Nancy J Thomas

Designer in Queens, New York

Nancy J Thomas

Designer in Queens, New York

Read my blog

Nancy J Thomas

I'm known as Nancy Knit or Knitting Nancy. Other times I'm just plan Nancy J. I like to think about what my footprint on earth will say about me in 100 years. Tall order no less! My profile tells a little bit about where I've been and how I got there!

My blog: nancyjthomas.wordpress.com

A young girl from New Hampshire made it big in the Big Apple! How does a girl with an accounting degree become well-known in the knitting world? I often wonder that myself.

My wonderful Canadian grandmother taught me to knit. I remember sitting in her kitchen painfully knitting a multicolored strip. I couldn’t even call it a scarf. I knit SO tightly that she would have to knit a row once in a while to untighten. My grandmother also sewed, crocheted (mainly thread crochet), quilted, embroidered and knit pairs and pairs of wool socks and mittens. How could I not have been a needle crafter with such great genes! I became a true knitter in my early 20’s.

I moved to New York City in 1977 when I married my husband who was working for General Electric. My first interview in NYC was at Butterick and I got the job in accounting. I work there for a year or so and then moved to be a financial assistant for Vogue Patterns. Managing Editor, Kathy Marrone was my boss. She was a fabulous leader as Managing Editor and really was responsible for putting the first knitting patterns (my design) into Vogue Patterns Magazine. Believe it or not, that started the road to the publishing of Vogue Knitting Magazine (had stopped publishing in 1969).

At the beginning of Vogue Knitting we were all so naïve about putting together a knitting magazine, but it thankfully the first issue was fantastic. My first title was Knitting Editor. Knowing what I know now, it’s really funny – but at the time – not so much! After Knitting Editor, I became Managing Editor. In 1992, for the 10th anniversary – I became Editor in Chief.

As editor of Vogue Knitting in the 80’s (pre Internet), I saw the knitting craft evolve into the dynamic world we know today.

I went on to edit Knitter’s Magazine in the early ‘90’s and then to be Creative Director for Tahki Stacy Charles, Lion Brand Yarns and ended at Coats & Clark.

I traveled to many exciting places and had a career others only dream about.

Now – I am retired from full-time work, but still love the knitting/crochet. It’s in my blood! I keep involved and still knit or crochet every day!