Welcome to KarenBDesigns! I’m Karen, a Scottish designer with a passion for creating beautiful, inclusive knitted garments that celebrate all body types. I’ve been designing since 2010, but my journey into the world of knitting and design began long before that, driven by a simple joy in creating and a desire to make knitting accessible to everyone.

From an early age, sitting with both my Grans and my Mum, I learned to knit and was always kitted out in hand knits for school and everyday life. I watched them create sweaters, cardigans, scarves of all colours and lengths, I was fascinated by how these 2 sticks and yarn could create such wonderful things. So I pestered till they would show me how to knit, my Maternal Gran would create all the beautiful lacy and colourful tops, like out a fashion magazine and often what was the latest fab ( remember the batwing jumpers or the entrelac sweaters) where my Paternal Gran, was more practical, I was fully supplied every year with all the cardigans and jumpers needed to last me for the whole year at school, then every winter, hats, mitts and scarves to keep me warm. Then when I first fell pregnant, I got my needles out & all the soft baby yarn in whites, lemon, and mint, I knitted like mad and filled a full 5 drawer chest with cardigans, jumpers, blankets, hats, booties, and little toys. While my girls were growing up it was the matching Aran cardigans, jumpers etc (though they now cringe at the mention of this)

I came back to knitting in the early 2000’s to help relax and a little something for me, but by 2009, I realised there was a definite recurring issue: many patterns available on the market did not accommodate cuddly or plus sizes. This exclusion was something I felt needed to change.

As someone who believes that everyone deserves beautifully fitting handmade garments, I often found myself modifying existing patterns to create more inclusive designs. What began as minor tweaks quickly evolved into significant alterations. I realised I was essentially redesigning entire patterns to make stylish, well-fitting pieces for a broader range of sizes.

It was during this time that friends, fellow knitters, and designer friends I had made began to encourage me to create my own designs. Their support was the push I needed to take the leap into the world of design.

Taking that first step into designing was both exciting and daunting. I dedicated countless hours to experimenting with stitches, textures, and techniques, refining my craft with each new design. Every piece was a labor of love—a blend of creativity and technical skill. I immersed myself in learning the art of pattern making, determined to create designs that were not only beautiful but also accessible to people of all shapes and sizes.

I’m proud to share that my journey has led to my work being published in several magazines and books. These publications have recognised my commitment to inclusive, beautiful design, and it is humbling to see my work celebrated in this way. This motivates me to continue pushing boundaries and striving for excellence in every project I undertake.

My mission is simple: to create beautiful, handmade garments that fit and flatter all body types. I believe that everyone deserves to feel confident and comfortable in what they wear, and I’m committed to making that a reality through my designs.

Thank you for visiting my site and supporting my journey. Whether you’re a fellow knitter, a lover of handmade knitted garments and accessories, or simply someone who appreciates beautiful design, I hope my work brings a touch of joy and inclusivity to your wardrobe. If you have any questions, want to collaborate, or simply wish to connect, please don’t hesitate to reach out.