3 years ago this week, the first IDP patterns went up on the site! We started with around 20 patterns and a handful of designers; since then, the Independent Designer Partnership Program has grown to nearly 2000 patterns and over 550 designers! Wow!
I’m so excited I get to be a part of this. Alison came up with the idea in fall 2009 and I came aboard the Knit Picks team in November. My first month was spent working round the clock to make sure everything was ready to go! Since then, this has been my main job at Knit Picks and I honestly couldn’t be happier – I’ve loved getting to know the designers and helping them bring their patterns to you. We’ve grown the IDP to include kits, ebooks, and our newest venture, IDP Designer Collections. Plus I can’t wait for you all to see what our next IDP projects is – believe me, you are going to love it!
Since we’re celebrating our anniversary, I’ve been asking my coworkers to pick their favorite IDP patterns. While it was like pulling teeth (“I like so many of them!”), they finally narrowed their choices down.
To be honest, I also had problems picking a favorite pattern, but I finally went with the one I’ve made many times – the Boo Bear Hat by Terri Kruse.
I have, to date, made a half dozen Boo Bear Hats (warning, if you make one for a young friend, all the other kids (and parents) will want them too!). It’s a great quick pattern – it’s knit up in Swish Bulky in the original pattern but I’ve had great luck with Biggo too. And it’s just so cute – I made one for my neighbor 2 years ago and he continues to wear it to this day (even if it is a bit small for him now). His mother told me he never wants to leave the house without it!
Alison went with a big staff favorite – the Sushi Roll Hat by Nona Davenport
How adorable is Nona’s daughter Ruby? And, as Alison told me, it has been a delight watching the “sushi baby” grow up in our IDP program – she’s been featured in many of Nona’s IDP patterns. And the hat is such a fun knit!
Jenny K. couldn’t decide on one, so she just picked Jane Richmond‘s hat patterns.
The Elizabeth hat shown here and the Jane Cabled Hat are both ones Jenny K. goes to for her last minute gift knitting – and, as she says, the cables make it look so classy.
Hannah choose one she’s blogged about – the Fightin’ Words Mitts by Annie Watts
I think Hannah put it best: I LOVE Annie Watts’ Fightin’ Words pattern! My favorite go-to quick knits are always fingerless mittens and this pattern has just the right amount of quirkiness and spunk to make it an interesting project to work on over a weekend. Plus you can take the color combinations in so many directions (Old school comic book? Black and white newspaper? You got it!) to suit all the hero-enthusiasts you know.
Kerin also went with another Annie Watts pattern – Kraken Knuckles!
Annie’s patterns hit all of Kerin’s knitting sweet spots – mythological beasts, colorwork, and puns! These are super fun – and one day I’ll finish the pair I’m working on!
Jenny C., our crochet expert, went with Tara Schreyer’s Double Twist Cowl.
Following my lifelong preference for “simple thing that looks complicated, my favorite IDP pattern is Tara Schreyer’s “Crochet Double Twist Cowl”. It’s also got a wide appeal for gift giving—the sort of item that beautifully depends on color choice and how it’s worn.
As a crocheter, I’m also a big fan of both Tara and her knotsewcute partner Kim Miller‘s patterns too, so I certainly agree with everything Jenny says!
So those are some of our favorites – how about yours? Let me know in the comments
And once again, I want to thank all of you for making this program such a sucess!
