About

With over 1300 designs in print, Melissa Leapman is one of the most widely-published American crochet and knit designers at work today.

As a freelance designer, she’s worked with leading ready-to-wear design houses in New York City. Also, top yarn companies commission Melissa to create designs promoting their new and existing yarns each season; her popular patterns and name recognition help them sell yarn.
 

Leapman is the author of several bestselling knit and crochet books, including Cables Untangled, Mastering Color Knitting, and Knitting the Perfect Fit (all published by Random House). She is the author of The Knit Stitch Pattern Handbook (Random House/Potter Craft, 2013), a comprehensive knitting stitch dictionary, includes favorite patterns gathered over her more than 25 years in the industry. It’s the go to book for professionals and lay persons alike.

In February 2017, 6000+ Pullover Possibilities was released. This book offers interchangeable sweater pieces to allow the reader to knit customized women’s sweaters in nearly any gauge and in nearly every size.

In December 2018, Knitting Modular Shawls was released. This groundbreaking book allows the knitter to plug and play various design elements to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.

Her most recent title, InstaKnits, is a collection of fresh and fun designs for women, intended to be cast on and complete in under 30 hours. Projects are arranged according to the time required to finish.

Melissa has been a featured guest on numerous television shows including Knit and Crochet Now on PBS, is the host of several Leisure Arts knitting and crocheting DVDs, and has written many crochet and knit booklets for Leisure Arts and Annie's. Additionally, her designs are popular on web-based venues such as Craftsy and Ravelry.

Nationally, her workshops are popular with crafters of all levels. She teaches at every major knitting and crochet event, including VKLive and the CGOA/TKGA shows, as well as at nearly every TNNA industry trade show for the past twelve years. Additionally, she has appeared at hundreds of yarn shops and local guild events across the country, working approximately 25 events every year, including one or two knit/crochet cruises.

During the Covid pandemic, she began hosting knitting events via Zoom, including  virtual knitting destination weekends in Japan, Sweden, Ireland, Canada, and more.

To keep up with Leapman and her designs, and to have a sneak peek into her world, “like” her page on Facebook, follow her on Instagram, and join her fan group on Ravelry.com (Melissa Leapman Rocks).