[designer] Alanna Penk and Black Cat Knitting Company

This is a sponsored post by Black Cat Knitting Company. More designs can be found here. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view.

This month we’re showcasing a fun and unique designer: Alanna of Black Cat Knitting Company.

Alanna is a life-long crafter who grew up in Western Wisconsin.

After living in Upstate NY, Seattle, Montana and Milwaukee, she finally set up shop (literally and figuratively) in the far flung land of New Zealand, a country with the highest sheep-to-person ratio in the world!

Along with her design work, Alanna opened a local yarn store (Loopine Wool Co.) in the heart of the biggest Polynesian city in the world: Auckland. The store is inside a European cafe where Black Cat holds weekly knitting groups and provides a hub for the industrious and varied local fiber community, often made up of other expats and wandering souls.

With the backing of her yarn store, Alanna has designed several beautiful patterns with the intention of introducing luxury American yarns into the South Pacific, as well as introducing some of New Zealand’s own unique yarns to the rest of the world.

Alanna’s and Black Cat’s designs are a great way to introduce yourself to colorwork, and encourage knitters to try new techniques like brioche and herringbone, with easy-to-follow patterns and hip yarn collaborations.

Black Cat is a relaxed and fun design label that appeals to all types of knitters. In her own words, “it’s fantastic to see so many people coming together over knitting, and in a time where technology tends to isolate us a bit, it’s great to have something that still brings people together.”

Black Cat also promises garment designs on the horizon once she conquers the dragon of size grading. She has lots of patterns on the way, and is perpetually trying to knit as fast as the ideas arise!

Let’s help support this little ex-pat entrepreneur as she pioneers her way forward in the South Pacific!

You can find Alanna on Instagram as @blackcatknitco, Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com/designers/black-cat-knitting-company or on her site https://www.blackcatknittingcompany.com/.