# An Interview with Fabienne Serrière of KnitYak

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2015-07-10
- Length: 1h 10m
- Episode: 257
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/257-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak/

## Summary

Fabienne Serrière, founder of KnitYak, discusses her transition from hardware hacking and running the Hardhack conference to launching a custom textile manufacturing company. She details the technical challenges of automating industrial knitting machines, including the need for precise humidity control and tensioning systems, to produce algorithmic knitwear. Serrière explains her decision to base operations in Seattle for its logistics ecosystem and outlines her Kickstarter campaign to fund the $60,000 machine and initial yarn inventory.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [3:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=197) Post-9/11 Audio Studio and Early Electronics
- [17:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=1022) Hardhack Conference and European Hardware Scene
- [26:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=1570) Relocation to Seattle and Business Strategy
- [29:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=1761) Knitting Machine Technology and Automation
- [50:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-07-10-an-interview-with-fabienne-serriere-of-knityak#t=3006) KnitYak Kickstarter and Manufacturing Plans

## Topics

- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- KnitYak (company)
- Hardhack (other)
- CCC (other)
- Silver Reed (company)
- Brother KH930 (product)
- CouchDB (tool)
- PC-104 (chip)
- Max MSP (tool)
- Beagle Bone Black (chip)
- Nike (company)
- Disney (company)
- Boing Boing (other)
- Design Milk (other)
- Glamour Magazine (other)
- Scientific American (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [007: CNC Knitted Scarves & $100K Kickstarter Success, Fabienne Serrière of Knit Yak](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-05-03-007-cnc-knitted-scarves-100k-kickstarter-success-fabienne-serriere-of-knit-yak) (Product Startup)
- [96: Yarn Is Serious Business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-04-08-96-yarn-is-serious-business) (Embedded.fm)
- [389: Blobs Are Not Stressful](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-14-389-blobs-are-not-stressful) (Embedded.fm)
- [#054 - Kickstarter Pre-launch - a home gym challenges the "No pain No gain" crowd, with Joey Atlas of SCULPTAFIT Global, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-05-09-054-kickstarter-pre-launch-a-home-gym-challenges-the-no-pain-no-gain-crowd-with) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [134: Kevin Kelly Remains Undefeated](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2026-06-24-134-kevin-kelly-remains-undefeated) (Thoroughly Considered)

## Citing this page

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