One-of-a-Kind Thunder Threads 

What NBA legends are to basketball, Kendall Ross is to knitting. Her mastery of the craft is elite, and what she creates – needles in hand – has deservingly drawn a crowd. This season, Kendall’s handcrafted work has found a surprising home in the heart of Oklahoma City Thunder fandom. Through a collaboration with the Thunder and sports apparel brand Round21, Kendall’s fiber art designs have been transformed into limited-edition merchandise—one-of-a-kind designs now celebrated at every Thunder “City Nights” game.

“My grandma taught me to crochet when I was really little,” Kendall shares. “I grew up in a family where the women were always making things—embroidery, knitting, you name it.” But her journey to professional knitting wasn’t seamless. “I tried learning to knit from YouTube, and it went really poorly. It wasn’t until I took a class at a local yarn store that I really picked it up.”

After college, Kendall turned her passion into a full-time career, honing her craft with daily practice. “Knitting is like muscle memory,” she explains. “Things come to you as you’re working. There’s almost an unknown magic to it—the process itself is inspiring.”

Her designs, which often include off-beat text incorporated into the fabric, carry a personal, journal-like quality. “The text is therapeutic, like a diary entry. You can be dramatic and over-the-top. It’s all validated because it’s part of the piece. Knitting lets me express emotions and experiences even without the words.” 

Her intricate pieces can take hours and sometimes months. But the product is well worth it, earning the attention of celebrities like Kate Walsh. More importantly, awarding Kendall with an immense sense of artistic accomplishment. 

When the Thunder and Round21 approached her for this collaboration, it felt like a full-circle moment. “I’m a huge Thunder fan—I share season tickets with my brothers—so getting this opportunity was really exciting, both as a fan and as an Oklahoma artist,” Kendall says. Round21, which was founded by Oklahoman Jasmine Maietta and featured on Shark Tank, partners with artists to create unique sports merchandise, often for the WNBA.

The collaboration resulted in a hand-knit, one-of-one piece by Kendall, which inspired a pullover and a hat now sold at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s City Nights. “It’s rare to see fiber art in these types of collaborations. Usually, they work with graphic designers or painters because it’s easier to mass-produce. So, it’s cool to see them embrace a more unconventional medium.”

For Kendall, seeing her work celebrated at the arena was a surreal experience. “My whole family got to go to the game, and we all got our little hoodies. It was such a special moment.” More than just a personal milestone, Kendall hopes her collaboration sends a message to other artists. “If you’re doing something a little different, trust your vision. The time you’ve spent on your craft has value.”

Kendall’s work, now woven into the fabric of Oklahoma sports culture, is a testament to the power of creativity, tradition, and homegrown talent. As Thunder fans wear her designs, they’re not just sporting team pride, they’re carrying on Kendall’s journey.

Explore more of Kendall’s unconventional work on her website, idknitthatco.com.