Alanna Okun

Hello! I'm a writer, textile artist, and game designer based in Brooklyn, NY. I received my Master’s degree from NYU ITP in 2026, where I’m stationed as a research resident for the 2026-2027 academic year.

My work has been featured at the 2026 Open Hardware Summit (Berlin), Brooklyn Comic Con, the AIGA NY Fresh Grad showcase, and Narrascope 2026. From 2012 to 2024, I worked as a senior editor at publications including BuzzFeed, Racked, and Vox. My writing has appeared in New York Magazine, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Apartment Therapy, The Verge, Polygon, Vogue Knitting, and The Hairpin, among many other places both extant and not. I've done live segments for The Today Show, Good Morning America, and a whole bunch of local and national television and radio shows.

My first book, The Curse of the Boyfriend Sweater: Essays on Crafting, was published by Flatiron / Macmillan in 2018, and my second, Knit a Hat: A Beginner’s Guide to Knitting, was published by Abrams in 2020.

I write a newsletter about making and playing video games, and what I’m up to creatively and professionally. That’s the best way to keep up with my recent work.

I’m open to collaborations and projects of all scopes; I freelance as a writer, editorial and narrative consultant, teacher, and all-purpose fabricator.

My current resume, including instruction and speaking engagements, can be found here.

Email me at alanna.okun@nyu.edu, or find me on Instagram and itch.io.

I’m represented by Kate McKean at Morhaim Literary.