Knitwear and crochet designer Ksenia Naidyon is a master of integrating texture and lace into her patterns, creating wearable pieces that are intricate yet organic. She grew up in Ukraine and now lives in San Francisco.

To learn what inspires Ksenia, which fiber she most adores, and where is her favorite travel destination, read on!

Please tell us the story of how you first learned to knit and crochet.

My mom taught me to knit when I was five, and my grandma introduced me to crochet at approximately the same time. I made several dresses for my dolls and then went on having an on-and-off relationship with yarn, hooks, and needles for the next fifteen years. Once I started knitting and crocheting more seriously in my early twenties, I used books and, of course, the internet, to widen my skill set.

How did you get started as a knitwear designer?

From my twenties, knitting has been a constant in the ever changing life, a perfect hobby that was comforting and challenging, creative and analytical at the same time. I received a degree in mathematics and worked in the field for many years, and knitting was a perfect creative outlet during that time. I have always been making up patterns for the things I was knitting, without thinking that was "designing".

We moved to San Francisco in 2015, and our life changed drastically. It only felt natural to finally give my lifelong passion for fiber arts a proper chance. I realized that designing comes instinctively to me. Also, numbers and spreadsheets are my friends and I’m not afraid of grading patterns to numerous sizes thanks to my mathematical background. So it was decided, and I switched to designing and writing patterns full time.

Is your design process different for knit vs. crochet?

Definitely. I am a way more experienced knitter than crocheter, so the former comes more easily and naturally to me than the latter. That said, I still get the joy of a first time exploration whenever I work on a new crochet design, something that's much harder for me to achieve with knitting.

Do you have a favorite fiber to work with and wear?

I love silk noil yarn, also known as organic or raw silk. It is a rustic, nubby, matte yarn that knits up into ethereal fabric with a soft hand and exquisite drape. It's gentle even to my very sensitive skin and has a lovely spring to it unlike most plant-based fibers, making it a great choice for next-to-skin warmer weather pieces.

Where do you tend to draw inspiration from for your designs?

A lot of my designs are named after plants and draw inspiration from nature. I find every aspect of it mesmerizing - from shapes and textures to smells and shadows. My other eternal muse is Italy. I love this country with all my heart and try to visit as often as I can. So another big section of my pieces draw inspiration from Italian architecture, lifestyle, and even language. Collection developed for Ito yarns is definitely Italy-influenced, as I was working on all of the designs during my latest trip to Venice.

What’s currently on your needles/hooks?

I am finishing up a textured white camisole inspired by my Viva Cami design, and hope to be able to wear it a lot this summer. The next two projects in my queue are a pair of socks I'll be designing for Making Stories and a shawl using a beautiful ombre mini skein kit from my friend Peninsula Yarn.

If you could sit and knit anywhere in the world, where would you choose?

Campo dei Gesuiti in Venice, every single time.

Be sure to follow Ksenia Naidyon on Instagram @life_is_cozy!

Ksenia Naidyon is the featured designer for The Endless Skein's Summer Giving Project. Your purchase of yarn to knit her Oak Forest Shawl or crochet her Stormy Sky Shawl will benefit Nova Ukraine, a nonprofit that is close to Ksenia's heart.