About the Designers

Susan Todhunter (Winter Chases Fall)	I design for knitters who want sew-free, finish-free patterns, with interesting details incorporated. As a former art student and teacher, I view each pattern as an opportunity to learn and practice new techniques, as well as an opportunity for unique self-expression. The natural beauty of my native New England often inspires my designs. See my designs, “Vanilla Spice”, “Tangerine Twist”, “Maple”, and “Meadow” in Knitty.com. About the socks: “Massachusetts is all about the weather. We love spring for the brief moment it lasts, enjoy summer while complaining about the heat, and are famous for our glorious fall, chased away too soon by winter. The socks are worked in the beautiful reds, oranges, golds and browns of a sugar maple leaf at the height of seasonal color. The winter white chases the fall color in a slipped stitch mosaic variation that provides a sense of motion.”
Rachel Covey Brown (Snowy Pines)	About the socks: “I grew up in Boston, but spent much of my vacation time in Maine at my grandparents’ house on the coast, or tucked away in the family cabin in the northern woods watching the snow come down and dreaming about skiing the next day. In both places, the landscape is dominated by pine trees of every sort — hemlocks, junipers, red pine, white pine — filling the air with the indescribable scent of fresh pine.”
Heatherly Walker (Jersey Turnpike)	About the socks: “Living on the East Coast most of my childhood, we would hear the grown ups talk about the Garden State and the ominous New Jersey Turnpike. By the time we hit the state border, we kids were always asleep. It wasn’t until I was grown and driving on my own that I realized why the adults had spent so much time discussing which route to take. It was more magical when we were children.”
Kimberly de la Cruz (Appalachian Trail)	“I come from the small town of Columbia, Pennsylvania, situated right along the Susquehanna River. I have been knitting for many years, but when I moved to Sweden, I got into knitting so much that she wanted to try my hand at designing my own knitwear. I started designing with a pair of colorwork mittens; from there on my love grew. When I returned to America I continued to design. I feel very fortunate to have some of my work published. You can follow me at ww.thececrux.blogspot.com.” About the socks: “My design is inspired by Pennsylvania and the famous Appalachian Trail that passes through the eastern corner of the state on its way from Maryland to New Jersey. The design represents the peaks of the mountains and the twists and turns of the trail that winds its way through the area.”
Emily Marshall (Land & Sea)	About the socks: “When I think of Florida, I see its two sides: the beach with waves and sand, and its trees and lush plant life. I wanted to pay homage to both sides so I created a pattern that displayed characteristics of each. I used a sand-colored yarn of bamboo, wool and silk to keep the socks lightweight.”
Lynn Taylor (Nana’s Garden)	About the socks: “I designed this sock for my friend Leslie, known as ‘Nana’ to her family. The pathways of the sock remind me of life’s path, sometimes smooth and sometimes full of twists and turns, just like Nana’s beautiful garden.”
Joy Gerhardt (Fields to the Stars)	“I am an Ohioan living in England and an obsessive knitter and spinner. Cincinnati is my hometown but I also lived in Columbus, the state capital, before hopping across the pond with a suitcase full of wool. I document my fiber adventures at http://blog.joyuna.com.” About the socks: “I’ve spent my whole life in Ohio until recently, when I relocated to the UK. Though I’ve left my home state, it is the place that has influenced me and left an indelible mark on me. No matter where I am in the world, Ohio’s history is mine as well.”
Rusty Theresa Morris (Ohio River Socks)	“I love knitting best of all the crafts that I’ve tried. I’m self-taught (thank you “Idiot’s Guide to Knitting”) and enjoy learning new techniques and ideas. I never imagined that I would knit so much, not to mention designing patterns because math is my nemesis. They don’t tell you about the math when they get you hooked on the knitting! I’m working on several new designs now as well as trying to get the hang of spinning my own yarn with a spindle. Very fun but frustrating. Come and visit me on my blog-www.ibeknitting.blogspot.com.” About the socks: “I live in Cincinnati, where the Ohio River separates Ohio from Kentucky by a narrow swath of water. I love how the river bends, twists and turns throughout its journey, so narrow in some places that you can easily swim across from one state to another.”
Sara Elizabeth Schmidt (Grand Canyon Socks)	“I learned to quilt and crochet as a child and have always loved fibers and textiles. Then, a few years ago, I stumbled on knitting as the perfect activity to go along with raising a houseful of children. My husband and I, and our five children, enjoy life in the Arizona high desert, where we keep chickens, grow organic vegetables, play hard, and watch out for the occasional rattlesnake.” About the socks: “With Native American art, architecture influenced by Spanish Conquistadors, delicious Mexican food, and the legendary cowboys, lawmen and outlaws of the Wild West, my Arizona is truly a place with a rich and diverse history.”
Allison Isaac (Willamette River)	I was born and raised in Oregon. I have two sisters, and out of the three of us, I am the oldest. I graduated high school in 2009, and currently I am a college student at Portland Community College, working towards a degree as an Administrative Office Professional. I first started knitting when I was about 7, but didn’t really get into it until high school. Since then, I have been designing more and more patterns, including 2 mystery sock patterns. About the socks: “The beaded cuff is inspired by beautiful Mt. Hood, visible from most areas of the Willamette Valley. The color of the yarn and the beads I chose remind me of the Pacific Ocean, and the stitch pattern is representative of the ripples of the Willamette River, which runs along the edge of my town.”
Susan Moskwa (Sweet Onion Socks)	I taught myself to knit in college, but really got into it when I moved to Washington state seven years ago. There’s so much craftiness in the Pacific Northwest! I’m particularly fond of socks because they’re so portable, and can run the gamut from silly to serious. When I’m not knitting, I work for a large software company, foster animals for the Humane Society, and learn new languages. You can see my other work at www.rogueedits.com. About the socks: “The Walla Walla sweet onion is Washington’s state vegetable, named after the city of Walla Walla in the southeastern part of the state. The round shapes and the color of this design were inspired by Wala Walla’s famous onions.”
Kim Haesemeyer (Big Sky Socks)	“I have been knitting non-stop since 2004! I live with my husband and three children in Billings, Montana. My first book, Expand Your Knitting Skills, is now available from Leisure Arts. You can follow my knitting journey at BigSkyYarnsAndCrafts.com.” About the socks: “After my third child was born, I taught myself to knit from a kit I purchased on clearance. Soon after that, I started designing. Absolutely anything can inspire me. I love to look at the color combinations and designs in nature.”

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