About


Hi there! My name is Hilary Smith Callis and The Yarniad (named in honor of Homer's Iliad) is my knitting "epic" and the online home to my fiber-related pursuits.

My grandmother taught me to knit when I was young, but it wasn't until just after I was married in 2007 that I started making more than just scarves. After finishing my first sweater, I started improvising my own designs. And after my first pattern was accepted for publication (the Citron shawlette in Knitty's Winter 2009 issue), I got more serious about sharing my designs with others. I now design knitwear and write original patterns, focusing on wearable, feminine garments and fun accessory pieces. You can find my work here on The Yarniad (see my patterns page) and in such publications as Knitscene Magazine, Twist Collective, and the book Brave New Knits: 26 Projects and Personalities from the Knitting Blogosphere.

For 10 years, I lived in San Francisco and worked for NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), a 747SP aircraft housing a 2.5 meter telescope and suite of instruments that make astronomical observations from 41,000 feet in the air. This admittedly had nothing to do with my college major, Greek & Latin -- unfortunately, the demand for Classicists has been somewhat low of late.

I do, however, put my Classical education to use in this blog. If you were wondering why all of my subject headings are in Latin, that's why. I couldn't let that education go to waste!

Originally from the Central Valley of California and born into a family that has been farming for four generations (mostly melons), my husband, son, and I moved back last year to enjoy the lower cost of living and simpler lifestyle. I take a great deal of pride in living in a place that supplies the US with so much of its fresh produce, and it's wonderful being part of a small community again.

For the sake of organization (and not because you should have to endure any more blathering about my background and interests), below is a list of interviews and profiles:
Thank you for stopping by this little piece of the blogosphere! If you ever have a pattern or design-related question, please don't hesitate to drop me a line.

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