Meet The Maker: There and Back Designs
Fargo winters are a fantastic time to discover slow craft— usually a craft in the fiber art world like crochet, embroidery, weaving, knitting, etc. that requires more of your time and, often, attention. The results can be so cozy, too! It’s a perfect time to introduce you to maker Kaeleigh of There and Back Designs,
Fargo winters are a fantastic time to discover slow craft— usually a craft in the fiber art world like crochet, embroidery, weaving, knitting, etc. that requires more of your time and, often, attention. The results can be so cozy, too! It’s a perfect time to introduce you to maker Kaeleigh of There and Back Designs, who started and leads our Stitch and Sip group on Tuesday nights through Unglued at Brewhalla! Discover more about this maker and find some inspo to take on your own slow craft this winter!
Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m Kaeleigh, the maker behind There and Back Designs and Stitch & Sip! I’m from all over— most recently Canada—and have had the chance to live in a few different places; you’ll get to hear my British slang if you come to the stitch group, haha. I work as a librarian currently (dream job!), and my main hobby is knitting, but I also crochet, embroider, sketch, paint, read, and puzzle. I definitely don’t limit myself when it comes to hobbies! I also do a little of everything else—lifting, running, baking, gardening—I just pick up whatever I want to do, and dive in!
Describe what type of products and craft work you do under There and Back Designs?
I previously envisioned There and Back as a yarn-dyeing business, so you’ll see a lot of “There and Back Yarn” stuff around, but recently I’ve felt the desire to expand a bit, hence the switch to “Designs” instead of just yarn. I still have hand-dyed yarn (and it’s my favorite), but I also have knitting patterns, finished knitted objects (think cowls and knit hats), and you might have seen my embroidered ornaments in Unglued in December.
You also started and lead Stitch and Sip through us at Unglued! We’ve loved having this every Tuesday night, where anyone can come (for free, of course!), bring a project, and craft with others. Can you tell us what inspired you to start this group?
In the past three places we’ve lived, I’ve been part of stitch groups, and they played a big role in getting me connected to the craft community and giving me a sense of place, which is important to me. I was really missing that here in Fargo. I just wanted a casual place to sit, knit, and hang out, and I thought Brewhalla would be a perfect spot! I already loved coming to Brewhalla, and I thought it might be a good fit with Unglued’s crafty mandate and community. I’m so grateful other people feel like it is, too!
What have been some of your favorite parts about leading Stitch and Sip?
One of the best things is just having people show up and sit down, honestly. I love that people have found us! It’s wonderful to hear, “I’m going to tell my *person* about this,” because we love to have new people join us. I also love to see what people are working on; people bring the most beautiful and interesting crafts, and we all love to hear about whatever they’ve got, whether it’s just learning to crochet or some complicated cross-stitch. Our “good problem to have” right now is just finding a spot big enough to fit everyone!
What advice would you give to someone else looking to get into a slow craft like fiber art?
I think the hint is in the name: these crafts are SLOW. So take it slow. Expect to need your patience, and remember that to get better, first you have to start. You can never improve on your craft if you don’t begin, and whether you love or hate your first project, at least it’s happening! When I started crochet, I couldn’t make a square at all—those edge chains ruined me, haha. It’s totally okay. Never underestimate the power of your patience and what you can accomplish if only you just take it one stitch at a time. Even a bunch of squares together makes a blanket!
As a second piece of advice, remember there are two ways to begin: pick something simple and approachable to get your feet under you, or pick something you REALLY want to make, even if it’s super hard. Motivation is so important, and if you don’t actually want to make a washcloth, you’ll never finish your project because you just don’t care. Some of our group members have picked really complicated first projects, but they finish them because they’re engaged and excited, even when it’s so hard. If you’re bored, you’ll just drop it because you aren’t interested. Pick the most interesting thing for YOU, and don’t let others’ approaches dictate how you craft.
What advice would you have given yourself five years ago?
Wow, five years ago was an interesting time! We had just moved here to Fargo, and to be honest, I couldn’t see very far ahead—it was COVID after all, and things were definitely in a weird place. I think if I could tell myself anything at that time, it would just be: hold steady, and do what you love. It took me a long time to shake off the pressure of trying to do and be lots of things I wasn’t (hey, when you’re in your twenties, things are hard that way), and coming out on the other side of that, it’s been a whole journey to find out what I actually love and want to do.
Where can people find your work or connect with you?
Find me at Brewhalla on Tuesday evenings! Stitch & Sip meets from 6-8 p.m. (though people often come earlier and stay later), and even if you don’t know how to do the craft you bring, we can help. Or you can find a new craft at Unglued and bring it up!
You can also find me on Instagram at thereandbackyarn, and my designs are on Ravelry under the same name. I may even show up in the Unglued shop from time to time 🙂
There and Back Designs
Instagram | @thereandbackyarn
Ashley Morken is the owner of Unglued, a modern handmade gift shop featuring over 300 local and regional makers in downtown Fargo. She also a founding member of the Creative Mornings Fargo committee.
Published February 5, 2026
