Ruth started knitting when she was 9 years old, and after she made a Barbie doll skirt with some mismatched needles and leftover yarn from my mother, she just couldn't quit. When she married, she was on a very tight budget and made sweaters for the children using leftover yarn from her mother. After the children got bigger, she started knitting little things like potholders for gifts. She tried selling things at craft fairs, but buyers wouldn’t pay for the time and money she had into them. She wanted to work at home and still share the many original designs she had already made, so she started a mail order company, in July of 1989, called Frugal Knitting Haus. The concept was based on designing quick and simple patterns using up leftover scraps of yarn. Her designs now number close to a thousand, making her website, http://www.frugalhaus.com a treasure trove of exclusive knitting patterns, available in PDF format. Whether it is a holiday decoration, a baby blanket or adult afghan, sweaters, bazaar items, toys, hats, slippers, gifts, or just plain useful items for use around the house, you will find it all here. Now, knitting for grandchildren, she’s added dozens of great pattern books, including a whole line of easy knit patterns for 18-inch doll clothes, like the American Girl dolls. Ruth now has close to 50 titles available in all, including leftover scrap yarn knitting patterns and many 18-inch doll clothes pattern booklets. Her patterns and books can be found on Craftsy, Ravelry, Pinterest, Etsy and her Frugal Knitting Haus website. The enthusiasm shown by so many knitters for her ever increasing number of unique knitting designs keeps Ruth busy designing quick and simple knitting ideas for all to enjoy.
