My name is Valya Boutenko. I'm 32 years old, and I have been knitting for over 20 years.
I first learned to knit at the age of 10, when my Russian grandmother came to visit my family. She used to call me her “little hen,” and she would always save the ripest strawberries from her vegetable garden just for me. She taught me how to thinly peel a cucumber without sacrificing too much of the edible part, and how to prune a rose bush so that it would bloom again. I used to sit on the edge of her bed every morning and slowly unwrap the yarn for her as she worked on her knitting. I liked seeing the ball of yarn get gradually smaller as she pulled the yarn through the little loops hugging her knitting needles. It wasn’t long before she offered to teach me how to knit. Although my first attempt was so full of holes it resembled a slice of Swiss cheese, I was very proud of my first knitted square. Many years later I learned that my grandmother had taught me to knit in the Continental Style.

My love for knitting only got deeper over the years, and as an adult I spent some time working at the Websters, the 10th largest yarn store in America. It didn't take long for me to realize that knitters needed better patterns! Too often customers came into the store upset that their written patterns were chock-full of mistakes, and that the results of their hard work looked nothing like what their knitting patterns had promised. After many months of listening to these reoccurring complaints, I finally decided to leave my job at the yarn store and become a full-time knitting pattern designer. I opened an Etsy shop called "LUCKY FOX KNITS," and I began focusing on developing intuitive, quality patterns. My goal was to return knitting the joyful and relaxing activity it was always meant to be by providing knitters with great patterns!

Today, I have written over 100 patterns! I strive for excellence, meticulously testing each pattern to perfection. I'm happy to report that mistakes are very rarely discovered in my work. The layout of my patterns is something I have put a lot of thought into. I have taken every measure to make sure my patterns are as clear and easy to read as possible.

My inspiration for designing knitting patterns often comes with the need to resolve a real life problem. For example, I once noticed that a common issue with hand-knit socks was that they slumped down around my ankles no matter how many times I pulled them up. This prompted me to invent a sock pattern that would not slouch unless the person wearing them pushed them down on purpose. I have since based several more patterns on this first, non-slouch sock pattern that I came up with. The truth is, I just love the way these socks feel on my feet! They have a comfortable heel, hold their shape when they are worn, and block out beautifully every time.

As another item that inspired me to invent a knitting pattern was the common shaving razor. You see, every now and again I used to accidental cut my hand on my shaver when I would put it in my gym bag or makeup purse for traveling. The darn thing was such a nuisance, that I finally decided to design a knitted cover for it. This was a beautiful solution that worked even better than I anticipated. I have never been cut since the day I invented this quick little pattern. The knitted razor cover only takes 20 minutes to knit up, it slips easily on and off, and blocks itself with the little bit of moisture left on the razor after one gets out of the shower. The razor cover performs its job perfectly, and is super cute and fuzzy to boot!

My third example of drawing from real life for inspiration took place in a pet store. After scrupulously searching through the pet clothes, I found to my great dismay that there were absolutely no sweaters that would comfortably fit my two miniature dachshunds! Doxies are short-legged dogs with extra long bodies that notoriously have a difficult time dealing with cold weather. It wasn’t long before I was working on a seamless, top-down sweater design that would keep my doggies warm. Addressing a problem or need is only the initial inspiration that prompts me to design a pattern. I then plug in elements that add interest, such as contrast in texture, cool little details, and finishing touches. I always go the extra mile to ensure that each knitting pattern has smooth transitions and clever solutions to any problems that arise.

I currently reside in Ashland, Oregon with my super sweet and supportive husband Nathanael, and our two miniature dachshunds, Max and Jezebel. My doggies love to model the knitted items I make for them in exchange for cheese and popcorn, and you can see lots of pictures of them scattered throughout my shop.

Thank you so much for visiting my Etsy shop, and for reading my story. If you made it this far down the page, then you are clearly an awesome human being! Happy knitting to all! :)

Sincerely, Valya