Designer Christine Marie Chen was the guest on The Yarn Thing podcast with Marly Bird today. 
Christine was a guest at Marly Bird’s Designer Dinner and responded to an invitation to all the lovely attendees to share what’s new with them on the show.
Christine is a mostly self-taught knitter; she started with crochet as a child specifically granny squares. As an adult after her son was born, she went to a local library for a free class, to learn knit & purl to work up a scarf. She continued to use the library’s resources to learn more about knitting through books. Eventually she wandered into a Local Yarn Store who was recently without a teacher and offered to help.
Inspired by other designers she did commission work for, especially Lorna Miser (who will be a guest on the Yarn Thing podcast very soon). She began designing herself by approaching yarn companies and asking if they had in-house designers or were looking for designers. She was turned away by some and some approached her before she got to 
them. Lorna recommended ‘Love of Knitting’, and Christine designed ‘Tangled Vines Hat’.
Christine says her love of knitting gives her the ability to knit with a wide range of yarn including a new company that is starting up in her area, so no one has worked with it yet, and Christine will help them develop pattern support.
Christine hopes to continue on this as a lifelong occupation, with books added into the mix. You can follow Christine’s blog at her website, her designs listed on Ravelry. She has a Mystery Knit Along (MKAL) you can find HERE (Ravelry Link).
If you missed getting to hear this live, you may catch the archived episode at this link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yarnthing/2015/07/30/designer-christine-marie-chen or in iTunes.
Thank you to our sponsors, please let them know when you shop or visit their webpages that you heard about them on The Yarn Thing Podcast with Marly Bird.
I enjoyed the podcast today. I’ve never been to the Bay Area. I’m from the East Coast.
Lmecoll on Ravelry
So glad you enjoyed the podcast! Hopefully someday you can take a little vacation to the West Coast! ☺️
Just signed up for the bay area knitter MKAL. Now to pick out my yarn and patiently wait to get started ☺
Awesome!!! Thanks for joining my MKAL! Be sure to also join my Ravelry Group if you haven’t already for more details and to connect with others that are participating!
I really enjoyed hearing about Christine’s experience of teaching knitting classes, and agree that teaching something really motivates one to know the material! The folks in the Bay Area that had a chance to take lessons from her are fortunate!
I was wondering where you live. Thanks for saying Bay Area for your key phrase. What a great career you have Christine.
Great podcast. Loved hearing about how Christine creates designs. I have never been to the Bay Area but would LOVE to visit sometime.
It warmed my heart to hear that Christine used books to learn to knit. In this age of YouTube, I still do a lot of my learning from books as well. I’ve only been to the Bay Area for a brief business meeting, but hope to return there to enjoy all it has to offer.
I lived in the Bay Area many years ago and loved it. Great interview with Christine. I will definitely be checking out her designs on Ravelry. Thank you.
Loved your podcast, Christine! I loved hearing how started your knitting career, so interesting, and how willing you are, and how much you challenge yourself! Keep being yourself!
I enjoyed your podcast especially the part about how you name your pieces. I bet there are a lot of super street names in the Bay Area.
The Bay Area is an enchanting place. I’m lucky to have been there several times. Thanks, ladies, for another winning podcast!
I enjoyed listening to how Christine names her pieces! Very creative. I visited the Bay area many, many years ago. I really need to go back!
It was wonderful hearing about Christine path to her career in knitting .
How she wants to name her designs after street sign.Do they come from
Bay area ?
Sheryl
I just joined your Bayareaknitter group on Ravelry and saw the mystery KAL posted. A local LYS carries the Anzula yarn suggested, so I’ll be checking that out. I found several of your designs that went into my Rav cart too.
I live no where near any kind of Bay Area. I’m land locked but I still have weather to wear some great knits! I always enjoy the podcast. Thanks!
The bay area is indeed a lovely spot to visit. What is it about unpronouncable names that makes me even more intrigued to look at them??? It was a wonderful podcast to listen to. Thank you.
Thanks for another great podcast. I would love to go to the Bay Area someday but for now I’ll just keep going to my LYS so I can knit with Tammy Burke on Thursday evenings!
Your podcast was recommended by Knitting Daddy and so glad I found it, very enjoyable. Would love to visit the Bay Area some day. Ravelry name is rbebla
I only crochet, but I do love the Bay Area, and was just there for vacation!
Never been to the bay area, but now I want to visit the yarn stores there. Loved listening to this podcast.
My mother’s side of the family are mostly from California and the Bay Area is a place I would love to visit. I think Gigi & Jasmine of the Knitmore Girls have really keyed that interest since learning to knit. I loved listening to this great podcast.
Loved learning about Christine and her designs! I’ve visited the Bay Area many years ago and have fond memories of all the sites we enjoyed visiting! Thanks for a great podcast!
Thanks for the podcast! So happy to learn more! I would love to visit the Bay Area!
Another great show. I would love to experience the Bay Area. I love the guests you choose.
I am going to check out the Bay Area mystery KAL. I am from the east coast but have visited that area twice and it is just beautiful. Hoping to get back there! Enjoyed the podcast. Couldn’t even tell you were nervous.