Hello, I’m Betsy.

Over the years I’ve been called a lot of things, a crafter, an activist, an unsung hero, the godmother of craftivism, among others. And to be honest, that’s how I prefer it, you taking my work and letting it best help you in a way you see fit.

After getting my B.A. in English literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998, I received my M.A. in sociology from Goldsmiths College in 2004. My dissertation was on knitting, DIY culture and community development. The biggest takeaway now that so much time has passed since my graduation? That we can thrive when we find our people, even more so when we have a creative outlet that lets us learn, grow and communicate.

In 2008, my first book, Knitting For Good! was published by Roost Books. The book is a guide to how to use your knitting and creativity to improve your life, the lives of those in your community and the world at large. It’s also about life and its surprises.

In 2014, I edited and published an anthology called Craftivism: The Art of Craft and Activism with Arsenal Pulp Press. It includes the voices of 33 crafters, artists and makers about why and how they combine their creative skills to make the world a better place.

Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of speaking at a variety of institutions including the Corcoran School of the Arts + Design, Design Academy Eindhoven, Fabrica Gallery, The Women’s Library, University of Huddersfield, Unravel, the Oslo National Academy of the Arts, the Knitting and Stitching Show, V2_ Institute for the Unstable Media, UNC_BeAM, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Midwest Craft Con and the V&A among others.

You can find out more about my project exploring textiles and resilience Dear Textiles at deartextiles.com and my project You Are So Very Beautiful at youaresoverybeautiful.com or on Instagram at #yasvb.