K1C2, LLC was founded by Susan Levin and Gloria Tracy in 1996. In their first year the partners purchased the Rainbow Elastic Company. Its eponymous product, Rainbow Elastic® colored elastic thread, is used by knitters and crocheters. They also began developing their own products: YarnBras® slipcovers for skeins, Spool Stockings® slipcovers for spools, MagniClips® clip-on magnifiers, PageMinder® book holders and Knit One, Crochet Too® Patterns.

 

In 1999 the company added Knit One, Crochet Too® Yarn. This collection was developed to provide knitters with yarns that were not only beautiful and a pleasure to use, but had the added element of being color coordinated. By color coordinating yarns across fiber types, knitters were assured a pleasing result no matter how the fibers were mixed and matched.

 

Recognizing crafters’ need to understand and use color successfully, in 2000 the partners invented and patented a “Device for Determining Color Combinations” which is marketed as the Rainbow® Pick Point and Match® Color Selector and the ColorSense® Color Selector. This innovative product was quickly joined by companion products — the Rainbow® Tonal Color Selector and the Over the Rainbow® Masking Tool. These tools are licensed by EK Success Ltd for the scrapbook market. In 2000 the partners also changed the business format to an LLC and published their first book, Crochet Your Way (Taunton Press). This comprehensive how-to guide contains over 20 projects and provides crochet instructions for both right- and left-handed crafters. The book remains in print.

 

In 2003 the company introduced Adornaments® Embellishing Fibers. Scrapbookers and general crafters use this wildly successful product if they only need small quantities of fibers to complete their project. This product is also licensed to EK Success. The partners later developed patterns and Sew Scrambled® scarf kits to expand the use of Adornaments.

 

In 2004 the partners faced competing responsibilities: managing a successful manufacturing company and developing new products. To resolve the conflict and allow them to concentrate on product development, the partners sold Knit One, Crochet Too® Yarns to Helene Rush of Windham, Maine. A short time later they sold Rainbow® Elastic to Bryson Distributing, Eugene, Oregon.

 

In 2005 the partners began to develop the ColorSense System, a method for ensuring that crafters can find a range of products from various manufacturers that are color coordinated. The system is now patent pending.

 

In early 2007 EK Success, Ltd., released K1C2’s newest product, the 1-2-3D® Paper Crafting System. The system includes nine tools that provide a unique method for creating a multitude of two and three-dimensional projects including round, square and pillow shaped boxes, pop-ups and envelopes. A patent is pending. This product was developed in conjunction with designer Pattie Donham, creator of the popular craft website, Pattiewack.com.

 

In December 2007 Levin and Tracy authored the first two volumes in the Show Me How Crafts series for children. Show Me How: Knitting and Show Me How: Quilting (Sixth & Spring Publishing) introduce Mary Ruth, the quirky heroine of the stories. Each two volume set includes a story book that humorously tells how Mary Ruth learned to knit and quilt along with detailed how-to instructions geared to independent learning. The series is expected to continue with additional volumes covering a broad range of crafts.

 

 After 12 successful years together, the partners found that their individual interests were diverging. Partner Gloria Tracy left K1C2 to pursue her interest in teaching knitting and designing. In 2008 Susan Levin became sole owner of K1C2, LLC. She continues to develop products and consult with craft companies who are looking for a fresh approach to marketing.

 

A B O U T   S U S A N   L E V I N 

Susan Levin has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art History and an Occupational Certificate in Graphic Design. Before becoming involved in the craft industry, her professional experience included department store merchandising; owning retail ready-to-wear stores; freelance art direction and graphic design; and Art Director and Corporate Marketing Manager for a large Los Angeles corporation.

She has had knit and crochet patterns published in consumer magazines including Knitters’, Knit N Style, Piecework, Cast-On, Womans Day, Knitting Digest and Crochet Digest. She has written craft-related articles for Piecework and Threads magazines. In addition, she co-authored a series of professional articles in CNA: Craft and Needlework Age. Titled “On Target”, this educational series focused on the challenges that yarn and needlework shop-owners face. Issues such as customer service, pricing and consumer education were covered. In June 2008 Levin’s newest book, ColorSense: Creative Color Combinations for Crafters (Sixth & Spring Publishing) was released. 

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