From Modeknit yarns, Annie Modesitt
From Modeknit Yarns, Annie Modesitt visited Yarn Thing with Marly Bird today!
Annie says she learned to crochet as a child, at about age 7. Women who worked for her dad in his coat factory, would give her crochet lessons on 
Saturday mornings. She learned to knit as an adult. She lived in New York, making decent money, and transferred to Dallas, and learned to knit at the going away party before that move. She continued to knit while at work in a very cold, windowless room waiting to process. That time (she likens to prison) was practice to perfect her skills.
When she left that job, she found work knitting for designers, eventually working for a bit of time at Vogue Knitting. The pay was not as good as when she lived in New York earlier but realized the truth that if you’re happy with your life, you don’t have to earn a lot of money. She said she went everywhere and did a lot of knitting, including for Broadway shows, and designers like Marc Jacobs. Annie continued to design, write books, and contribute to magazines and now she is has a yarn company, Modeknit, which is indie-dyer business. She says she’s pretty much the luckiest person she knows.
Kathleen Pascuzzi is her business partner, Annie says she’s phenomenal, has a background in retail especially in 
jewelry. In fact, a lot of the earlier yarns they offered were named colors of gemstones. Currently, their favorite yarns are offered in a line called ‘No Spoilers’, based on tv shows like the ‘Walking Dead’ and the BBC’s ‘Sherlock’. Currently, her daughter Andy has her creating colorways based on ‘Steven Universe’, called Crystal Gems which is gender neutral.
Since her last visit to Yarn Thing, Annie released a book, Knitted Wraps & Cover-Ups. Annie is a fan of a garment included called an Armory. There are pieces for all skill levels, with a variety of interests like entrelac, cables, lace and slip-stitch, garments that include boleros, capes and shrugs.
Annie and hubby Gerry are about to move from their current home, now that the kids are out of the house, and they are very excited about the potential of the house and neighborhood. The new yarn dying studio will work to her needs so well, to hear her is to nearly hear her poetic.
To follow Annie Modesitt, visit her website: modeknityarns.com, her Facebook page, Ravelry Designer, Twitter, Pinterest, among other online places.
Categories: Podcast
Listened for the first time. Loved it ! And I love spam too !!
Great podcast today. I always sign up to bring Spam for our potluck lunch at work. Always gets a mixed reaction. One year I did bring in a can and someone took it home!
Fun to hear someone so enthusiastic about spam. Your podcast guests are always informative..LOL. Enjoyed the great interview with Annie.
I know I dislike span in my inbox but I’m not sure how I feel about it otherwise. After listening to the podcast, I’m eager to see more armories knit up. Thanks for catching us up on Annie’s current affairs.
Oh my gosh….I ate spam as a kid and loved it at the time. Now that I’m an adult I’m with Marly on it…. Going to go check out her yarn!
Hi Annie, I made your scarf with the roses on the end many years ago. Still have to make the corsette pattern from like 2008. I haven’t had spam since I was a child. I might have to pick some up. I’m excited to check out your yarns.
I love fried SPAM sandwiches. Haha.
I love spam and eggs! It’s a “guilty pleasure” in our house. Thanks for another great show and I’ll be checking out your yarns soon!
I’ve never eaten spam, and not sure I want to start now…
It’s about time someone admitted they love spam. Had a great time listening to the podcast and I am definitely checking out Annie’s yarn.
I’ve had spam-asubie before….it wasn’t terrible. But mini skeins would be better!!! Love the podcast!
Thanks for the very entertaining show! Annie’s yarns are beautiful – especially Daenery’s Eyes -it is gorgeous! I have never tried spam…but I’m willing to try!
Great interview. I think Spam is gross, but saw a show with Andrew Zimmermn that had a sushi roll with Spam inside, maybe you should try that. hope to try your yarn.
I had to check out the themed yarns…Gorgeous!! Spam, though? Not so much. That “treat” love doesn’t stretch over the eastern border 😉
When I hear the word spam I usually think of computer problems. I haven’t thought of the canned food item in ages. Thanks for a bit of nostalgia, Annie. I love Annie’s spirit and enjoyed her interview.
I love Annie! I don’t have any opinion on Spam as I have never tried it. I can say I hate spam in my inbox.
I am sure that my mom served me Spam once or twice when I was s child. I didn’t really remember how it tasted. I asked my husband if we should buy some to try. I got no support from him. Perhaps some day I will see it on a menu and can try it again.
Loved listening to Annie. What a fun person!
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for another great podcast. Marly, your reaction to Annie liking “SPAM” was hilarious!
Thanks for the chuckle!
Rose
I actually think Annie has great taste, I like Spam too. I love it baked with peaches. Yum. Great to hear how Annie’s fibery life is evolving, owning a yarn company, moving and having a new studio, etc. Good Luck with it all. Thanks for an entertaining show.
Very interesting interview, I really enjoyed hearing about Annie’s yarn dying and her upcoming move. Funny about the Spam, we were in Hawaii 2 years ago and I had no idea how much of that stuff is consumed on those islands! Not a fan, personally, but what do I know?!
I love Spam! I remember the little key on the can to open it. Annie surrounded by yarn in a new studio…dreamy!
Being a vegetarian I have never had spam. But I believe to each their own so more lovely spam for you, LOL
I loved today’s podcast and found myself laughing outloud by myself! That being said, this Jersey Girl loves Taylor Ham more than Spam.
What a fun & informative interview with a guest I had only known by name. Her reference to Spam brought back lots of childhood memories. Thanks!
I will pass on the Spam, but I really enjoyed hearing this episode with Annie Modesitt, as I am a combination knitter, too.
I seriously can’t stand Spam. I still remember the Spam commercial “Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam … wonderful Spam.” LOL!!
Spam is definitely NOT on my list of nutritional food. Enjoyed the podcast and Annie’s stories.
I love Spam too, especially Spam fried rice and fried Spam sandwiches. I’m also in MN, so I enjoyed getting to know Annie with this podcast 🙂
With Marly’s reaction to SPAM it would be GREAT seeing her try it again on the Facebook Live!! What a GREAT interview!!!
Oh wow, stylish is right! Your designs look like a lot of fun to knit!
Re: spam, I don’t each it much, but have enjoyed it in foods. I guess I just don’t think to buy it! Maybe tomorrow when I go to the store.
Seriously Spam! It is the mystery meat! Love your show and loved hearing about Annie’s journey.
Not a fan of spam but I love you Annie!
Fortunately for Annie, I do not like Spam as it means more for her. I do, however, love her sense of humor.
We stopped at the Spam museum in Austin Minnesota on our last vacation! Great place and now I have a Spam apron.
Great podcast, I always laugh at Annie’s story about “knitting wrong.” Since I am self-taught, from shows like Knitty Gritty, I learned how to knit wrong from Annie =) Some have told me I knit wrong, and I just giggle as I am wearing clothing I have made, and usually it is from someone who still only does scarves. Sorry, I don’t like spam. Have had pie made with a tin greased with spam….that was good.
I loved hearing about the evolution of Annie’s career. Even though I ate spam quite often as a child, it is not a food that I would enjoy very much today, but I hope that I win the mini skeins. I see Amnie’s work on Instagram and it is beautiful.
must say, I have never tried Spam and don’t really plan to in the future.
Spam? Ok. Spam it is. I enjoyed hearing this podcast and learning more about Annie Modesitt.
I remember having spam as a kid growing up. We usually had it in a macaroni and cheese dish. The podcast was so fun.
This podcast was absolutely hilarious. Loved listening to the conversation and the fact that spam featured so prominently in a knitting podcast. Can’t remember when I last had it, but I will always associate Marly, Annie and podcasts with spam.
I have worked with Annie’s yarn before and just loved it. Great podcast. And, I am not a fan of SPAM.
I’m not sure that Spam is good for people with high cholesterol; however – I know that listening to Marly Bird’s podcast is good for stress!
If you love SPAM, then you must visit Kona Kitchen next time you are in Seattle (near Green Lake). Their Kim Chee Fried Rice or the SPAM Benedict are tasty breakfast choices.
This is my first time listening to your podcast and look forward to listening to both past and future shows.
Diane
I loved listening to Annie. She has my type of sense of humor. My husband is from Minnesota and he just informed me that there is now a museum dedicated to Spam. We will have to stop there some time when we are up that direction. The Crystal Gem collection sounds yummie, it would be beautiful addition to my stash, but it might not stay too long before its on my needles.
Spam and S’Mores – some of my favorite memories of Girl Scout camp! Thank you for such a fun podcast and reminding me of those great moments!
Spam? I will eat it in a house, I will eat it with a mouse. I will eat it on a train, I will eat it in the rain….haha. Actually I haven’t eaten it in years and I live in the south so that’s not normal. Salute the SPAM
My mother in law was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in her early 50’s. She just turned 75. She had 2 transplants with her own stem cells and while her number go up and down and chemo is used from time to time, she is still with us and pretty much doing great. I pray your husband has the same good responses for many more years.
Fried SPAM with black eyed peas and cornbread is my favorite lunch time meal. I use to make it once a week back when I was in college. Did you know SPAM is really popular in Hawaii?
I don’t think I’ve ever had spam before, but as a vegetarian I can say I definitely don’t intend to :o)
Good luck with the move and I hope all goes well for your husband!
Fried SPAM, black-eyed peas, and cornbread. There is nothing quite like it! When I was little we ate it a lot on camping trips! It was neat to hear Annie’s story today on the podcast.
Spam or Green eggs and ham I will not eat them, Sam I am… I will not eat them in the yarn room, I will not eat them on a cruise, I will not eat them here or there but I will Knit everywhere.
As a kid SPAM seemed magical. Fry it up and it was like bacon on the edge with a ham middle. As an adult I will eat it is someelse takes it out of the can but can’t get past the goo it is stored in.
Loved the campaign to get spam into marly’s life.
I enjoyed this podcast soooo much! However, I really dislike SPAM! I will not eat it here or there, I will not eat it anywhere…I will not eat it with a fox I will not eat it in box….LOL!
I don’t think I’ve ever actually eaten spam before. And being a vegetarian, I probably never will haha! I hope everything went well with Annie’s move and that her husband is doing well!