Episode #303: Ali Dillingham

Episode #303: Ali Dillingham

Author: Abby Glassenberg January 5, 2026 Duration: 52:42

On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about running a brick-and-mortar yarn shop with my guest, Ali Dillingham, owner of A Yarn Market.

A Yarn Market is a welcoming space based on the mission to make knitting and crochet accessible to all. With over 20 years of knitting experience, Ali is passionate about sharing the joy and therapeutic benefits of mindful making. She often refers to knitting as her form of 'yarn therapy.'

As a former speech-language pathologist with experience in educational settings, Ali has a deep understanding of how people learn. This background benefits her inclusive teaching style, making her a patient and effective instructor. Ali is known for her ability to empower students of all skill levels.

At A Yarn Market, along with providing access to local yarn, Ali has created a space where creativity and community flourish.

+++++

Today's episode is sponsored by The Academy for Virtual Teaching.

With tariffs, rising costs, and supply uncertainty, a lot of craft businesses are rethinking how dependent they are on physical products.

The Academy for Virtual Teaching’s Virtual Teaching 101 walks through how education and digital offerings can help diversify income for craft businesses right now.

Learn more at academyforvirtualteaching.com.

+++++

To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.


Abby Glassenberg hosts Craft Industry Alliance, a space where the practical realities of running a creative business meet the deep personal satisfaction of making things by hand. This isn't just about inspiration; it's a grounded conversation for anyone who has turned a craft into a career or dreams of doing so. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a fellow maker, where Abby and her guests pull back the curtain on their processes, discuss the tools and materials they truly rely on, and navigate the unique challenges of entrepreneurship in the creative sphere. You'll hear specific, actionable recommendations-from sourcing sustainable materials and mastering a new technique to marketing your work and managing a studio's finances. The discussions are rooted in the real world, covering everything from the joys of the creative process to the logistics of wholesale trade shows and online sales. Tune into this podcast for an honest blend of education and community, designed to support your journey whether you're knitting, painting, pottery throwing, or designing textiles. It’s a resource that acknowledges creativity as both a passion and a profession, offering the kind of nuanced advice you’d normally only get from a trusted mentor within the tight-knit world of crafts.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 332

Craft Industry Alliance
Podcast Episodes
Episode #37: Vanessa Vargas Wilson (The Crafty Gemini) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:10
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking about YouTube with Vanessa Vargas Wilson. Vanessa is best known as The Crafty Gemini. She makes weekly instructional videos about sewing, quilting, or…
Episode #36: Alicia Paulson and Arianne Foulkes (Aeolidia) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about having a polished web presence for your blog and online store with my guests, Alicia Paulson and Arianne Foulkes. Alicia Paulson's blog, Posy…
Episode #35: Rober Mahar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:13
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm chatting with Robert Mahar. Robert teaches imaginative do-it-yourself projects through high-quality video tutorials on YouTube, CreativeLive and in-person wor…
Episode #34: Deepika Prakash, Founder of PatternReview.com [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:46
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guest, Deepika Prakash, founded PatternReview.com in 2000 because she loved to sew, but didn't have any friends who did. Today 375,000 people use the site to r…
Episode #33: Jess Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Jess Brown. Jess has been making dolls for 16 years. She’s carefully developed a line of signature handmade ragdolls. Each doll is cut to order in her…
Episode #32: Kathy Mack and Kristin Link [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:39
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking with two leaders in the online sewing world: Kathy Mack and Kristin Link. Kathy Mack is the owner of Pink Chalk Fabrics. She designs and publishes sew…
Episode #31: Amy Karol and Ellen Luckett Baker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:17
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I'm talking about designing and sewing and creativity with two long-time bloggers, Amy Karol and Ellen Luckett Baker. Amy is the author of Bend-the-Rules Sewing a…
Episode #30: Chelsea Bloxsom and Phil Barbato [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:38
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I chat with Chelsea Bloxsom who's business is Love and a Sandwich. She makes incredibly cute furry plush monsters. She also makes embroidery hoops based on her fa…
Episode #29: Ame Verso, Content Director for F+W [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:46
On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast I talk with Ame Verso, Content Director for F+W, the world's largest publishing group. Amy has over 10 years of experience editing and commissioning craft books.…