About

Knitting Purls began as an idea in the mind of Ida Walker, a freelance author and editor. During a “dry spell” in getting assignments, she lamented to an online publishing list about how difficult it was to break into writing/editing for the fiber market, specifically knitting. Someone on the list suggested that if Ida couldn’t find someone to hire her, that she start her own publication. And with that, Knitting Purls was born.

The first issue was published in January 2008. The subscription list was short–only about 45. The number of subscribers to the free zine grew slowly but surely. But then Wendy Johnson mentioned the little zine that could in her blog, WendyKnits! Almost immediately, the subscriptions doubled, tripled, quadrupled. An empire (or at least the thought of one in the publisher’s mind) was born.

Besides the zine, the Knitting Purls now includes a podcast, Ravelry group with very popular KALs (knit-a-longs for the uninitiated). The first Knitting Purls Indie Sock Yarn Club is currently under way and features yarns from independent dyers. You can also purchase items from the Knitting Purls etsy shop.

Independent fiber artists are important to Knitting Purls, and in the upcoming weeks, it will launch Fiber Finder, an online directory of fiber artists.

The success of Knitting Purls has led to the creation of two other zines, Spinning & Dyeing, and Hooks & String. It is also responsible for the creation of Station KPFF. The station features Night-Night, Knitters, an updated homage to radio serials.

It’s likely that those responsible for Knitting Purls will come up with even more ventures in the future. And you’ll hear it here, first.