How it all began...

Holli's dream of starting a family some day led her to an epiphany. She would dream big and start a knitwear business, too. What could be better than staying at home with her baby and working on her other passion, knitting, at the same time? That was the moment Bee's Knees Knits was born. Holli was so convinced of the potential for her big idea that she ordered the company labels right away.

Although it was another three years, her son Devan was born and the first design came off her needles within months of each other. Holli has not stopped since but she does wonder now what ever made her think that raising a baby and a business at the same time would be easy. Luckily, her husband, Rod, has been a great supporter of her efforts, so Holli feels blessed to be living her dream.

Holli's son Devan is growing up now, and attends school full time. With that change in her family life and her work-at-home life, it's time for a new beginning. Like her son, her business is growing up too, so it's the perfect time to unveil her new website and her new business name, Holli Yeoh, which launched in August 2008.

With her superb design skills and her experience as a mother and a knitter, Holli designs children's sweaters that are both original and practical. Her patterns are beautiful; you will love their look and feel and they are a joy to knit. But Holli has not limited herself to children's clothing. Her publishing debut was in Knitty.com where the sweater Devan appeared, inspired of course by her son. Her next published design, for a crazy Drunken Argyle vest, in the men's issue of Knitty.com led directly to a request that she submit a woman's pullover version of the sweater. That beautiful design was published in Amy Singer's No Sheep for You in 2007. Holli has also designed patterns for yarn companies and distributors such as Skacel Collection Inc and One Planet Yarn and Fiber, and other patterns have appeared annually in the Knitting-Pattern-a-Day Calendar from 2005 to 2008.

Meet Holli Yeoh

Holli graduated from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1989 with a degree in Fine Arts majoring in textiles and jewellery. Knitting has been Holli's passion since childhood, when she learned to knit from her mother, who is also one of her strongest supporters in her business. With her education, coupled with her love of knitting, perhaps this new career was her destiny. When she isn't knitting, Holli is thinking about what she will be knitting or designing next. On her website you will find pattern designs that will delight and inspire.

You can read more about Holli's design adventures and her knitting experiences on her blog. On Ravelry you will find her as HolliYeoh. Visit with her as she shares with you her insights into the pleasures of knitting and design.