My name is Melissa Zirzow.  Better known as “Missy”.   I became interested in machine knitting about 20 years ago when I was in college at Indiana State University.  I saw a machine at a local festival.  I’d always enjoyed hand-knitting and crocheting but didn’t like the time involved to create a project.  I started with a studio 700 punchcard machine and ribber and really was hooked.  I’d always loved reading the machine knitting magazines and became fascinated at the electronic machines that were becoming more popular in the mid 90’s.  My family and I relocated to Ft. Wayne, IN and I just happen to see a “Passap e6000”  , the Cadillac of all knitting machines , for sale in the local paper.
     Yes, it is now mine.  Not long after that I purchased the computer program Designaknit.  I’d always had an interest in computers so it was a definite “must have”.
     I didn’t originally intend on developing a business.  I simply wanted to be able to design and knit my children on afghans for myself to have as keepsakes. After working very hard on perfecting these “portrait designs” for a couple of years I discovered that I really enjoyed designing.  It seems the more I do, the better the designs get.  I have finally been able to accomplish this designing process in a way that I can now design for others as well. 
     I published an article in the March/April of 2001 issue of Machine Knitters Source ( a national machine-knitting magazine). Not long after that I was invited to the “Knit Knack Shop” in Peru , Indiana and did my first demonstration on computer aided designing with Paint Shop Pro and Designaknit.  Since that time I've demonstrated several times at the Knitknack Shop and most recently at the Grand Rapids Machine Knitting Seminar.
     I just finished my fourth pattern book and also a guidebook on 2 color designing with Paint Shop Pro . I hope you enjoy my website!!