“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”
Maya Angelou
I’m Catherine! I’m a knitter, spinner, designer, and podcaster based in Saratoga Springs, NY.
(My content is swearing-friendly, for those with kiddos or who are sensitive to that sort of thing. Proceed with caution!)
Knitting tells a story.
I grew up in Catholic school. We wore uniforms - as young people living “in the image of Christ,” we were expected to, essentially, blend in with the wall. Children were expected to be tiny adults - we couldn’t wear jewelry (unless it was a religious icon), paint our nails, or dye our hair. When I refused to wear a skirt, before I ever even knew what being transgender was, I was screamed at for daring to show up to school in pants. The same ones the boys were allowed to wear.
As I get older and continue growing in my identity as a queer, trans, disabled, plus-sized ex-Catholic, I realize how deeply this kind of upbringing has conditioned me to be utterly terrified to take up space - especially in the realm of dressing myself. I can’t usually find clothes in stores that I like and fit me, so I make my own. I believe knitting your own clothes is something that should make you feel seen and empowered to your core, and cutting corners doesn’t do that for any maker.
I know how it feels to be left out of the retail fashion industry and to have all inclination of identity and self-expression taken from you. Let’s bust those barriers down together.
“Be yourself until you make them uncomfortable.”
— Alok Vaid-Menon
Values mean everything.
I believe that:
trans, disabled, and fat people deserve clothes that fit
clothing should be sensory-friendly
handcrafts are gifts from our ancestors we can’t afford to lose
access to mental health and gender-affirming care saves lives
we can do the things that scare us
knitting can be healthcare
yarn can save lives
If you agree - stick around! I’ve got plenty to share with you that comes from that place in my heart.
“Discovering the truth about ourselves is a lifetime’s work, but it’s worth the effort.”
— Fred Rogers
Let’s have fun!
Making your own clothes should be enjoyable! That’s why I make patterns that offer optimal play-in-the-sandbox vibes. My content will always center joy, laughter, community, and the empowering feeling of not taking yourself too seriously.
I love knits that allow me to highlight unique fibers and yarn constructions (especially my handspun) and I always want to be able to learn something new with each project. I’m a huge fan of unusual or unexpected fiber combos, and the love of the fibers and yarn construction themselves is one of my favorite parts of yarn crafts! You’ll find plenty of this fiber-centric inspiration in my designs, along with bold stitch motifs, modern interpretations of classic silhouettes, and a healthy dose of gender-f*ckery. My patterns are for everyone and modifications are one of the parts of the making process that I most encourage.
Thanks for being here and for checking out my work! All of my patterns are available for purchase here, as well as on my Ravelry store. I also have a mailing list that you can subscribe to to receive subscriber-only discounts on new releases, stay up to date on patterns and podcast episodes, and more! You can subscribe by clicking this link.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to ask questions or just say hey!