Meet Laura Nelkin, the knitwear designer and teacher behind Nelkin Designs (and her spicy alter ego, Lola). In this month's Maker Spotlight, Laura opens up about her creative process, the beaded jewelry line she's been building for years, and the Knit For Food Knitathon, the 12-hour fundraiser she founded that has now raised over $2.2 million for hunger relief.

Julie Crawford of Knitted Bliss started with a knitting blog in the early days of the internet -- before Ravelry even existed. Today she designs embroidery kits and stick-and-stitch patterns made specifically for knitted fabrics, and teaches workshops that make the whole thing feel joyful and achievable. We sat down with her to talk process, philosophy, and what keeps her grounded as a maker and small business owner.

Some of the best ideas start with a problem no one else is solving. When Andrea Lui, PT, DPT, OCS scrolled through knitting forums and saw makers being told to either push through the pain or put down their needles entirely, she knew there had to be a better way. A practicing physical therapist with a doctorate from MGH Institute of Health Professions and a board certification in orthopedic PT, Andrea brought her clinical training directly into the craft community, creating The Knitting PT: a home for quick, maker-specific movement guidance rooted in real anatomy and genuine love for the craft. Through short-form videos, virtual consults, courses, and her upcoming book Craft Without Pain (available for preorder now), Andrea has built something quietly radical -- a space where self-care and creativity aren't in competition, but deeply, practically intertwined. We're so glad she agreed to answer a few of our questions. Q. You’re a practicing physical therapist and a passionate knitter -- was there a specific moment (in clinic or at your own needles) that sparked The Knitting PT, and what did you most want makers to feel or understand from day one? The online community was the initial spark. I saw knitters posting online that they were experiencing pain in their arms or numbness in their hands and asking for advice. Much of the advice given was horrifically incorrect, ranging from "power through it" to "stop knitting." I believe in finding a middle ground with my patients -- still doing what you love but with modifications as your body heals. Q.  Your tips are quick, practical, and maker-specific: can you walk us through what happens behind the scenes from a common “ouch” (like tight shoulders or cranky wrists) to the final reel -- what do you look for, test, and simplify? I choose the topic for a post either from what I am seeing people comment about online, or from what my own body is feeling. I'm often thinking about how to optimize my movement when I'm knitting or crafting -- so these often spark the initial idea. From there, I choose an exercise or tip that addresses that topic, and I usually try to use something that is fresh, new, that I haven't touched on lately. When I film, I talk freely and then edit down based on time and what I want to emphasize. Q. In your consults, classes, and courses, how do you make movement and self-care feel accessible and inclusive for different bodies, abilities, and experience levels --and what small habit change do you find helps most people right away? The most important thing I tell my students is that any movement counts. It doesn't matter if it is a simple shoulder roll or a 45-minute workout -- movement is movement, and it's more important that we get moving rather than worry about if we are doing enough. Many people get hung up on the details and feel that if it's not a certain number of minutes, it doesn't count. It's much easier to build a positive habit step by step rather than leaping several feet forward. To make things inclusive, I often teach exercises that can be done sitting, and offer as many modifications as possible for all abilities. Q. When you’re not teaching wellness, what kind of knitting (colors, textures, techniques, or projects) is lighting you up right now—and how has your online community shaped what you create and share next? I have been loving bright colors and neutrals lately. I have many friends who spin or are yarn dyers, and it has inspired me to explore different wools outside of the typical merino. This year, I am also on a quest to figure out my perfect sock recipe and sock heel fit! Q. For makers who want to keep creating for years to come, are there any small habits, tools, or mindset shifts you’d recommend to support both creativity and well-being? The best recommendation I can give is to listen to your body. Your body knows when it needs a break, and taking those short breaks will go a long way to preventing discomfort from becoming a chronic situation. This goes for creativity too! I am guilty of not frogging projects when I've lost the passion for it, but it truly is a weight off my mind when I move forward and let my creative heart lead my needles and hands. We're so grateful to Andrea for taking the time -- and for the reminder that taking care of your body and loving your craft aren't at odds with each other. You can find Andrea's tutorials, courses, and virtual consult bookings at ptandrea.com, and follow along with her making and movement content on Instagram at @theknittingpt. Her book, Craft Without Pain: Injury Prevention and Self-Care for Knitters and Other Makers, will be published on June 16th, 2026, and is available for preorder now wherever books are sold. love, 

Aoibhe Ni (AY-vah NEE) is an Irish Tunisian crochet designer, teacher, and the creative force behind Yarn Towers. Known for her mythology-inspired Legendary Shawls and her pioneering "short hook" method, Aoibhe designs intricate lacework that requires nothing more than a standard crochet hook and a sense of adventure. In this Maker Spotlight, she shares how growing up in rural Ireland shaped her craft, what it's like to design without a mind's eye, and why there's no such thing as a mistake in crochet.

This week, we’re shining our Maker Spotlight on Elysia of Yarn Ink, a woman-owned and operated hand-dyed yarn company based just outside of Calgary, Alberta. Elysia’s colorways are every bit as bold and expressive as her creative spirit. What began as a stay-at-home mom’s experiment in hand-dyeing has grown into a thriving business celebrated for its vibrant hues, fearless messages, and heartfelt connection to the fiber community. From her unforgettable F*ck Cancer colorways to her love of collaboration and color, Elysia’s work reflects both resilience and authenticity -- two things we can never get enough of. She was randomly selected from the generous group of sponsors who donated prizes to this year’s Knit for the Girls fundraiser in support of breast cancer research, and we’re so thrilled to share a glimpse into her journey. Q. How did your business get started? It all started after my daughter was born and she’d wear wool longies I knit over her cloth diapers. At the time I was a stay at home mom and we were on a limited budget so I couldn’t afford the super fancy hand dyed yarn. A friend of mine learned how to hand dye yarn and taught me the basics and the rest is history. Q. Do you have a favorite project or piece that you've ever worked on?  Honestly my favourite project has been f*ck cancer and I was so nervous when I first shared it because it’s a super sensitive topic (for obvious reasons) but I was shown nothing but insane support. So many vulnerable stories were shared about themselves, friends, family. I realized that I hit something with it because so many people felt that was the only way to say it. Q.  If you could collaborate with any designer, dyer, or maker, who would it be, and why? Oh wow this one is tough, there are so many! If I could only choose one though…. Wool & pine would be one of them for sure! I love their aesthetic and style. Q. What do you like to listen to while you're working? Honestly a huge mix, podcasts including Mel Robbins, The Birds Papaya, music if I just need to zone out and recently I’ve been rewatching Desperate Housewives. Thank you, Elysia, for sharing your color, creativity, and heart with the fiber community. Your work reminds us how making can spark connection and joy in so many forms! You can discover Elysia's vibrant creations -- and bring a little of that color into your own projects -- on Instagram and at Yarn Ink. love,

Today's’s Maker Spotlight takes us to the rugged beauty of Newfoundland, where Pamela of Windswept Fibres and Design captures the spirit of her coastal home in every skein. What began as a way to share locally dyed yarn with visiting knitters soon became a thriving fibre business, rooted in pride for her province and a deep love of colour. From her shop in St. John’s, Pamela continues to craft luminous yarns that celebrate Newfoundland’s natural magic: each hue telling a story of sea, stone, and sky. Q. How did your business get started? My business started in early 2022. I was working in our LYS and we daily had tourists dropping by looking for locally dyed yarn. I approached the owner, Katie, and mentioned that I was interested in trying to dye high quality yarn for the shop to fill that need. I have always been a very proud Newfoundlander so the chance to show off our culture through beautiful fibre was the drive behind the brand! We launched on LYS Day in April of 2022 and thankfully it was a success right from the start. Unfortunately a couple of months later Katie announced she was selling the shop and it ended up leaving the city so I started on my own. In 2024 I opened my own shop on Water Street in St. John’s and it is thriving!  Q. Do you have a favorite project or piece that you've ever worked on?  It’s very hard to choose a favourite “child” but Labradorite has definitely been the most popular of my colourways. It is layers of blue, greens, greys and golds to try to replicate the look of the Labradorite gemstone. I only do it on Paradise silk sock which is 50% silk as it shines.  Q.  If you could collaborate with any designer, dyer, or maker, who would it be, and why? I don’t think I could ever narrow down my choice of favourite designer to just one but it would be amazing to collaborate with designers such as Jennifer Beale, Joji Locatelli, Isabelle Kraemer or Ankestrick! Their designs have always been personal favourites as they are so well written and beautifully designed but still very wearable. I have also been a huge fan of Thread and Maple for years and have quite a collection of beautiful leather binders and tools that I use on a daily basis! My favourite would have to be the On the Go that I carry everywhere. To collaborate on something like that would be a dream!  Q. What do you like to listen to while you're working? Surprisingly enough I don’t usually listen to anything when I’m working! I’m usually humming or singing something to myself but I tend to be thinking and planning something as I dye and I really enjoy the quiet!  With every dye pan, Pamela captures the textures and tones of Newfoundland’s coastline: yarns that glow with warmth, movement, and a sense of place. Pamela also joins us as one of the talented sponsors for this year’s Knit for the Girls fundraiser, helping support breast cancer research through her generous contribution. You can explore her stunning yarns and find a bit of that beauty for yourself on Instagram and at Windswept Fibres and Design. love,