NaKeisha Takes On Vogue Knitting Live!

Hey, gosadi community! NaKeisha Barry, your Product Manager here on the gosadi grapevine!

This past January, as part of team gosadi, I had the incredible opportunity to join the team in New York City for Vogue Knitting LIVE! Let me say it clearly: VKL 2024 was a game-changer for me!  Here I was, the Product Manager for gosadi, a newbie to any and all things knit and crochet, trying to find my footing in a community I admired yet hadn’t yet fully stepped into - and so step in is what I did.

The highlight of it all was that I spent most of my time there engaging with designers and makers. I introduced them to gosadi, but more importantly, I listened. I listened to their stories, their challenges, and their triumphs. 

Everyone had different experiences. Doing demos of gosadi and discussing ways it could better serve the community turned into a series of lightbulb moments for me all through conversations with the designers we are building it for. And it highlighted my understanding of the potential gosadi has to create real, impactful change in our users’ lives. I gained a deeper understanding of the true need for what we are building.



The authenticity and warmth of the knitting and crochet community struck a chord with me. Sure, the talent in the room was undeniable. But it was the genuine spirit of the people that stood out throughout the weekend with each interaction and conversation.

The big takeaway for this newbie in the community: The designers aren't just in it for themselves; they're driven by a desire to see people create and to see everyone win, whether it's helping designers monetize their work or driving size inclusivity (Shout out to Meika John of Salt & Stone Knits and Kim McBrien Evans of Indigo Dragonfly). 

This shared commitment to overcoming challenges and fostering mutual growth resonated deeply with me. It became our common ground. I understood and connected with what they wanted, and I hope that I made it clear that I too am here to make things better and help them improve and grow their online businesses. I have a deeper understanding of the features we are building and the problems we are solving.

To every designer, maker, creator who took time to speak with me I say: THANK YOU! That investment helped me understand who we are building for in a whole new way and only inspires me to build gosadi even better than ever.



Side note, that I am excited to share, this newbie is now on her way to being a maker! 

With the help of Stephanie of Asylum Fibers, I chose two vibrant royal blue skeins of yarn for my very first pattern, a bucket hat. Fingers crossed that I'm able to push through my first WIP (which makers tell me means work in progress!). 

I’ll keep you updated as I go, so make sure you’re following future gosadi grapevine posts! 

Reflecting on my VKL experience, it's clear that gosadi has a real opportunity, and no doubt, the potential to make a huge impact within the community. I'm looking forward to nurturing the connections I've made and working together to create a platform that serves designers and makers. Can’t wait to see you all back at VKL 2025! It is already on my calendar!