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 #252: Sarah Resnick of Gist Yarn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:56
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about growing a weaving yarn company with my guest, Sarah Resnick. Sarah is the founder of the weaving yarn company Gist Yarn, and their newly laun…
Episode #251: Sally Moore of Parker Avenue Knits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:16
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about owning a local yarn shop with my guest Sally Moore. Sally is the owner of Parker Avenue Knits, a local yarn shop in Detroit, Michigan. She op…
Episode #250: Jamie Trinier and Jessica Drain of SewTites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:22
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about product development with my guest Jamie Trinier and Jessica Drain of SewTites. An oil and gas engineer for most of her career, Jamie discover…
Episode #249: Jaren Gibson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:06
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast we're talking about the quilting industry with my guest Jaren Gibson. Jaren joined Grace Company as its first manager in 1998, soon after graduating from Weber St…
Episode #248: Jen Gubicza of ZooGuu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:53
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about craft fairs and plush taxidermy with my guest, Jen Gubicza. Jen is the designer and maker behind the handmade brand Zooguu. She graduated wit…
Episode #247: Dana Williams-Johnson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:59
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about yarn and media with my guest Dana Williams-Johnson. Dana Williams-Johnson is a knitter, newbie crocheter and college professor. She holds a P…
Episode #246: Bianca Springer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:40
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about sewing, quilting, and embroidery with my guest Bianca Springer. Bianca Springer is a garment sewist, pattern designer, sewing instructor and…
Episode #245: Laura Coia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about YouTube with my guest Laura Coia. Laura is the host and creator of the YouTube channel Sew Very Easy. The channel has 454,000 subscribers and…
Special Episode: State of the Industry 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:59
We're so pleased to bring you this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast recorded at h+h americas 2023 on June 21 in Chicago. The trade show opened with this State of the Industry panel discussion with o…
Episode #244: Victoria Findlay Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:04
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about quilting with my guest Victoria Findlay Wolfe. Victoria’s work balances between art quilting, traditional & modern quilting styles, and refle…