Today I want to introduce you to my sister Elli, who works as Director of Pattern Production here at Made By Rae Enterprises. Doesn't that sound official? We enjoy making up pompous titles around here.

Elli worked for many years making geologic maps as a cartographer for a geological survey, while her husband Joe worked on his PhD. Then two years ago Joe got a job as a history professor at Baylor, and they moved to Texas, and she needed a job. So now she puts all of those map-making graphics skills to good use for me instead! Elli is the person who takes my pattern pieces, scribbled sketches, and instructions and turns them into beautiful patterns. I used to do all of that myself, but I gotta tell you, the quality of the finished product has really increased since she started working here. It was interesting at first, figuring out how to work together cross-country, but we patched together a system of communication using Skype, chat, email, Drive, and Dropbox (and it must have worked OK, because now I have two other employees, Jessica and Michelle, who also work remotely).

One funny thing about us working together is that we used to fight ALL THE TIME as kids, and this is embarrassing to even admit, but we even had trouble getting along as adults. We used to drive each other CRAAAAAZY. When we started working together my mom thought it would never work out. But somehow we made it work, and now we have a great relationship (at least I think so, haha!) and I really enjoy being able to talk to her throughout the week, even if it's work-related most of the time.Elli also has the distinction of being the first person to introduce me to blogging. Long ago, when she was a big knitting blogger (she's since given up blogging), she pulled me over to her computer and said "HEY. There're these new things, called BLOGS? I think you would like them." She also linked over to my blog and sent the very first visitors here, way back when. Isn't that cool?

Herringbone Mittens, knitted and photographed by Elli, image via

Last fall I went to visit her in Texas (and tacked on a trip to Quilt Market in Houston). She has a fun house that she's working on fixing up and decorating, bit by bit. I took a few pictures so you can see her awesome design sense.