of September. Well, technically that’s not the surprise. No, the surprise is this—our annual 12 Weeks of Gifting series has begun! Each week from now until the middle of December, we’ll be offering a brand new designer pattern to you as a FREE download! Be sure to grab it quickly and get started on new gifts. If you are feeling the cozy weather, be sure to check out this week’s special pattern we’re “gifting” to you. The Rainchain Blanket by Kalurah Hudson, available as a free download. Kalurah is a prolific designer, whose wimsy and sense of humor, in her pattern names and beyond, will make you smile. She spearheads ...

Read more »

Next-to-Skin Considerations

For those considering a new project for someone with wool allergies, knitters considering plant-based yarns or those looking for wool-yarn alternatives, there are so many great options. Here’s our round-up of recommendations. NON-WOOL FIBER OPTIONS If your project is a warm weather garment or an accessory for someone with sensitive skin, knitters will love our selection of alpaca, mohair, silk, and blend yarns. KindredAlpaca CloudSimply AlpacaAndean TreasureAloftLuminance PLANT-BASED YARNS Our delightful selection of plant-based yarns are made from smooth cotton and cool linen. We also have a few yarns made from renewable materials, Shine ...

Read more »

Oh Baby!

Inspiration for beautiful baby projects knit in some of our favorite baby yarns. Cotlin is a cool and lightweight Tanguis cotton and summer linen blend perfect for summer knit for children and adults. Tanguis (tan-gwiss) cotton has a very soft hand, excellent absorption and, because it is a naturally white fiber, a high affinity for dyes. The knit fabric will get softer with each wash too. Romper pattern by Debbie Bliss (Knit in Cotlin Flamingo)

Read more »

Designer Spotlight: Margaret Holzmann

Margaret Holzmann likes to design and knit the BIG things: blankets, throws and sweaters. She uses these larger items as a canvas for colorwork, shapes, and texture. She excels at construction techniques, the geometry of knitting, and color theory. Following a career as an engineer at Bell Labs and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she is now a full-time knit designer living in Monrovia, California, and her patterns have appeared in multiple knitting publications. Read more about Margaret Holzmann on her website theknitwit.org. If you’re an aspiring designer you’ll want to check out her advice on asking for yarn support, how tos on writing an arts & crafts book, and her thoughts on self-publishing verses big publishers, all available on her blog.

Read more »