about us

Gardiner Yarn Works is the creative outlet for former software architect and company founder Chrissy Gardiner. After learning to knit from her grandmother at age 10, Chrissy dabbled in the fiber arts (including knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and needlepoint) for years before discovering her local yarn shop and the lovely luxury yarns therein. Knitting became her new obsession after her kids were born and she left the corporate world for good and discovered that wool is not always scratchy.

Chrissy is a regular contributor to Interweave Knits magazine. Her designs can also be found in various pattern compilation books and yarn company pattern lines. She is a wholesale member of The National Needlearts Association and is on the board of The Association of Knitwear Designers as well as her local knitting guild. She keeps her skills sharp and gets feedback from all sorts of knitters while teaching at various shops around Portland, OR, and working part-time at Dublin Bay Knitting Co. Her biggest challenge these days, besides making sure her printer doesn't run out of ink, is keeping her children from running with knitting needles.

New business partner Donna Arney is a relative newcomer to the art of knitting, having learned in 2005. However, she has taken to it like a fish to water and can no longer remember what she used to do for fun. Now, all of her friends either knit or have to listen to her rattle on and on about it. Most have found it easiest just to learn to knit too.

Donna is president of her local knitting guild (this is where she and Chrissy met) and has, on occasion, taught classes at All About Yarn in Tigard, OR. When not knitting, she has a full time “day” job as a Product Manager for a large software company. She has worked in the Computer Software industry since 1995 and brings to Gardiner Yarn Works the benefits of that “real world” business experience in addition to her naturally amazing people skills. She is also mommy to two beautiful daughters and wife to one wonderful husband.

about our patterns

All Gardiner Yarn Works patterns have been tested by multiple knitters and professionally tech edited. If you ever find an error in one of our patterns, please let us know. Errata will be posted on the website as needed.

Patterns can be found at a number of fine shops, including several on-line options for those of you who don't have access to a local store. To find a shop near you, please visit our retailers page.

You can also find us teaching knitting classes and participating in various fiber-related events in and around Portland, OR. Visit the events page for more info.

contact us

Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns about any of our products, or to order wholesale patterns for your shop.

**Please Note: Our office will be closed from Aug 2-20 for summer vacation. Please leave us a message and we will get back to you when we return. Thanks!**

Phone: (503) 281-6113

Fax: (503) 281-6033

Email: cgardiner@gardineryarnworks.com

Thanks for visiting our site! Enjoy your stay!



publication list

  • Bountiful Bohus, More Big Girl Knits
  • Twisty Stitch Socks, More Big Girl Knits
  • Windowpane Socks, Interweave Knits, Summer 2008
  • Auburn Camp Shirt, Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
  • Twisted Tulip Socks, Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
  • Cabled Baglet, Designer One-Skein Wonders
  • Tilting Cables Socks, Interweave Knits, Winter 2007
  • Sweetheart Socks, Holiday Gifts 2007
  • Snowflake Socks, Interweave Knits, Fall 2007
  • Squares & Stripes Socks, Just Socks
  • Bobblette, Blue Banana & Cornmeal Cable Dishcloths, Just Gifts
  • Glitterspun Gift Bag, Just Gifts
  • Ribby Retro Socks, Knitscene, Fall 2007
  • Lace Anklets, Cast-On, Summer 2007
  • Knee High to a Grasshopper Socks, Blue Moon Rockin' Sock Club, April 2007
  • Waterfall Vest, Creative Knitting, May 2007
  • Monogrammed Gentleman's Socks, Cast-On, Spring '07
  • Winding Cable Knee Socks, web pattern for Interweave Knits, Spring 2007
  • Girl's Wisdom & Happiness Cardigan, Creative Knitting, March 2007
  • Rutabaga, Knitscene, Spring 2007
  • Lacy Cabled Scoop, Y2Knit
  • Star Mesh Tank, Y2Knit
  • Checkered Potholders, Quick to Knit: Great Gifts
  • Simple Stripes Felted Bag, Quick to Knit: Great Gifts
  • Ribby Socks, Quick to Knit: Great Gifts
  • Felted Block Set, Quick to Knit: Knitting for Babies
  • Summer Breeze Tank, Blue Moon Fiber Arts
  • French Lilac, Knitter's, Summer '06
  • Two at a Time Socks and Two Socks on Two Circs (article), Cast-On, Summer '06


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