Hi, I’m Vanessa—the heart and hands behind Vanessa Smith Designs, and a longtime lover of texture, rich colors, and a well-organized spreadsheet.

I learned to knit when I was 16, thanks to a kind friend who showed me how to do a long-tail cast on and the knit stitch. I was hooked right away. After that, I taught myself as much as I could about knitting—how to do different techniques, how stitches shape fabric, and how to make something beautiful.

A few years later, wanting to be part of the knitting community in a bigger way, I opened an online yarn shop. I loved working with my customers, and many of them encouraged me to start designing after they saw how often I changed patterns to make them my own. I published my first knitting pattern just shy of five years after casting on my very first stitch.

These days, I work full-time as an administrative professional and design in the quiet spaces of my day—early mornings, cozy evenings, and peaceful weekends. Because I don’t have much time to create, each pattern I share is made with care, purpose, and its own special story.

For the past 15 years, my mission has been the same: to design knitwear that teaches, builds confidence, and leaves you feeling proud of what your hands can do. Whether you’re learning something new or just enjoying the process, I’m so happy you’re here.

And when I’m not thinking about stitch counts or sweater shaping? I’m spending time with my husband Cody—who also takes the photos you see here—and our two dogs: Wes, a sweet pittie, and Brogan, our scrappy little Heinz 57. ♥

Read more of my knitting story here, and be sure to subscribe to my newsletter and follow me on Instagram! If you have questions or just want to say hi, feel free to email me at vanessa@vanessasmithdesigns.com.

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