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Teacher Biographies 2008
Kathryn Alexander is an internationally known textile artist - a spinner,
weaver, dyer and knitter whose work is characterized by an abundance of
color, richly textured surfaces, and whimsical designs. She and her work
have been featured in several magazines including Fiberarts, Surface Design,
Ornament, Spinoff and Knits, and in a number of books. When not spinning,
weaving, dyeing and knitting, Kathryn can be found working in her flower and
vegetable gardens or riding her horses through fields and woods that
surround her small farm in upstate New York. See Kathryn's work on her
website www.kathrynalexander.net.
Libby Beiler is the owner of Mad About Ewes Fiber Arts Studio in Lewisburg,
PA, and has been knitting for 40 years. She has been the weaver for the
sheep to shawl team, Carl and the Not So Lazy Kates, from Montour County,
for the past six years, and is a member of the Susquehanna Valley Spinners
and Weavers Guild. Libby has also been hand spinning for 13 years and
weaving for 8, and teaches spinning and knitting classes at her shop.
Jane Bigelow is co-owner of Kindred Spirits Yarn Studio and Kindred Spirits
Design Studio in Franklin, PA. She teaches all levels of knitting at KSYS
and has taught at other knitting festivals as well as Knitters' Day Out. She
designs many of the patterns used for class projects. Her designs are sold
thru KSDS and other local yarn stores. She enjoys teaching and watching
students realize the comfort that knitting brings into our lives.
Alice Bish plays the viola to pay for her yarn addiction. She performs with
groups ranging in diversity from Harrisburg Symphony to Moscow Ballet. A
frequent guest teacher at Stitch Your Art Out in Pine Grove Mills, she also
teaches and works at Colonial Yarn Shop in Shiremanstown.
Carol Breitner will publish her first book, The Great Sock Divide: Knitting
Socks That Fit, in 2008. An obsessive sock knitter for 20 years, she
designed those tiny little earring socks and owns Carol's Sockery.
Leslie Broznak lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with her husband
and two children. She has been knitting for over 25 years and teaching for
the past 10 years, recently through Frog Eye Fiber Emporium in Winchester VA
and the Picasso Home Art School. Leslie also enjoys spinning and weaving.
Cathy Davies (aka Lab Cat) has been knitting since she was 5 years old. She
is an active member of the Knitting Knutz in Northern Delaware, and has been
an experimental knitter since she discovered Kaffe Fassett in the 1980s and
roomed with Karen Searle in the 1990s. She loves to experiment with color,
modular knitting and freestyle knitting.
Margaret Fisher is a TKGA Master Knitter, skilled designer, and experienced
teacher, Margaret loves colorful, textured fabrics and well-fitting sweaters
with contemporary style. She teaches knit, crochet, and sweater design
workshops across the country at conventions and for guilds and shops.
Margaret is a published designer and she also designs and makes
one-of-a-kind garments and accessories. She is former co-chair of TKGA's
Master Hand Knitting Committee and has written articles on knitting
technique and stitch patterns. Her first book, Seven Things that can "Make
or Break" a Sweater™ will be published in 2008.
Karen Frisa has been knitting for about 16 years, and works as a technical
editor of knitting patterns and as a knitting instructor. She enjoys
teaching interesting knitting techniques, as well as studying them, and also
enjoys spinning and playing around with beads. She is a member of TKGA.
Ruth Ann Harrold has been knitting for over 40 years, learning from a
neighbor when she was 10 years old. She has sold her knitting at craft shows
and a co-op craft shop. She established the Hands Helping Humanity knitting
group at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church. The group supports youth
missions by providing several hundred knitted items each year for Russian
orphanages and families in Appalachia. She is a member of TKGA and Knitting
Artisans of Northern Virginia.
Peg Haussmann has been teaching knitting at different venues in the
Philadelphia area for over five years. Her favorite items to knit and teach
are those that are smaller and more easily carried with you such as socks,
mittens, and baby sweaters.
Joy Jannotti is a TKGA Master Knitter and enjoys sharing the tricks of the
trade. She belongs to Brookside Knits in Pottstown, PA.
Dottie Kurtz, an experienced knitter of more than 40 years, also teaches,
designs, spins, weaves, crochets and does many types of needlework. She will
repair, alter or finish your knitting for you. Her knitting goes everywhere
with her. Member TKGA and South Cumberland Fiber Guild.
Beth Lutz has been knitting and crocheting since she was about 9 or 10 years
old. She has always enjoyed design work in her knitting and sewing and finds
it hard to follow a pattern completely without making changes to it. She is
the co-owner of Uncommon Threads in York, PA where she carries a full line
of knitting yarns and supplies, and the owner of The Alpaca Yarn Company,
distributors of quality alpaca yarns. She lives on a farm in York County
where she raises alpacas.
Ginny McConnell learned to knit at five from her great grandmother and has
been knitting ever since. She has worked in numerous yarn shops and has
taught Christmas Stocking workshops and classes on altering a finished garment.
Toni Minkel learned to knit as a teenager - a really long time ago - and has
enjoyed knitting, and the people who knit, ever since. She currently teaches
classes through her local recreation council.
Linda Montgomery-Blair learned how to knit when she was very young and has
kept it up throughout most of her adult life. She is a certified
teacher/instructor through the Yarn Council of America. Linda began teaching
knitting about 17 years ago. She is a member of the Knitting Guild of
America, as well as President of her local guild; Knitting Artists of
Northern Virginia.
Jan Reinhardt raised Romney sheep which are ideal for knitting Aran
sweaters. She has taught at KDO for twenty years and is treasurer of the
organization. She is a spinner with the Twisted Sisters Guild and is a
member of the Colonial York Knitters.
Barbara B. Rushworth has been an avid knitter since her Mom taught her when
she was 5 yrs. old. She knits clothing, sculpture, jewelry and everything
else that comes to mind. She has been teaching for many years, is a member
of KANV knitting guild, and shows and sells her inspirations at Potomac
Craftsmen Gallery in the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA.
Charlene Schurch is the author of the newly released Little Box of Socks, as
well as her previous best-selling knitting books More Sensational Knitted
Socks, Sensational Knitted Socks, Mostly Mittens, Hats On, and Knitting for
Girls and Dolls. Charlene splits her time between Florida and Connecticut,
though at any given time she can be found all around the country teaching at
various fiber arts venues.
Vita Simon is a retired Federal lawyer who is spending her time
knitting-working part time in a local yarn shop teaching knitting, enjoying
local knitting groups, and reducing her stash.
Cynthia Spencer owns Stitch Your Art Out, a knitting and quilting store near
Penn State. She taught at Penn State for 20 years before starting her store,
and brought that love of teaching to the business. Her store specializes in
classes and always has something new going from beginners through advanced
levels. She loves showing people how to learn new things about knitting.
Lisa Stuart is a life-long knitter. She has served as a past president of
the Main Line Knitting Guild and is currently a member of the Delco Knit
Chicks. She has taught classes for the MLKG, the Knit Chicks, and her local
yarn shop, Finely Knitting in Swarthmore PA. She is also the Webmaster for
KDO's website.
Carla Sturgis is the owner of Delightful Ewe (formally Victoria's House of
Needleart) in Duncansville, PA and is known as a "sockaholic" but also
enjoys multi-strand knitting as well as simple styles and techniques. She is
a member of TKGA, TNNA, and the Blair County Knitaholics Unanimous. She has
crocheted for 40+ years and knit for 27+ years. Carla is a continental
knitter.
Susanne Suzenski has been a life long knitter. She has started and organized
several knitting clubs and knitting events. She loves to knit and share
projects with others.
Kay Thompson is one of the original organizers of Knitters' Day Out. Kay now
owns and operates Knit Wit Knits, a yarn shop in Salem OH. Kay is a Master
Knitter Volunteer through the Craft Yarn Council and Workshop teacher. a
member of two local knitting guilds and TNNA, and a proud Gramma of 10.
Laura Whitman has been crocheting for 43 years and knitting for 15 years.
She opened the Memory Maker Shoppe, a fine yarn and gift shop, in Lebanon,
PA in June of 1999 and ran it until January of 2005. She is the president of
the Lebanon Valley Knit 2-Gether Guild, started in October of 2005. She
teaches knitting and crocheting privately, for groups, and for retreats. She
knits in Combination Continental, American, and Continental styles.
The Mannings
Handweaving School & Supply Center
1132 Green Ridge Rd
PO Box 687
East Berlin, PA 17316
1-800-233-7166 - for orders only
717-624-2223
www.the-mannings.com