5 Female Fiber Artists Who Inspire Me
In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to highlight some of the incredible women who have influenced my own fiber arts journey. Women have long dominated the fiber arts world, from quilting and weaving to knitting and crochet, turning traditionally domestic crafts into powerful forms of self-expression, storytelling, and even activism.
There are so many talented fiber artists out there, but these five, in particular have inspired me—whether through their unique styles, innovative techniques, or even their success in the industry. Some have directly influenced my work, while others just leave me in awe of what’s possible with fibers. Here’s a closer look at five of the artists who’ve shaped the way I create.
I see Loupy Studio’s work all over social media, and I’ve been wanting to make her viral scrunchie bag for a while now. But what first introduced me to her was definitely her Freeform crochet. She has a Freeform crochet guide on her site, which I’ve used to make coasters, but more than anything, it’s pushed me to think outside the box. It’s kind of like grammar—once you understand the rules, you can start to break them—and she really showed me that crochet and knitting work the same way. Her approach made me realize that fiber arts don’t have to follow a strict pattern; you can create intuitively. Whether it’s knitting, crochet, yarn spinning, or mending, she does a little bit of everything, and her work always has this cool, subversive edge to it.
As someone who loves pool, darts, and all that kind of stuff, I was first drawn to Magg’s Rags because of the pool ball shorts she did. I saw them on Pinterest, and it was like my eyes were opened to the world of appliqués. Her designs are so fun and original—they have this childlike quality in the best way possible. That playfulness has really resonated with me, and it’s what inspired me to make my own appliqués shirts, one for me and one for my friend.
I’m pretty sure all of her work is done on thrifted pieces, which makes everything feel even more unique. She made a hoodie out of a thrifted quilted blanket, using an old cut-up hoodie as the pattern, and I thought that was such a cool way to approach making clothes. It’s so resourceful and creative, and I definitely want to try making one myself someday.
She’s not the first person to put words on a sweater vest, but something about seeing her and Brooke (@ladyefron) knitting made it feel more approachable, like “Oh I could do that too.” It’s hard to explain, but she made the whole thing feel less intimidating, and that’s what really inspires me about her.
Honestly it’s hard to pick just a couple of pieces from I’d Knit That—she’s the queen of text on a sweater. Some of the most impressive color work I’ve ever seen. Every time she posts a new design, my jaw is on the floor. I love a graphic—whether it’s a graphic tee or a graphic sweater—and what she does with knitting is just next level. Her work is so clean and precise but also bold and fun, and I don’t know what else to say other than it’s incredible.
Ca8ty is a true artist in every sense—her work spans different mediums and everything she makes is so whimsical and innovative. One of my favorite pieces of hers is a sweater that looks like a granny is actively knitting a scarf, with the scarf itself actually coming off the sweater and wrapping around like a real one. It’s such a clever design, and that kind of creativity and unexpected construction is what makes her work stand out to me. Her work always feels playful and thoughtful, and it really inspires me to approach fiber arts with an artist’s mindset.
Each of these artists has pushed me to think outside the box, experiment with new techniques, and approach fiber arts with a fresh perspective. Their creativity, whether through innovative designs, upcycling, or text-based expressions, continues to inspire me as I explore my own projects. It’s exciting to see how these artists are shaping the future of fiber arts, and I’m grateful for how their work challenges me to grow in my own practice.
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