Tian Connaughton is a prolific designer of knit and crochet patterns, but her talents extend far beyond design work. We are featuring her textured  Lucea Hat as the crochet pattern for our Winter 2022 Giving Project.

Tian was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule for an interview.

How did you get started as a knitter, a crocheter, and a designer?

I first learned to crochet from an older co-worker in 2001. I crocheted for many years. For a short while in 2006, I was a stay-at-home mom when my son was a toddler; I learned to knit while watching Knitty Gritty on HGTV during nap times. I was inspired by the texture knit stitches created and discovered Shirley Paden, a Black knitwear designer. Seeing Shirley changed my whole life to what was possible in the industry. So, all the modifying I was doing on patterns to make them how I wanted them clicked, and I realized that I could design my own patterns from scratch instead of making someone else's pattern fit me the way I wanted. In 2008, I published my first pattern..

Where do you tend to find inspiration for your designs?

I find inspiration from all around -- from a walk, vacations and things I want to wear and make, sewing patterns, flipping through old magazines. Right now, my inspirations come from a teacher's perspective -- helping knitters and crocheters achieve their perfect fit using simple shapes as a guide.

You are also a technical editor, teacher, author, podcaster, course creator, and coach for creative business owners. How did you come to wear so many hats? Tell us about your journey.

No, I don't wear a lot of hats. I'd say that I wear the same hat; it just looks different sometimes. It's like a Swiss army knife. Because everything I do serves the same objective - to support crocheters and knitters to achieve their goals - which is key to wearing multiple hats.

At the core of all I do, whether it’s a designer needing a tech editor to help them put out error-free patterns or a business owner struggling to keep their business going. This multi-hat journey stemmed from my desire to fill the gaps and provide support to others in the ways I needed when I started. In my early days, I searched forums and read blog posts. I was reaching out to people ahead of me who didn’t want to share their knowledge. I understand that scarcity mindset: the belief that there is a limit to who can make it in this industry.

From my experience 15+ yrs ago, I am using the feeling of being alone and not knowing what to do to help fuel me to share my knowledge as much as I can so that those coming up behind me don’t have to go through what I did. Especially as a Black woman in this industry, there are not many of us doing what I’m doing. Representation matters. I show up so that others who look like me can see what is possible for them too.

Of your many roles, is one the most rewarding or most enjoyable for you? Is it exhausting to juggle so many pursuits, or would you get bored doing just one thing? (Or both?)

All the roles are enjoyable on their own level, and they are not exhausting because there is little juggling happening. It is not about keeping all the balls in the air because that will lead to burnout or worse. I am clear on the goal of each as a tool and using that tool for its specifically intended job as needed. For example, the podcast is seasonal, so I batch record for those. Coaching is available on my schedule. The key is boundaries and time management. And with my other programs, many of them operate without me. I know creatives get bored and that can cause them to jump from thing to thing, but if you want longevity, you have to become hyper-focus. That’s my tip: focus on one thing at a time, get really good at it to the point where you have systems in place that allows it to run like clockwork, and then (only then) add on other things. If I was starting today, there is no way I’d be able to do all the things I do. But I have systems to help. It's about using my building blocks methods to diversify my revenue streams and keep things going.

At the top of every page of your website are the words: “A rising tide lifts all boats.” Please tell us about your philosophy and how it informs the work you do.

"A rising tide lifts all boats" is the motto I use for everything. The quote is my guiding light. I post it everywhere from my website to my email signatures 1) I want those who come in contact with my work to know my values, and 2) as a reminder to myself to stay true to my mission. At the core of that simple quote is about the support and guidance I needed when I started that now I can offer to those who want it. Growing a business is great, BUT doing so with like-minded people makes the journey so much more rewarding. Plus, why wouldn't you want to reach back to help someone get to where you are a bit easier? There is no scarcity. Forget about only getting a tiny piece of the pie; we all can get a whole pie this way if we rise together.

What’s inspiring you at the moment?

Right now, I am inspired by resting, which is harder than it sounds. Society tells us we need to grind; we need to work in order to be valuable. But rest is essential and I'm inspired by sharing that through the work I do.

Can you give us any hints about what’s on the horizon?

Unfortunately, no. Many plans that include traveling for shows and conferences are up in the air due to the surging Covid cases. So, who knows at this point. But beyond those unknowns, I plan to put out a sweater pattern collection sometime in 2022. The pattern collection will include video training around grading to help crocheters and knitters with sizing the sweater.

The goal of this pattern and video series is to help regular knitters and crocheters to 1) understand how to use gauge swatches worked in any weight yarn, 2) figure out their body shape, and 3) use easy calculations to achieve their perfect fit. I teach designers how to grade for their patterns. Now, I want to help the crocheter and knitter to learn how to take the patterns that they like (which might have already been graded to their chest measurements but isn't quite the right everywhere) and make it how they want it to fit. Stay tuned for that.

Anything else you would like to share?

Besides everything I've shared, I would like to invite any crocheter or knitter who designs or has a desire to start designing patterns to check out my membership program, Pattern Partnership. Members get courses teaching on topics from designing to grading to marketing. Then, there is monthly training where members get something new every month to help them to grow their pattern business to become a #PatternBoss. There are also monthly group coaching sessions and a private community where you can hang out with other pattern bosses just like you. You can find me on Instagram @Knitdesignsbytian and @tianconnaughton!