Robbie Laughlin is a knitwear designer and instructor living in Toronto, Ontario. He has designed patterns for Estelle Yarns, Rib Magazine, and many other sources, as well as self-publishing Architexutre: Shape and Surface – a knitting pattern book that showcases Canadian yarn brands in heavily textured shawls, hats, and fingerless gloves.
Robbie first learnt to knit at the age of 5 (perhaps 6?), and learnt to crochet shortly after. In his late teenage years he took quickly to technology, and set aside hand crafts to pursue a career in the world of computers. After almost a decade of feeling nothing but a keyboard, he quit his technology job and started to teach knitting classes, work in the local yarn shop, and self-publish his own designs.
These days he works a day job that perfectly connected his love of yarn and understanding of digital media. He designs purely for the fun of it, and the proceeds from his pattern sales are being donated to a charity of the month!
Here’s a few snapshots from the media of the fun journey from those early years through today!
Interview with Estelle Yarns
Feature in the Toronto Star
Review of Architexture: Shape and Surface in Knitty Magazine