Image credit: work by Knitwear Designer & ARTSTHREAD member Emma Gudmundson, graduate 2020 Swedish School of Textiles, University of Borås & Global Design Graduate Show 2020 in collaboration with Gucci Winner Knit/Weave Category

Interested in a career designing knitwear? ARTS THREAD’s career education specialist and digital editor Jacqui Rudd has lots of advice and tips on how to become a knitwear designer as part of ARTSTHREAD’s Creative Career Guides Series.

Knit is a varied medium that can be used to create interior products, wearable art such as fashion products and even wall art and installations. A knitter can use knitting needles or machines, the process creates stitches: loops of yarn in a row, either flat or in the round, to create their pieces of work. Although knitting is known as a traditional craft technique with a long history, the process is constantly innovating with new tools and techniques.

Career Options in Knit Design

Knitwear Designer
Most knitwear designers are self-employed and run their own studio designing and creating their pieces of work. They may hire further clothes makers to support production or outsource it to a manufacturer. They sell their designs independently through their own store, online shop and pop-up events and are stocked by retailers.

Knitwear Teacher / Technician
Teaching is another possible career path for knitwear designers. Schools, colleges and universities often hire textiles professionals to teach classes, or as technicians, and some knitters may be able to give private lessons. Additionally, some museums and galleries hire textile artists for workshops and demonstrations.

Studio Assistant/Manager
You could support a more established textiles designer/artist with their business, by working as their studio assistant or manager and helping with the production of their work. This is a great way to develop your skills and understanding of how to start and run a business in textiles.

What you need to become a Knitting Designer

Although qualifications aren’t essential to starting a career in textiles, and some knitters can learn their skills on their own, formal education or training can be enormously helpful. Many textiles artists will study degrees in areas such as applied arts, textiles, fashion and textiles, craft, design or 3D design.

Studying textiles at an undergraduate or postgraduate level might help you hone practical skills, gain career support, network within the industry, and develop your practice. However, further education institutes also provide a variety of suitable courses to develop knitting skills. Additionally, you can find many textiles apprenticeships to develop your practice.

Many forms of creative education, including knitting, can be achieved alongside part-time work as you develop towards your dream career.

Building a specialist portfolio as a Knitwear Designer

Creating a portfolio is all about showcasing your best work, your skills, the techniques you use and what you can offer potential clients, customers, employers and collaborators. While training and developing your skills you will also create your own style as a weaver, what techniques you like to utilise and a collection of work will evolve. When you’re putting together a portfolio of your work, consider the context and purpose first.

Portfolio for Applications – for residencies or postgraduate study
Through your pieces and portfolio, tell a story of how you developed your collection, your influences and where your work will go next.

Online Portfolio – to sell pieces of work or attract commissions
Highlight pieces that showcase your best work, skills you are developing and what you can offer to customers and clients. This can be displayed on your own website or through an ARTSTHREAD member free profile.

Build a portfolio of work from:

• Projects you complete over your training and qualifications


• Experimenting in the studio and creating work for sale at markets and shops


• Participating in contests, awards and competitions


• Get pictures of your work on exhibition at galleries and trade fairs


• Taking on commissions from clients

Here are some brilliant example in Knitwear from ARTSTHREAD members portfolios: Global Design Graduate Show 2020 in collaboration with Gucci Winner Knit/Weave Category Emma Gudmundson, Karin Kreek, Kevin Pleiter, Aryaa Indulkar and Sooyang Park.

For postgraduate applications check out our other guide Preparing Your Portfolio For Postgraduate Application.

Tips for starting a Knitting Design Business

• Keep your knowledge of the sector high which means visiting events, reading, upskilling and keeping your eyes open for changes in your industry, this will help inspire new ideas.


• Always create knit samples. This is a great way to achieve the idea you have in your mind while saving you time and disappointment.


• Create a space dedicated to knit. Having to set up and dismantle every time you want to work will take up your valuable time and discourage you.


• Always remember to double check your length and width calculations and yarn amounts.


• Keep a record of projects and sample notes so you can refer back to them.


• Showcase your work online, on social media and include video into your content.


• Apply for awards and competitions when relevant, winning or being shortlisted can really support building your brand and is great PR.


• Allow yourself time to experiment with new techniques and materials and stay creative.

For an insider perspective on a career check out our interviews with Global Design Graduate Show 2020 in collaboration with Gucci Winner Knit/Weave Category Emma Gudmundson, Shortlisted 2021 Karin Kreek, plus Amber Huang, Molly Kent and Priscilla Luong.