A Mingled Yarn

Knitting Designer, Teacher, Artist

Karen Alfke has been designing her own sweaters since she first learned to knit in the 1980s in Germany. She founded 2nd Nature Design, the parent company of Unpatterns, in 2000 with the express goal of creating more independent knitters through quality instruction and unique, understandable designs. She teaches Unpattern classes and workshops at yarn shops and guilds around the Pacific Northwest. When she is not traveling and teaching, she is happily knitting and gardening in Port Townsend, Washington.

Karen’s Unpattern collection of patterns were designed as “tools for the independent knitter.” Unpatterns work on the premise that once a knitter understands the basics of the constructing a particular type of garment, the knitter can create his or her own pattern. Unpatterns are step-by-step worksheets that let even you design your own classic, simple garment from whatever yarn you choose. All the you need are some garment dimensions (ideally taken from something that fits exactly right) and gauge information taken from a swatch of the yarn and stitch pattern of your choice.