On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we’re talking about crochet design with my guest, Brittany Garber.
Joining us today is Britt Garber, the creative force behind KnotBadBritt—a name that’s become synonymous with bold color, approachable crochet design, and thoughtful community-building in the fiber arts world. With over five years of experience as a designer and educator, Britt is known for patterns that are both playful and practical, helping makers grow their skills with confidence. She’s also the founder of the Makers of Color Collective, an initiative focused on amplifying diverse voices and fostering deeper inclusion across our industry.
This episode is sponsored by QT Fabrics.
At QTFabrics, every yard tells a story. Let it help you tell yours.
For over 200 years, QT Fabrics has been part of Ameria’s textile story, carrying
forward the craft and innovation of fabric design and printing. We are excited to
honor an even older tradition with the introduction of RAJA BATIKS. Raja,
meaning “king or prince”, reflects the regal artistry of these textiles created by
hand. A tradition in textiles for today, by QTFabrics.
We begin this conversation with Britt talking about growing up in California. Britt studied rhetoric and classics at UC Berkeley and then went on to pursue a career in retail management and the startup world. Britt has translated the lessons she learned through those job experiences into her crochet business, including the importance of intentional decision-making and balancing work and her personal life as a mother of three children.
Britt learned to crochet during her first pregnancy and discovered the online yarn community through Ravelry and Instagram, finding inspiration and a sense of belonging after connecting with Toni Lipsey of TL Yarn Crafts, who was one of the few Black crocheters she found posting online.
Through her passion for crochet, Britt has become a community builder herself, working to increase representation of Black people in the crafts industry with the founding of The Makers of Color Collective.
Britt shares her experience as a former pattern tester, explaining how that role enhanced her skills as a designer by exposing her to various pattern writing styles and helping her to understand what makes a pattern valuable. Britt also talks about Tunisian crochet and what she loves about it. We also discuss Britt’s decision to focus on designing more advanced patterns rather than patterns for beginners. Finally, we discuss Britt’s Instagram strategy.
And, of course, I ask Britt to recommend great stuff she’s enjoying right now. Britt recommends:
- The game Cozy Grove
- Reformer Pilates classes
- Tunisian Crochet: A Stitch Dictionary with 501 Stitches to Explore by Lori Harrison
Keep up with Britt on her website and on Instagram.
