There's a moment in Julie Crawford's creative journey when a knitting blog became something else entirely. Long before Ravelry existed, Julie was already building what would become Knitted Bliss: a space for knitters, a home for ideas, and eventually, a niche all her own.
As the designer behind Knitted Bliss Stitching, she creates embroidery kits and stick-and-stitch patterns specifically engineered for knitted fabric, and travels to yarn shops across Canada to teach workshops that make the whole thing feel completely within reach. Her kits, her collaborations (including one with Quince & Co.), and her deep understanding of how knitted textiles behave have built her a devoted following among makers who might never have thought embroidery was for them.
Q. You've been creating through Knitted Bliss for many years -- can you remember a moment early on when you realized this wasn't just a hobby anymore, but something deeply meaningful to you?
Knitted Bliss has evolved over the years the same way I have evolved, and it's been deeply meaningful to me at every stage. It started off as a knitting blog, in the early days of blogging -- before even Ravelry! Through that, I started designing knitting patterns, a signature blog series called Modification Mondays (where I highlighted cleverly modified knitting patterns by others), and then into embroidery on knits.
It wasn't until I moved to Knitted Bliss Stitching, the embroidery on knits, that I made it my full time job. Now, designing embroidery specifically for knit fabrics and teaching workshops is such a joy.
Q. Your work feels very intentional and "gentle" -- designed to be joyful and achievable. Was there a personal experience or moment that shaped this philosophy behind your designs?
I craft and design in keeping with my philosophies about making -- that it should be enjoyable throughout the process, and the results should be wonderful. I aspire to be the Bob Ross of embroidery on knits -- art that anyone can do! Because I specialize in designing embroidery for knitting, my in-depth understanding of how knitted fabrics behave help me teach others about the best way to embroider on knits for the best possible results.
Q. Running a small creative business can be both fulfilling and overwhelming -- what keeps you grounded and connected to the joy of making when things get busy or challenging?
As possibly the world's slowest knitter, I try to just accept the kind of maker I am -- I am not quick when I knit, but I am quick when I embroider! I usually have multiple projects going: quick ones, large-scale projects that take months, and a combination of knitting and embroidery. I only use materials that I love, and that helps a lot. Because when you're not quick, you really want to enjoy the process, and great materials help with that so much!
From a small business perspective, I think the key to fighting overwhelm and burnout starts with detailed (very detailed, every step) planning and not taking on too much during the inevitable peak times (spring and fall are always the busiest!) I try map out my year with designing taking place during quieter months or weeks, and try to prepare as much as possible in advance. It's not always possible, I have a family and young kids, but I try! I actually have a professional background in large-scale project management and business administration, so that comes in handy, too. But life happens, and sometimes you just have to go with the flow!
If this conversation has you itching to pick up an embroidery needle, you're in exactly the right headspace. Head over to knittedbliss.com to browse Julie's kits, stick-and-stitch patterns, and knitting patterns -- and if you're local to Toronto, keep an eye on her site for upcoming workshops. For a steady stream of beautifully stitched knits and process peeks, give @knittedblissjc a follow on Instagram.
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