Sarah Anderson has been spinning for thirty-five years. She spends her time dyeing fiber for her business, Great Balls of Fiber, knitting and spinning miles of yarn. A recent contributor to Spin•Off, she lives in Snohomish, Washington with her very patient husband, Dick.
Janine Bajus has always loved working with color, so when she saw sweaters knit out of lovely Shetland wool she knew that there was a lifetime of joyous exploration ahead of her. Her first design--Dragonfly River Vest--was included in the book Sweaters from Camp. Janine has exhibited her work in a presentation at the Seattle Knitters' Guild, where she also taught a mini-workshop on Fair Isle knitting. She has taught specialized topics--crocheted steeks, short-row shoulder shaping in the round--at Meg Swansen's Knitting Camp. She documents her design progress on her blog: www.feralknitter.typepad.com/feral_knitter
Anne Berk is certified by The Knitting Guild of America as a Master Knitter. Anne especially enjoys teaching about techniques that improve the quality and appearance of handknits. She has been a knitting instructor since 1998, and teaches regularly at Knit/Purl in downtown Portland, and Molehill Farm, in Lake Grove, Oregon. Anne also does commission knitting, finishing and repair.
Cat Bordhi's mission, according to Stephanie Pearl McPhee, "is to make you a more creative, free-thinking knitter who problem-solves and experiments with vigor and fearlessness. The best part? She can." Cat teaches and inspires more than a 1,000 knitters a year in her classes and retreats all over North America. Her Youtube knitting tutorials reach many 1,000's more, and her innovative books, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, A Treasury of Magical Knitting, A Second Treasury of Magical Knitting, and New Pathways For Sock Knitters have reached well over 100,000 knitters. Coming next: a book on Houdini socks! Visit Cat's website at www.catbordhi.com .
Beth Brown-Reinsel has been involved in many facets of the fiber arts as a spinner, basket weaver, dyer, knitter, former yarn shop and mail order business owner, author, and knitwear designer, but teaching is her passion. She has worked in production as well as in creating and teaching courses and workshops both locally and nationally. She developed and implemented the correspondence course, "Traditional Ganseys" for The Knitting Guild of America for 11 years. Beth has authored the book Knitting Ganseys, published by Interweave Press. Her articles have appeared in Threads, Cast On, Interweave Knits, and Knitters magazines. She continues to design for yarn companies, magazines, and for her own pattern line. Check out Beth's website at www.knittingtraditions.com .
Nancy Bush found her way to traditional knitting techniques and uses of ethnic patterns via a degree in Art History and post–graduate studies in color design and weaving in San Francisco and Sweden. She has published articles and designs in Knitter's, Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, and Threads. She has been the knitting contributor to PieceWork Magazine and is currently a member of the editorial advisory panel. She teaches workshops in the United States and abroad. She owns The Wooly West, a mail order yarn business in Salt Lake City, Utah. She is the author of Folk Socks (1994), Folk Knitting in Estonia 1999), Knitting on the Road, Socks for the Traveling Knitter (2001), Knitting Vintage Socks (2005), all published by Interweave Press. Her new book Knitted Lace of Estonia:Techniques, Patterns, and Traditions is scheduled to be published by Interweave Press in the Autumn of 2008. Check out Nancy's website at www.woolywest.com .
Chris Conrad lived in Japan for 8 years and spent her last one and a half years there was spent studying Kakishibu with Masamichi Terada, the only kakishibu instructor in Japan. Upon returning to the US and frustrated with the unavailability of kakishibu and information, she started importing kakishibu and teaching. She is currently working on publication of a book about kakishibu. For more information see www.kakishibui.com.
Amelia Garripoli "fell" into spinning when she purchased a house that came with two llamas. Since then, her spindle collection has taken over the book case! Amelia runs The Bellwether, a specialty spindle and fiber shop on line and at local shows. She is the author of "Spindling: The Basics", and is an active mentor in several online spinning groups including Spindlers and Spindlitis. Amelia teaches workshops, private classes, classes at local yarn shops. Visit her website at www.thebellwether.biz .
Shiori Hatagawa didn't learn to spin at her grandmothers' knee or to knit at her mother's side. Nevertheless, she managed to grow into a fiber fanatic! Shiori has over 15 years experience as a spinner and knitter. When not obsessively researching spinning techniques, she manages to find time enough to pose as her alter ego, Wooly of "Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs" an indie dye studio specializing in hand dyed yarn, fiber and cold process soap. Oh, and she lives in the Cascade Foothills east of Seattle and loves dogs, her partner Shane,and absurd pop culture references. Shiori will be a spinning mentor in the "Spinning Demonstration Booth" in the Pavilion Rotunda at the Winter Retreat. You can find "Rainy Days and Wooly Dogs" on Etsy by clicking on this link .
Betsy Hershberg is a life long knitter, having been taught by her mother at the age of 8. She has always had a special love of working on very small needles with very fine yarns as she appreciates the quality of fabric that can be created and the level of detail they allow. Until recently, Betsy focused her work on knitting and designing garments, many of which are art-to-wear. However, after taking a course on basic beaded knitting in the fall of 2002, She became completely enthralled by the seemingly endless possibilities presented by combining beads with knitting. After eighteen months of experimentation and swatching, Betsy began to use the techniques she had developed to create unique, exciting and very wearable jewelry. Each piece is one-of-a-kind. Betsy also takes great pleasure in teaching and love sharing her enthusiasm with the latest generation of knitters who have been attracted by exciting new fibers and contemporary design possibilities. She feels it is especially rewarding to help knitters reach new levels of technical knowledge, confidence and independence that will free them to explore their individual creativity. Check out Betsy's beautiful designs on her website at www.studiobknits.com
Daniel Herrera is amazingly versed in all forms of knitting, crochet and needlework. He first learned needlepoint in Mexico when his grandmother took him to a coffee circle. Later, at age 7, Daniel picked up a pair of knitting needles with a scarf remnant on them, taught himself to knit and never stopped. He pursued all sorts of fiber arts as a teen and while traveling the globe for 6 years with the US Navy fixing computers. Daniel thrives on puzzles and clarifying instructions to help find the key to move you forward. He is the best-kept secret in Seattle. Knitting and designing for 30 years, he was discovered by Lily Chin in 2001 and became one of her "Urban Knitters". Daniel teaches, designs and solves knitting and crochet problems at the shop "Stitches" on Capital Hill in between working in the travel industry days, spinning yarn and playing the French Horn. Daniel will be our resident expert at the "Just-in-time Answers and Solutions Clinic" at the Winter Retreat and available to consult on any of your knitting or crochet problems that have you stumped. Find Daniel near the Market.
Vivian Høxbro has been designing for handknitting and embroidery for yarn companies in Scandinavia for more than 20 years where she is well-known. She was designer and editor of the weekly "Søndags" and then co-founder and editor of the Danish Knitting Guild magazine, "Gavstrik". She has her own knit collection of kits and her book Domino Knitting was first published in Norway in 2000. It has since been published in Denmark, Sweden, Japan and the United States. Vivian's enthusiasm for knitting will delight you and her unusual and beautiful sweater designs will surprise you. Vivian's second book Shadow Knitting was published in the Spring, 2004 and her third book Knit to Be Square will be published soon by Interweave Press. More information on Vivian's designs and kits can be found at her website at www.viv.dk. Her kits are available at many local yarn shops.
Janel Laidman has been spinning and knitting for the last 15 years and has participated in various fiber arts for most of her life. She is the owner and editor of Spindlicity.com, an online magazine about handspinning. Janel currently resides in Los Angeles where until recently she owned a fiber studio and dyeworks. She has a master's degree in biochemistry and a knowledge of fiber and dye chemistry at the molecular level. Janel taught at SOAR 2007 and Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival 2007. Her recent book of unique and creative sock designs "The Eclectic Sole" is a runaway bestseller. She has another book "The Painted Skein" due out in the beginning of 2009. Get more info and some of Janel's patterns at her website at www.rustlingleafpress.com .
Carol Lansinger grew up in Seattle and has been knitting for 25 years. Her interest in skirts began in 7th grade sewing class when her first project was a skirt. She has been knitting skirts for 5 years and has designed some classic skirt patterns that are available through Churchmouse Yarns and Tea on Bainbridge Island where she teaches when she isn't working as a senior consultant for an auditing firm. Carol loves color, fabric, and fiber.
Elsebeth Lavold is Sweden's premier knitwear designer, artist, and instructor. Elsebeth's contemporary knitted Viking designs and patterns are based on her meticulous study of historic Viking symbols and patterns of ornamentation from Scandinavian craftsmen of the Iron Age, including the Viking era. She has adapted them to extraordinarily beautiful stitch patterns and exquisite hand-knitted garments. Patterns for many of these designs are in her book Viking Patterns for Knitting, published in 2000. She has worked with hand-knit design for more than 20 years and is the author of a number of books containing her designs for hand knitters. More information about her designs and yarns are on Elsebeth's website at www.ingenkonst.se .
Catherine Lowe is known for her original and unique construction techniques and her pairing of luxury fiber with elegant design. She has developed an approach to hand-knitting that rethinks the traditional technical and design vocabularies of the hand-knitter and translates the distinctive elements of haute couture dressmaking into refined techniques for the hand-knitter. Her designs have appeared in Vogue Knitting Magazine and in Interweave Knits. Her articles on couture knitting technique have been featured in Vogue Knitting Magazine; and she has been profiled in Interweave Knits, Knitting Lessons by Lela Nargi and in KnitKnit: Presenting 27 Innovative Knitters and Their Projects by Sabrina Gschwandtner. Catherine's renowned skill as a workshop instructor and pattern writer derives from her extensive academic background. After obtaining her PH.D. from Yale, she spent over fifteen years teaching at the university level. For more information go to Catherine's website www.thecoutureknittingworkshop.com .
Judith MacKenzie McCuinis a nationally known teacher, master weaver, spinner, and fiber artist now living in the State of Washington. Judith teaches as only she can--with depth of knowledge honed by years of practice, patience, creative informality, personal and historical perspective, great humor, and hands-on expertise that demystifies any process. Classes with Judith are an experience in learning the story behind every fiber and process. Judith is a regularly featured author in Spin-Off Magazine and she has published a book, Teach Yourself Visually Handspinning. Her second book The Intentional Spinner will be released this fall by Interweave Press. If you take any of Judith's classes this year you will experience the history of each process as it has been performed through the ages and come away with a depth of knowledge of that raises your skill towards excellence.
Sally Melville loves all aspects of life as a "professional" knitter: teaching, writing, designing, and explaining what this all means! Sally's first book Sally Melville Styles, now a classic, continues to inspire knitters around the world. She then began a series of learn-to-knit books. The first three volumes of The Knitting Experience series have sold a combined total of 250,000 copies. She is currently working with Potter Craft on a series of Mother/Daughter Knits with her daughter. The first book is due out for Mother's Day, 2009. Sally's former work as an educator continually influences her teaching and design. Sally regularly includes material on how to improve quality of life, and meditations on knitting in her books. These writings are Sally's favorite part of her work—stimulating discussion, challenging basic assumptions, teaching us the value of being creative, stressing the importance of using our hands, and celebrating the experience of simply paying attention to life. Check out Sally's new website at www.sallymelvilleknits.com .
Syne Mitchell shares her enthusiasm for handweaving via her monthly podcast, WeaveCast (www.weavecast.com) . She is the publisher of the new online weaving magazine Weavezine www.weavezine.com which is changing the face of weaving! Syne is a regular columnist for Handwoven and has published in Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot. The only thing Syne likes better than cutting beautiful cloth off her loom is teaching people how fun and easy weaving can be! Syne will be teaching rigid heddle weaving at the Winter Retreat and also demonstrating weaving in the Pavilion Rotunda.
Lucy Neatby has been a dedicated knitter for more than 20 years, constantly seeking to extend her range of techniques and experiment with many fibers. She was educated in the United Kingdom and had formal training as a Merchant Navy Navigating Officer sailing aboard trawlers and coastal oil tankers as Second Officer. Lucy and her husband and three children moved to Nova Scotia 12 years ago from the United Kingdom where she has expanded her involvement in knitting and launched her many wonderful designs and kits that you can get through her own company, Tradewind Knitwear Designs. She teaches internationally and is devoted to raising awareness and respect for knitting amongst the general public. She feels it is important to teach more young people to knit and never misses an opportunity to do so as part of her commitment to enhance people's knitting pleasure by helping to open their eyes to the vast potential offered by a pair of needles. Lucy's other passion is long distance cycling. Lucy has published her book Cool Socks and a series of DVD's called Knitter's Companion. Check out Lucy's very nautical website: www.tradewindknits.com www.tradewindknits.com
Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, the Yarn Harlot, will be joining us again this year as a special guest and teacher. Those of you who would never miss a day of her internet blog (www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/) know that wherever Stephanie goes fun with knitting, misadventures and laughs surely follow. The real mystery is how Stephanie manages to knit when she is writing so many books. Her newest books Free Range Knitter and Things I learned from Knitting (whether I wanted to or not) join her very popular other books, At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much, Yarn Harlot: The Secret Life of a Knitter, Knitting Rules!, and Casts Off. Stephanie has knitters around the world laughing out loud and reveals the real truth about obsessive love of knitting and its culture. Along the way, she imparts her unique perspective that clears up many a knitting mystery and shines light onto some of life's secrets. Most of all it is important to have fun and in Stephanie's world there are no mistakes only more opportunities to knit more. After all, "Knitting is not defusing a bomb!" Stephanie lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband, Joe, three daughters, and a large yarn and fiber stash. She knits, spins, writes, is a childbirth doula and has dedicated herself to support Doctors without Borders enlisting knitters worldwide.
Philosopher's Wool is Eugene and Ann Bourgeois of Ontario, Canada.As farmers, Eugene and Ann started Philosopher's Wool in 1986 to improve the price farmers get for their fleece. Since then, Eugene and Ann, have become known throughout the knitting world for their innovative blends of hand dyed country yarns and their incredibly beautiful fair isle style sweaters, each a unique design and colorway. They sell their yarns and kits for the sweaters, each pattern requiring not more than two colors to a row. Throughout North America, they teach their two-handed fair isle stranding technique for knitting which they have featured in their book and video, "Fair Isle Sweaters Simplified". For more information go to www.philosopherswool.com .
Joan Schrouder is a practicing RN with a passion for knitting. She has studied knitting with Elizabeth Zimmermann, Meg Swansen, and many other noted expert knitters. Joan has extensive teaching experience with TKGA and Stitches as well as guilds and shops across North America. Her designs and articles have appeared in Cast On, Fashion Knitting, Knitter's and Vogue Knitting. Joan has designed for Brown Sheep, Cascade Yarns, Knit 1 Crochet 2, and Alpaca Sajama.
Karin Skacel, though not the inventor of the magical Feltpaper, is the leading authority on artfeltR. She was the first to experiment with Feltpaper and through trial and error has discovered many amazing possibilities using the paper as a base for felting. She is currently working on an artfeltR book and has been teaching classes and doing demonstrations throughout the United States for the last year. Prior to working with artfelt® Karin taught classes in clothing design, sewing, knitting, crochet, warm glass and pottery. She has been involved in the artistic crafts industry her entire life and is currently president of Skacel Collection, Inc.
Ruth Sørensen lives in Denmark where the women in her family were all knitting as a natural part of their life. She learned to knit at an early age sitting next to her grandmother. Later in her life working with textiles became her profession and she studied at a Danish Design School where her specialty subjects were weaving and knitting. Ruth has always admired the Shetland tradition and she traveled to the Shetland Islands to experience their yarns and knitting first hand. She is now meshing the Shetland Fair Isle traditions with her own Scandinavian tradition of color work in her unique designs and color knitting. Ruth is known for her latest work of designing with self-striping yarns. Her cardigan pattern knit with Kauni Yarn is being knit around the world thanks to the speed of light communication via the internet and blogs. Ruth will be teaching classes on designing and knitting with self-striping yarns. You can see Ruth's patterns on her website at www.ruths.dk and read her blog at www.ruths-workshop.blogspot.com.
Gloria Tracy has found Crocheting, sewing, embroidering, drawing plus a wide variety of whatever craft was current to be constants in her life since childhood. In 1990 she left her day job to establish a new career by selling knitting and crochet designs and writing articles on color and design to all the major industry magazines and several yarn companies. Gloria taught knitting, crochet, design and color classes for Stitches, TKGA, CGOA and many national guilds and organizations. From 1993 to 1996 she was Director of Design for Cascade yarns. As a spokesperson for three yarn companies, she became a frequent guest teaching knit and crochet techniques on Aleene's Creative Living TV show. Susan Levin and Gloria formed K1C2 in 1996, a partnership where they started the Knit One, Crochet Too yarn and pattern company and developed a number of products sold into the craft and sewing industries. In 2000 Susan and Gloria Crochet Your Way, a crochet reference and pattern book that still sells well. The first two books in the Show Me How series of craft books for children were released in December 2007. More recently, Gloria has returned to teaching and is having a ball. Check out her website at www.gloriatracydesign.com .
Una Walker is a feltmaker and rug hooker living in Southern California. She is seen on HGTV's "That's Clever" making a pair of felted and lasted shoes. She teaches out of her home studio as well as the LA and surrounding area. She travels in the summer selling her felted accessories at craft shows around the country. Una will be demonstrating in the Rotunda at the Winter Retreat. See Una's work and her blog at www.woolywalkers.blogspot.com
Jean Wong is a NAC certified knitting instructor trained by the rigorous Japanese Nihon Vogue Knitting Association. The certification took four years and allows the certificate holder the privilege to teach others to become instructors. Her wealth of experience includes over 15 years of teaching, and her patient ways are an encouragement to any knitter. Have you ever seen a pattern that you really liked, but either couldn't find the yarn the pattern called for or wanted to use a different type of yarn with a different gauge and didn't know how to make the adjustment? With Jean's courses, you can now break free and use yarns of your choice. Jean's Nihon Vogue course offers techniques that also produce a professional finished look. Her step-by-step instruction will enable both beginner and master knitters to customize projects to fit. Currently in Vancouver, Canada Jean teaches 5 levels of instruction courses of varying degrees of difficulty along with a number of year-round certificate courses that, upon graduation, will equip you to teach these techniques. Jean has a DVD "Knitting with Jean" and more information is available on her website www.knittingwithjean.com.
