The knitting was done using
Filter Forge
Blurt and I love playing with it. Of course it's not all really for fun even if it feels that way and it is one of my most valuable tools for creating textures and patterns or for adding effects to pictures and photos.
The great thing is you can try the full version for free for a month and I think their holiday discount started early and hasn't finished yet.
You can find all the filters I have submitted in the
blurtsmum account.