Mary E. Rose holds a record at Knotions that we’re genuinely proud of: she’s been in more issues than any other designer.

That’s not an accident. Mary brings a precision and range to her work that’s hard to find, moving effortlessly between intricate lace, cables, and texture while always keeping the knitter in mind.

She lives outside Columbus, Ohio, has been knitting her way through life’s chaos for decades, and somehow manages to make deeply complex patterns feel completely approachable.

We sat down with her to find out a little more about the person behind the stitches.

Your nemesis?

Bulky weight yarn.

How many projects do you have on the needles at once?

At least three. One epic, one mindless travel project, one somewhere in between.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere. Music, traffic, the yarn itself. It’s easier to say where I don’t.

Why do you keep coming back to Knotions?

It was my first submission ever, and it set the bar for how a designer should be treated.

Do you have a stash? Or if you buy it you make it up pretty quickly?

Stash situation? I tell people I have a yarn store in my basement.