Spotlight on Our Designers: Alina Appasova & Krista Pape

Spotlight on Our Designers: Alina Appasova & Krista Pape

At Yarn Store Boutique, we’re so fortunate to have talented designers who not only inspire us with their creativity but also bring their warmth and generosity into our shop. Many of you already know and love them — and if you don’t yet, let me introduce you to two very special women in our YSB family.

✨ Alina Appasova AKA Galimka Knits – Knitting Designer Extraordinaire

If you’ve ever admired a beautifully written, thoughtfully detailed knitting pattern — one with clear words, easy-to-follow charts, and big print for tired eyes — you’ve likely encountered the brilliance of Alina Appasova.

Alina is truly prolific. Her designs are both elegant and approachable, with clever structure and just enough challenge to keep you intrigued. Her latest creation, Hexaflora, is absolutely stunning — a geometric floral design that blooms across your needles. She used a new yarn from Miss Babs for this design, but we’ve also curated several color combinations that work beautifully. Whether you want to hold two strands together for a unique marled look or stick with a single-strand option — or stop by the shop (or FaceTime us!) and we’ll happily help you find the perfect yarn.

Another recent favorite from Alina is Fairy Kiss, which has become an instant hit among our knitters. It’s soft, romantic, and simply irresistible. We have Fairy Kiss Kits already prepared and ready for you to cast on!

Now… maybe I’ll share a little secret about Alina (shh!). She loves her cat, she has twins, and she’s one of the most generous, kind-hearted people I know. She actually taught me how to use my knitting machine! One quiet afternoon in the shop, we were talking about it — I confessed that my machine was still in storage, and I didn’t really understand how to use it. She looked me straight in the eye and said, “Doris, no one’s in the store. Go to your storage unit right now and get it.” Well, when Alina speaks, she speaks! Off I went, brought it back, and she cleaned it up, smiled, and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow so you can knit on your machine.” That’s just who she is — encouraging, generous, and always willing to help a fellow maker.

We’ve also travelled together to H+H, and let me tell you — we laughed our way through every booth and vendor. She’s not only a gifted designer but a treasured friend. And if her name sounds familiar, it’s because she’s been featured in several of Tanis Gray’s books: Gilmore Girls,  Nightmare Before Christmas, and Fellowship of the Rings.

🎵 Krista Pape – Tunisian Crochet Designer (and Opera Singer!)

The next designer I want to spotlight is Krista Pape, our own talented Tunisian crochet designer and teacher — who also happens to be an opera singer! Yes, really. She performs around the world, and when she sings for us in the shop, I can’t help but tear up. Her voice is just that beautiful.

Krista has taught two workshops at Yarn Store Boutique, and her calm, patient, and encouraging teaching style makes her an absolute joy to learn from. Her patterns are written with great detail and care, and she ensures that each one is tested by experienced Tunisian crocheters before release — a true mark of professionalism and dedication.

Her brand-new pattern, The Boutique Bag, was designed especially for us at Yarn Store Boutique. It’s a lovely, functional, and elegant bag that shows off the beauty of Tunisian crochet. You’ll find it on Ravelry.com under The Boutique Bag by Knotty Krista, and it officially releases Saturday, October 18, 2025. The pattern calls for:  459 yards and a Hook: 7mm Tunisian crochet hook (or size to meet the gauge) with a short cable (Krista used a 12" swivel), and a 6mm crochet hook, her gauge is tight (12 sts. X 14 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm).

And yes — she’ll be back to teach more classes at YSB soon! We couldn’t be more thrilled to support her as she launches this exciting chapter of her design career. Krista is soft-spoken, steady, and kind — and her creative spirit shines in everything she does.

We’re so blessed to have both Alina Appasova and Krista Pape as part of our Yarn Store Boutique family. Their designs, teaching, and friendship enrich our community in so many ways.

Stop by the shop to see their patterns, kits, and samples — or just to chat about what’s next on your needles or hook. We love celebrating the makers who make our fiber world shine.

 

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