Do you love KnitPicks? Then you’ll love Alison Backus!

Photo of Alison Backus Knit Picks Director

Alison Backus is the Director of Knit Picks and has been working with the company for more than three years. She has been exploring the fiber arts for about 13 years and loves to dye her own yarn. While at Knit Picks she instituted the Independent Designer Program, that allows designers to have their patterns show cased on the Knit Picks website. In this interview Alison talks about how Knit Picks chooses their products and comes up with their great colors. So sit back, get something to knit, and enjoy the show!

Be sure to thank Alison for doing this interview on Twitter or Facebook.

Listen to the audio version of the interview:

Join our Facebook page and check out Alison’s answers to our lightning round questions!

Alisons advice for budding fiber artists

Get your stuff on Ravelry

Start a group on Ravelry

Join TNNA and network at industry events

Links mentioned in the interview

KnitPicks podcast on Chroma yarn
Tonal Sock Yarn
David Castillo’s Sakura Hat
Pam’s Comfort Afghan
Independent Designers Program

Giveaway!!!

KnitPicks has been VERY generous and provided our biggest giveaway package yet!

1 Lantern Moon Tilly Tote in Yellow

3 books: Knitting with Peruvian Yarns, Stitch N’ Bitch Superstar, Lacy Knits

8 skeins of Shine Sport and Shine Worsted (60% Pima cotton, 40% Modal)

Knit Picks Giveaway on Fiberstory.TV

To enter answer the following question in the comments:

What is your favorite yarn from Knit Picks?

Be sure to include you name so we can announce the winner on next week’s show!

Connect with Knit Picks online!

KnitPicks on Twitter
KnitPicks on Facebook
KnitPicks Lovers on Ravelry
KnitPicks Blog

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Love the sock yarns, Stroll multi sock yarn, Tuscany. Thanks for the interviews! Malinda Pelham

Thank you for the interview, the wonderful advice, and the opportunity to win such an amazing prize! My favorite KnitPicks yarn is Palette, because of its versatility, the broad color and project range, as well as the price. I can afford to just let go and have fun designing with Palette without concern for the cost, and know no matter what shade or tone I need for my designs, I'll find it in KnitPicks Palette. On Ravelry as mrsmouse

My favorite KnitPicks yarn is Felici. I also love the idea of the sock cocktails, even though I haven't purchased one. YET.

I love all Knit Picks yarns, but I think my favorite is still CotLin! Thanks for the great interview with Alison -- so fun to put a face to name!

I love Palette - its great for all sorts of things - socks to shawls

I loved Felici in Time Traveler! I hope they bring it back!

As it happens, my favorite Knit Picks yarn is Shine Worsted! I use it all the time for knitting toys, hats, and just about anything. -LaTina Steele

My favorite has to be the Imagination sock yarn. I love every color and throw a few skeins in when I need to reach the free shipping price of $50. Such a hardship, I know. ;-)

I really liked Main Line, but it has been discontinued. My new favorite is Comfy Worsted. It's squishy with great colorways and fibre longevity. - Evin

I think my favorite KNit Picks yarn is Stroll Sock. The Tonals, Self-Striping, and Finger weight and Sport weight.

I'm not sure which KnitPIcks yarn this was, but it was my first, and produced baby booties so beautiful that I saved some to make a pair for my own wee one if I become a mother someday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danzfool/174755796/in/set-72157600527954221 (It was fingering weight, green-and-purple variegated, and soft -- some kind of alpaca blend, I think (came from a friend, though, so I'm not sure).) - Anna Broadway

I love knitting/crocheting lace, so my favorite yarns are Alpaca Cloud and Shimmer, especially because of the Alpaca and/or silk content. ~Jenny

My favourite yarn, is flat out the Stroll line. I Adore the self striping, they make such gorgeous and comfortable socks. Washes up real nice as well. @sillygirlsarah

I'm a sock nut. I like the feel of Felici but I'd rather have the Stroll solids, I prefer textures over stripes. I've been using Stroll (and its predecessor Essential) for years now, tossing them in the washer and dryer, and have yet to wear a hole through any of my socks.

My favourite Knit Picks yarn is any of the KP Stroll sock yarn, whether it's the hand painted, tonal, all of them! Melissa

Stroll Fingering is my favorite for sock making. Waiting for more new colors.

I love the "Dishie" Cotton - cool for summertime!

From th KP yarns I have tried, my fave is Felici! Can you say soft? And I love watching my knitting grow, one stripe after another!

I'm not sure which KnitPIcks yarn this was, but it was my first, and produced baby booties so beautiful that I saved some to make a pair for my own wee one if I become a mother someday: http://www.flickr.com/photos/danzfool/174755796/in/set-72157600527954221 (It was fingering weight, green-and-purple variegated, and soft -- some kind of alpaca blend, I think (came from a friend, though, so I'm not sure).) - Anna Broadway

My favorite is the Felici self-striping!

Ooh, I'm actually new to Knitpicks yarns, and there are so many I haven't had a chance to try yet! I'm loving the Stroll tonal, though -- so soft, and such great colours.

Wool of the Andes is my favorite! I've used it in so many different projects and always love the results!

My favorite is Imagination sock yarn. I just finished a sock in the Pirate King colorway. There are so many colors in each skein. It's like self-striping yarn for people with extreme ADD. :-)

My favorite knitpicks yarn is Swish DK...I love the colors and drape of this yarn! Angelarae arwhisnant@gmail.com

I love knitting/crocheting lace, so my favorite yarns are Alpaca Cloud and Shimmer, especially because of the Alpaca and/or silk content. ~Jenny

My favourite yarn, is flat out the Stroll line. I Adore the self striping, they make such gorgeous and comfortable socks. Washes up real nice as well. @sillygirlsarah

I'm a sock nut. I like the feel of Felici but I'd rather have the Stroll solids, I prefer textures over stripes. I've been using Stroll (and its predecessor Essential) for years now, tossing them in the washer and dryer, and have yet to wear a hole through any of my socks.

My favourite Knit Picks yarn is any of the KP Stroll sock yarn, whether it's the hand painted, tonal, all of them! Melissa

Stroll Fingering is my favorite for sock making. Waiting for more new colors.

I love the "Dishie" Cotton - cool for summertime!

From th KP yarns I have tried, my fave is Felici! Can you say soft? And I love watching my knitting grow, one stripe after another!

My favorite is the Felici self-striping!

Ooh, I'm actually new to Knitpicks yarns, and there are so many I haven't had a chance to try yet! I'm loving the Stroll tonal, though -- so soft, and such great colours.

Wool of the Andes is my favorite! I've used it in so many different projects and always love the results!

My favorite is Imagination sock yarn. I just finished a sock in the Pirate King colorway. There are so many colors in each skein. It's like self-striping yarn for people with extreme ADD. :-)

My favorite knitpicks yarn is Swish DK...I love the colors and drape of this yarn! Angelarae arwhisnant@gmail.com

I have so many favorites! Stroll Tonal is probably my current fave. Love all the colors and the yarn is soooo soft and smooshy. - Tara

I have so many favorites! Stroll Tonal is probably my current fave. Love all the colors and the yarn is soooo soft and smooshy. - Tara

Felici is my fave! My entire family (all 10 of us) have socks I've knitted from Felici yarn. I love the way it washes and never loses it's shape. Firebaughbetty@gmail.com

Felici is my fave! My entire family (all 10 of us) have socks I've knitted from Felici yarn. I love the way it washes and never loses it's shape. Firebaughbetty@gmail.com

i love the chroma fingering sock yarn in the new england colorway so lovely vbarton24 at gmail dot com @brendarudybrauner @paularobinson

My favorite yarn is Wool of the Andes. Beautiful and affordable.

I actually love their Shine yarn! Still all natural fiber, but shinier than plain cotton so it looks more impressive.

I actually love their Shine yarn! Soft, and shinier than plain cotton, so it looks more impressive.

i love the chroma fingering sock yarn in the new england colorway so lovely vbarton24 at gmail dot com @brendarudybrauner @paularobinson

My favorite yarn is Wool of the Andes. Beautiful and affordable.

I actually love their Shine yarn! Still all natural fiber, but shinier than plain cotton so it looks more impressive.

I actually love their Shine yarn! Soft, and shinier than plain cotton, so it looks more impressive.

I love all their yarns but I especially like Crayon. Baby clothes and tit bits turn out soft and cuddly.

My favorite yarn is Felici. I love how awesome the socks turn out with this colorful and soft yarn. Laura