Meet Sara Greer | Fiber Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Greer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
Everything, nearly.

Music, a theme from a movie, Bible scripture, colors, patterns and shapes I see in nature. Books.

These things often together or on occasion just one, spark an idea and off I go. I start sketching or blending colors with my pencils before I pick up fiber or yarn.

Sometimes the yarn itself is the inspiration. I see them lined up on the shelf or hanging on the rack and certain colors beg to be united in a piece.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The work I do is different from others because I’m learning to focus on a different audience of knitters and crocheters. I make at least one video for each new pattern release. My goal is for all of those videos to be helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. I don’t want them to just be closed captioned; I write the directions on the screen as the video plays. Somewhere between a picture tutorial and a closed captioned video, with the maker who is watching, to learn something new in mind.

While I have been self publishing knitting and crochet designs since 2012, I still feel very new to this. I have about 20 patterns currently published. A few have been tested but none professionally tech edited. I’m still too early in the game to afford the last part. I do some tech editing on the side myself and know the work that goes into it.

I say I’m early because I didn’t have home internet until just last summer. That limited what I could do obviously. Once a week I went to the library to use the wi-fi and would upload a new pattern or blog post with little thought to who might read it or how to get it in front of people.

In the last year I have been learning about all of that, how to get my patterns in front of people and be a better blogger. I have so far to go and I will keep going. I have a plan and will stick with it. Keep pushing through, slow growth is still growth and easier to deal with.

The biggest challenge for me is doing ALL the things; social media, writing, designing, knitting, working with the testers, photography, editing, blogging… However I’m not ready to share that with anyone yet, so I’m learning to pace myself. Make goals and stick to them. Just because this isn’t a “normal” job and it looks like I just sit around and knit all day, doesn’t mean it’s not work, it is. Now I’m treating it as such.

Azariah’s Fibre Arts – Innovative, Yarnie, Goodness
I make patterns that execute some traditional ideas in new ways, using yarn made from natural fibers. I want makers to pick up these patterns and be able to learn something new, level up their skills and have a beautiful, practical piece on the other side. That goodness can be passed along as a gift, to charity or kept for themselves to remember how far they’ve come.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a bit hard because we both grew up in Aurora and still do life there.

This best spot for all things local and an excellent example of what Aurora, my home town means to me is the Stanley Market Place.

They have local food, drinks, art, shows, concerts and even a VR room.

I go and sit there to work and people watch, There is a lot of seating, think giant food court but with more than food. As you walk around trying to choose food to eat you will hear several different languages spoken among the people, see attire from the many different cultures that call Aurora home and feel the happiness of all these people as they are out with family and friends.

Empanadas, meat that is smoked out back, organic ice cream, amazing chocolates, sushi, and a coffee shop, just to name a few.

We could see a ballet there, or an art exhibit. Attend a concert in the Backyard or even go to a taco contest.

Stop in the children’s book store to see what kids are reading and walk down memory lane of the books we loved as kids.

History, I love history and some of my designs reflect that. Stanley even has history. It was once a place that manufactured ejection seats for the military and there are pictures on the walls with lots of info for those who like to learn more.

They didn’t change the building too much from what it was. It has a very industrial look and feel inside but is so fun. Many events are held in the hanger that is still there.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband and family. Carl thank you for encouraging me to pursue this crazy adventure, even when deadlines take away from other things.
For modeling even when they don’t want to, and they do.
My mom for checking my patterns and listening to the different ways I could do it and helping choose how I should do it.

Shana of Shanalines Designs. She has always been open to answer my random questions and talk to me about different aspects of designing.

Swatch Studio Circle is just as the name implies, a circle, a large one that supports, encourages, helps and just listens to each other through the publishing process of a new design.

Website: azariahsfibrearts.com

Instagram: Azariahsfibrearts

Youtube: Azariah’s Fibre Arts

Other: Tiktok – @azariahsfibrearts

Image Credits
The very first picture with the white shawl was taken by Carl Greer, my husband.