THE 2014 FESTIVAL - Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival

A special Thank You to the following people and organizations
that helped to make this event and the “Knittreats” a success:
Bruce Mazzoni, Cranberry Township
XRX, Inc.
Coats and Clark
Pat Catan’s Craft Centers
Father Ryan's Art Center
Pgh Center for the Arts
Fiber Arts Guild of Pgh
Pgh Magazine
Heather Gooch, Positive Yarn
Pgh Post Gazette
Last Knitter Standing
Pgh Tribune Review
Laura Zech
Society for Contemporary Crafts
Made in America Yarns
Sweetwater Center for Crafts
Martingale Publishing
TKGA
Minuteman Press of Allison Park
Randy, my Mothers and Sarah
UPMC Senior Communities
Ann Szilagyi
Anna Hrachovec (Mochimochi)
Aslan Trends
Aurora Yarns
Be Sweet
Louet
Berroco
Tahki Stacy Charles
Kraemer Yarns
Interweave
Please see a complete thank you list on the website: www.pghknitandcrochet.com for all of the additional
contributions and help that came in after the program went to print.
Join us at next year’s festival:
$2.00 OFF ADMISSION FOR
THE 2014 FESTIVAL
March 14,15,16, 2014
FOUR POINTS Sheraton
Mars, PA 16046
(One coupon per person)
• Beautiful Space
• 2nd Largest Ballroom in Pgh area
• Easy Access to I-79, 76 (Turnpike),
Route 428, and Route 19.
• Trunk Shows
• More Demos
•
•
•
•
More Classes
More Exhibitors
Free Parking and Shuttle
Surrounded by Vibrant
Shopping Area, Hotels and
Restaurants
www.pghknitandcrochet.com
Hotel Layout
Booth #
1
2&3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 & 11
12
13
14
15
16
18
19
20
22
Glory-ous Knits
Kathy’s Kreations
Bagsmith
Yarns By Design
Soft ’n Sassy
Kid Ewe Knot
Stramba Farm & Fiber Mill
Ball and Skein
Fine Points, Inc.
Jehovah Jireh Woolmill
Rainbow Mills
Jefferson Farms Natural Fibers/
New World Camelids
Sassafras Creations
, 17 & Annex
Oasis Yarn &
Shalimar Yarns
Holiday Yarns
Ewe & I Originals
& 21 Annadele Alpacas
FreshStitches
23 & 24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33 & 34
35
36
37 & 38
39 & 40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Knitting Notions
TKGA: The Knitting
Guild Association
LunaStitch
Stitch Your Art Out
Wild Hare Fiber Studio
Gwen Erin Natural Fibers &
Wren & Rita
Victoria Clayton, Dyer
Sugar River Fiber and Johnny Skein
The Ross Farm
Blue Heron Yarns
52 & 53
The Wandering Vine
54
Yarn and Company
55
Highland Alpaca
56
Noni Designs, Ltd.
57
Mudslide Pottery
58 & 59
Purdy Thangz
60, 61, 62
SpaceCadet Creations
63
Melissa Jean Designs
64
Cosy Knits (literally) &
65
Fibernyph Dye Works
Burgh Baby Gear
Cultured Purl
Unplanned Peacock Studio
Sheepish Creations
Coloratura Yarns/Grace’s Mercantile
Friends & Fiberworks
Knitters Mercantile
StevenBe – Yarn Garage
A B-ewe-tiful Design
Crochet by Faye
The Flaming Ice Cube
Susan’s Fiber Shop
Brooks Farm Yarn
B’ewe’tiful Knits Yarn Boutique
Your Beading Heart
Mother Frogging Yarns
Dear Yarn Lovers,
Welcome to the 9th Annual Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival! I hope that this new date has worked well
with everyone’s schedule. Moving the show to March was requested by so many of you, it seemed like the right
thing to do. Since I had a little extra time to prepare for the show, I enjoyed my holidays a bit more; it was significantly less stressful with the festival being one month later.
My year began with scary news; my sister Ann was diagnosed with leukemia. Many of you sent well wishes,
prayers and hats for her during her long road to recovery, for which we are grateful. Ann did not return to her former job, but has joined me in the preparation and planning of the festival, for which I am extra grateful! So, please
be sure to say hi to Ann, she will be at the show this year assisting me along with other members of my family. We
are excited to have many new additions to the show this year.
I am happy to welcome Candace Eisner Strick, who taught for us the 1st Annual Fall Knittreat in Bedford
Springs. Candace is whimsical, colorful, witty and extremely gifted, which is apparent in her designs. She has published several books and is teaching 5 classes for us. A variety of her garments are on display at the Revolving Trunk
Show throughout the festival. She will also be available to sign her books when not in class.
Please join us on Saturday evening as we recognize and honor Kathy Zimmerman, Kathy’s Kreations, with a
Lifetime Achievement Award at the PJ Party. Read more about Kathy, her store, and her life in the center of the program. Kathy will be at her booths to autograph your copy of the program. Kathy’s designs can also be seen in the
Revolving Trunk Show.
We welcome back Steven Be - teacher, store owner, fiber artist, fashion designer and our rockin’ PJ Party host
on Saturday night. Steven will be at his booth to share his fantastically creative patterns, ideas and yarns. Don’t miss
his fabulous outfits! We love having the “rock star” of the knitting world join us. A new offering this year is the
Revolving Trunk Show, where we highlight and showcase many of the fantastic garments from our sponsors,
designers and supporters.
Our sponsors are fabulous: Coats and Clark sponsors the free Teach Me 2 Knit and Teach Me 2 Crochet classes. Pat Catan’s sponsors the Warm Up America and Knit the Bridge Lounge; supplying attendees with yarn to knit
or crochet squares for blankets that are donated to local shelters and other organizations. XRX, Inc, Interweave,
Made in America Yarns, Be Sweet, Lion Brand Yarns, TKGA have all sent wonderful gifts for us. Tahki Stacy
Charles, Berroco, Kraemer Yarns are sponsors of the Revolving Trunk Show. Feza Yarns, Inc. is a sponsor of the
PJ Party.
Hog Heaven is our official skein winder and coat check. Please be certain to remember their animals with your
kind donations. We continue to be a drop-off point for the Salvation Army’s Annual Fabric Fair. Thank you for
remembering to bring your fabrics and notions for their annual event. This year we are able to offer “Senior
Sunday,” graciously made possible by UPMC Senior Communities sponsorship.
The fiber arts continue to grow, thanks in large part to the Internet, where fiber artists can connect with each other
in so many ways; Ravelry, Linked In, Twitter, Facebook and blogs. Because we are connected in these ways, there
are many more connections occurring in our communities, with yarn installations everywhere. Here in Pittsburgh,
we are pleased to be a part of a large Yarn Bombing; Knit the Bridge, the largest yarn installation in the world, will
be installed this summer. We are delighted to have the members of the Fiber Arts Guild present the project and
thrilled to be a part of it. Plan to sit a spell, knit or crochet even a few rows and contribute to this enormous project.
The times they are a changin’- and so we are trying to keep up with the times, with our regular e-newsletters, monthly free patterns and giveaways. Please be certain to let us know if you are not receiving the newsletter.
It is gratifying to see a younger generation taking up knitting and crocheting, whether it is covering bridges,
fences, trees, or making sculptures. Just like our grandmothers did, we honor the tradition by continuing to make
wonderful things for our families and friends to treasure. We like to sit and share stories while we work with our
hands, to connect with others, whether at a knitting festival, guild meeting, book store, friend’s home, retreat, or at
home with our loved ones. I always look forward to seeing you at the festival or at an upcoming retreat!
Warmly,
Barbara Grossman, Festival Organizer
[email protected]
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A Letter from Carol Crowley, retired former owner
of Carol's Needleworks, Inc., Bridgeville, PA
“I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a fabulous show! Barb and her staff do such a wonderful job
thinking of everything to make this weekend perfect. I'd
especially like to thank all my friends and customers
who made Carol's Needleworks a fun place to work for
the past almost 12 years. It was a great "ride" and I
wish the new owners of Kid Ewe Knot, Heather Metzger
and Laurie Graham, as much fun and success as I've
had. Yarn on!!” Have a super show :) Best, Carol
”
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2013 Exhibitors
Booth # 1
Glory-ous Knits
Sudha Mehta – owner
15 Harris Circle
Watsontown, PA 17777
570.437.4139
[email protected]
www.glory-ousknits.com
Booth #s 2 & 3
Kathy’s Kreations
Kathy Zimmerman – owner
141 East Main St.
Ligonier, PA 15658
724.238.9320
[email protected]
www.kathys-kreations.com
Booth # 4
Bagsmith
Becca Smith – owner
20600 Chagrin Blvd.
Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122
216.921.3500
[email protected]
www.bagsmith.com
Booth # 5
Yarns By Design
Sandra Donatelli – owner
622 Allegheny River Blvd
Oakmont, PA 15139
412.794.8332
[email protected]
www.YBDoakmont.com
Booth # 6
Soft ’n Sassy
Cheryl Geschke – owner
8047 Broadview Rd.
Broadview Hgts, OH 44147
440.746.9650
[email protected]
www.softnsassy.com
Booth # 7
Kid Ewe Knot
Heather Metzger and
Laurie Graham – owners
429 Washington Ave.,
Bridgeville Plaza
Bridgeville, PA 15017
412.257.2557
[email protected]
www.KidEweKnot.com
Booth # 8
Stramba Farm & Fiber Mill
Terri Stramba – owner
2331 Chewton Wurtenburg Rd.
Wampum, PA 16157
724.752.4146
[email protected]
www.strambafarmalpacas.com
Booth # 9
Ball and Skein
Judy Jacobs – owner
P.O. 867
Greenville, RI 02828
401.949.4488
[email protected]
www.ballandskein.com
Booth #s 10 & 11
Fine Points, Inc.
Liz Tekus – owner
12620 Larchmere Blvd.
Cleveland, Ohio 44120
412.229.6644
[email protected]
www.finepoints.com
Booth # 12
Jehovah Jireh Woolmill
Amy & Greg Francisco – owners
32323 M-43
Paw Paw, MI 49079
[email protected]
www.woolmill.com
Booth # 13
Rainbow Mills
Stanley Klein – owner
5539 Fair Oaks St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.421.7934
[email protected]
Booth # 14
Jefferson Farms Natural Fibers/
New World Camelids
Jane Levene – owner
8950 W. Jefferson Ave.
Denver, CO 80235
[email protected]
www.jeffersonfarmsnaturalfibers.com
Booth # 15
Sassafras Creations
Nancy Thompson – owner
PO Box 767121
Roswell, GA 30076
678.522.7057
[email protected]
www.sassafrascreations.etsy.com
THRU-Way
Booth #s 16 , 17 & Annex
Oasis Yarn & Shalimar Yarns
Joe Antal – owner
35 2nd Avenue
Berea, Ohio 44017
440-655-4346
[email protected]
www.oasisyarn.com
Shalimar Yarns
Kristi Johnson – owner
5917 Boyers Mill Rd.
New Market, MD 21774
[email protected]
www.shalimaryarns.com
Booth # 22
FreshStitches
Stacey Trock – owner
911 N. Cayuga St.
Ithaca, NY 14850
240.645.8683
[email protected]
www.freshstitches.com
Booth #s 23 & 24
Knitting Notions
Catherine Harrison – owner
1301 Bellshire Dr.
Nashville, TN 37207
615.585.1077
[email protected]
www.knittingnotionsonline.com
Booth # 25
TKGA: The Knitting Guild
Association
Penny Sitler – contact
1100-H Brandywine Blvd.
Zanesville, OH 43701
740.452.4541
[email protected]
www.TKGA.com
Booth # 26
LunaStitch
Donna Cornelison
413 W. 3rd St.
Florence, NJ 08518
609.499.1920
[email protected]
www.etsy.com/shop/lunastitch
Booth # 27
Stitch Your Art Out
Cynthia Spencer – owner
Box 528, 235 E. Pine Grove Rd.
Pine Grove Mills, PA 16868
814.238.4151
[email protected]
www.stitchyourartout.com
Booth # 28
Wild Hare Fiber Studio
Melissa Yoder Ricks – owner
330 Virginia Ave.
Front Royal, VA 22630
540.305.6853
[email protected]
www.wildharefiber.com
Booth # 18
Holiday Yarns
Jennifer Vancalcar – owner
101 Saturn Dr.
Syracuse, NY 13205
315.214.5356
[email protected]
www.holidayyarns.com
Booth # 29
Gwen Erin Natural Fibers &
Wren & Rita
Gwen Brown – owner
218 Rebecca Ave.
Hubbard, Ohio 44425
[email protected]
www.gwenerin.com
Booth # 19
Ewe & I Originals
Kathy Disantis &
Dianne Rodabaugh – owners
2462 16th St.
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44223
330.325.1299
[email protected]
www.eweandioriginals.com
Ana Brito – owner
222 Mercer Ave.
Munhall, PA 15120
[email protected]
www.wrenandrita.com
Booth # 20 & 21
Annadele Alpacas
Deb King & Sharon Heiser – owners
32669 Mickle Hollow
Union City, PA 16438
[email protected]
www.annadelealpacas.net
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Booth # 30
Victoria Clayton, Dyer
Victoria Clayton – owner
100 Stunnel St.
Williamstown, PA 17098
717.896.0646
[email protected]
www.hand-dyedfibers.com
Booth # 31
Sugar River Fiber and
Johnny Skein
Mark Huttner – owner
290 W Geneva St.
Williams Bay, WI 53191
608.636.3400
[email protected]
www.sugarriverfiber.com
www.johnnyskein.com
Booth # 32
The Ross Farm
Amy Ross Manko – owner
102 Rte 519
Eighty Four, PA 15330
724.986.1925
[email protected]
www.therossfarm.com
A Knitter's Fantasy
A Knitter's Fantasy 2013 is being sponsored by the Northcoast
Knitting Guild, on April 6, 2013, at Chaney High School in
Youngstown, Ohio.
Registration begins at 8 a.m.
Classes begin at 9 a.m.
For more info contact Terrilee at
[email protected]
http://www.northcoastknitting.org
Booth #s 33 & 34
Blue Heron Yarns
Demian Savits – owner
29532 Canvasback Dr. #8
Easton, MD 21601
410.819.6401
[email protected]
www.yarnjunky.blueheronyarns.com
Booth # 35
The Wandering Vine
Kathy Dinsmore – owner
214 Jenks Ave.
Punxsutawney, PA 15767
814.952.1100
[email protected]
www.thewanderingvine.net
Booth # 36
Yarn and Company
Sandra Tolin – owner
Airport/Country Club Rd.
Rt 4 Box 242
Elkins, WV 26241
304.636.3760
[email protected]
www.yarnandcompany.net
Booth #s 37 & 38
Highland Alpaca
Fay Steving – owner
1404 Millbrook Rd.
Grove City, PA 16127
814.786.8105
[email protected]
www.alpacacomforts.com
Booth #s 39 & 40
Noni Designs, Ltd.
Nora Bellows – owner
8600 Foundry St, Carding Studio108
Savage, MD 20763
410.262.5095
[email protected]
www.nonipatterns.com
Booth # 41
Mudslide Pottery
Roly Boni – owner
1314 California Rd.
Ridgway, PA 15853
814.335.5356
[email protected]
Booth # 42
Purdy Thangz
Cheryl McLane – owner
113 Westchester Crossing
Holly Springs, GA 30115-4365
954.849.4139
[email protected]
www.purdythangz.com
A variety of unique yarns at the best prices in town!
PLUS a gift shop featuring local artisans
Owner, Toni A. Ritchey
[email protected]
724/600-5550 or 724/552-9470
188A General Street, 3 miles North of
Greensburg off of Route 819
RaggZ & FriendZ is my shop name because my customers and I have all
become just that - friends! One of the things which makes my eco-friendly shop
unique is the price of my yarns. Since the shop is located in half of my home,
I can keep my overhead down and pass the savings on. The variety of my yarns
and the personal, one-on-one care we give each other is also unique. My dream
has always been to have my own shop and carry not-so-ordinary, organic, and
local yarns. I am a huge fan of natural fibers, so most of my yarns are natural.
I also support local textile artists and farms who are ethical in their treatment of
the environment and animals, and since I have my own farm, this is very important to me.
Some of the yarns I carry are: crystal palace, mountain meadow organic wool,
imperial yarns, willow mist acres (local hand-dyed, handspun), cascade, brown
sheep, raspberry hill alpaca (local), pagewood farms, jojoland, dream, darn
good yarns, feza, fibro friends, lantern moon, red heart and many accessories as
well. I have a lending library with many books which can be signed out, and an
assortment of patterns. As an added bonus, I have a gift shop featuring all local
artists, including framed artwork, handmade soaps, organic vanilla, local honey,
embroidered knitting-themed dish towels, cards and all types of handmade
sheep deco.
I am happy to help anyone with a project, whether or not they purchased their
yarn from me. There's always a fresh pot of home-roasted organic coffee brewing and sometimes homemade gluten free fresh-baked cookies, so come on in
and sit and knit with us! You will feel like you're almost home when you walk
in the door!
My website will be up and running soon but for now, you can check out my blog
for more information at: raggzfiberart.blogspot.com.
www.raggzfiberart.com
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2013 Exhibitors
Just outside of Mercer is a sustainable organic practicing farm.
We are looking for customers in the Pittsburgh and Wexford area
to start a year-round delivery to customers at drop off points.
We sell fruits and vegetables in season; we have an orchard
with cherries, apples, peaches, plums, pears, grapes, raspberries, currants, etc.
We offer beef, lamb, poultry, rabbit and pasture pork as well as
dairy products. Please do not let me forget my eggs: brown, green
and white, my feathered ladies run all over the place.
There is lovely fiber in wool, alpaca, angora & mohair, also yarn
& finished knitted clothing.
I make a very good healing salve with comfrey, and some darn
good milk and herbal soaps.
There is oftentimes more than what is listed, please contact me
for details.
Terry Seltzer
Sonshine Farm
22 N Stone Base Rd
Mercer PA 16137
724-533-5093
email: [email protected]
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Facebook: Terry Seltzer;
where I will keep up with
what is happening on the
farm and where you can
see some of the products
and our life happenings.
Booth # 43
SpaceCadet Creations
Stephanie Alford – owner
P.O. Box 113312
Pittsburgh, PA 15241
412.206.9768
[email protected]
www.spacecadetcreations.com
Booth # 47
Cultured Purl
Shirani Wickramasinghe – owner
3141 West 26th St.
Erie, PA 16506
814.836.7875
[email protected]
www.Kniterie.com
Booth #s 52 & 53
Knitters Mercantile
Jan Emerick – owner
214 Graceland Blvd.
Columbus, OH 43214
614.888.8551
[email protected]
www.knittersmercantile.com
Booth # 44
Melissa Jean Designs
Melissa Stahl – owner
3240 Sevier Rd.
Marcellus, NY 13108
315.673.0706
[email protected]
www.melissajean.net
Booth # 48
Unplanned Peacock Studio
Natasha Laity Snyder – owner
1585 Stanley Branch Road
Ferrum, VA 24088
540.365.2090
[email protected]
www.unplannedpeacock.com
Booth # 45
Cosy Knits (literally) &
Fibernyph Dye Works
Cosette Cornelius-Bates
2361 Sherbrook St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.805.6329
[email protected]
www.cosymakes.com
Booth # 49
Sheepish Creations
Pam Bates – owner
14631 Hillmoor Ln
Huntersville, NC 28078
608.385.4272
[email protected]
www.sheepishcreations.com
etsy.sheepishcreations.com
Booth # 54
StevenBe – Yarn Garage
Steven Berg – owner
3448 Chicago Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55047
612.259.7525
[email protected]
www.stevenbe.com
www.yarngarage.com
Lisa Beamer – owner
419 Hemlock Rd.
Trafford, PA 15085
412.965.3362
[email protected]
www.fibernymph.com
Booth # 50
Coloratura Yarns/Grace’s
Mercantile
Dorea Tomlinson – owner
4427 Lawrence Rd
Baltimore, Ohio 43105
740.503.3986
[email protected]
www.coloraturayarns.com
Booth # 46
Burgh Baby Gear
Maggie Broderick – owner
6405 Forward Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
412.421.9736
[email protected]
www.burghbabygear.com
Booth # 55
A B-ewe-tiful Design
Jane Bigelow &
Jill Bigelow-Suttell – owners
Gregory, MI 48137
[email protected]
www.b-ewe-tiful.com
Booth # 56
Crochet by Faye
Robyn Chachula – owner
4322 Winterburn Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15207
[email protected]
www.crochetbyfaye.com
Booth # 51
Friends & Fiberworks
Lisa Mackey – owner
800 Brevard Rd.
Asheville, NC 28806
828.633.2500
[email protected]
www.friendsandfiberworks.com
5
Booth # 57
The Flaming Ice Cube
Michele Barratt – owner
1449 Boardman-Canfield Rd.
Boardman, OH 44512
330.726.4766
[email protected]
www.flamingice.com
Booth #s 58 & 59
Susan’s Fiber Shop
Susan’s Fiber Shop
N250 Hwy A
Columbus, WI 53925
920.623.4237
[email protected]
Booth #s 60, 61, 62
Brooks Farm Yarn
Sherry & Randall Brooks – owners
412 Red Oak Dr.
Lancaster, TX 75146
972.227.1593
[email protected]
www.brooksfarmyarn.com
Booth # 63
B’ewe’tiful Knits Yarn Boutique
Shelley Shaeffer – owner
22586 Rt. 68
Clarion, PA 16214
814.229.1598
[email protected]
www.bewetifulknits.com
Booth #64
Your Beading Heart
220 Pennsylvania Ave.
Irwin, PA 15642
724.861.9687
[email protected]
www.yourbeadingheart.net
Booth # 65
Mother Frogging Yarns
Kristen Monaco – owner
5 Garden Ct.
Saugerties, NY 12477
845.417.8715
[email protected]
www.motherfroggingyarns.com
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Hog Heaven Rescue Farm
Hog Heaven will be checking your bags & coats and winding skeins.
Your kind donation will support the animals at their farm.
ABOUT HOG HEAVEN
Hog Heaven Rescue Farm began in 1998 and was incorporated &
established as a not for profit registered 501(c)(3) hoofed animal rescue in 2000. This rescue is a long time dream come true for the
founders, Regina Martin and David Allman. You can access more info
at: hogheavenrescue.org.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Hog Heaven Rescue Farm, is to rescue, rehabilitate
and foster abused, neglected and unwanted hoofed animals. We take
these animals in and provide vet care, feed and farrier care. We work
on getting these animals healthy, physically, emotionally &. socially.
Then adopt them out to loving forever homes. The farm operates on
the funds provided by the co founders, as well as from increasingly
generous community donations.
ABOUT US
David Allman and Regina Martin are both retired Pittsburgh Police
Officers that opted for a life in the country. We love taking care of the
animals and are rewarded many times over by a nicker, a whinny, and
an even a kiss now and then. Regina and David are certified in Large
Animal Emergency Rescue &. Response.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe that the animals God has put in our hands need to be taken
care of when their life turns bad. Horses, donkeys and mules have
been instrumental in our lives as far back as you care to look. You can
find them working beside man and providing whatever assistance
needed in the bible, the wars, and working the fields. We feel that
mankind owes them a good life.
OUR PURPOSE
Our purpose is to provide food, water, shelter and veterinary care to
any hoofed animal that were abused, neglected, injured, sick, slaughter bound, or when owners can no longer keep or care for them. We
assist with cruelty investigations in cooperation with local humane
societies and law enforcement. We also work with other rescues, horse
clubs and facilities such as PIVSU rescue, to help place these orphan
animals into new loving and caring homes. We are an endowments to
keep going for as long as it is needed to serve the animals, all volunteer organization filled with caring individuals.
OUR GOAL
Our goal is to help as many animals as possible. To attempt to alleviate or eliminate abuse, through education and awareness by promoting humane ethics. And to relieve suffering and provide for humane
treatment of all animais in need. It us our hope that someday, organizations like ours are no longer needed. We also have dreams to keep
HHRF open after our demise so our goal is to get endowments to keep
HHRF going for as long as it is needed to serve the animais.
In Memory:
We have lost 3 lovely women who had a
great impact on the yarn world and
many people. They will be sadly missed:
Carole Klein, Rainbow Mills
Karrie Steinmetz, Knitpurlgurl
Judi Ann Worthington, Knit n' Kneedle
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Spotlight:
KATHY ZIMMERMAN
”
”
”
Kathy Zimmerman, one of the most
respected designers in the Knit and
Crochet field, attended her first formal
gathering of knitters at the 1986 national convention of the Knitting Guild of
America. There she was inspired by
teachers Marilyn Ibele, Evie Rosen, and
Maggie Righetti, and joined a sisterhood of knitters that went
on to spawn vast networks such as Ravelry.
When Kathy returned home to Ligonier, PA, she formed the
Laurel Highlands Knitting Guild Chapter and to this day
serves as its president. Her store in Ligonier has been in existence for over thirty years in a location she shares with her
husband, Tim, who runs an appliance repair business and is
also the webmaster of Kathy’s Web site, Kathy’s Kreations,
and its shipping manager.
"Thank you Kathy, for all of the kindness,
support and inspiration you have shown me
along my path. I love you!"
Barb Grossman, Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet
Festival Organizer
Kathy credits Kristin Nichols as
her greatest inspiration, with her
wonderful sense of color and intricate stitch pattern work. Kristin
was the creative director of
Classic Elite Yarns in the 80’s and
90’s and continues to be a creative
force in needle arts today. Kathy
began her designing career by
knitting model garments for Classic Elite and contributing her
own ideas to their pattern collections. Kristin was her mentor,
recommending Kathy’s work to Knitter’s Magazine and other
industry publications.
"Kathy is the knitting professional we all aspire
to be--a deeply creative designer with an endless
supply of fascinating ideas; a consummate
technician, who pays attention to all the little
details that can make or break a sweater; and a
way of making classics seem fresh and modern."
Eunny Jang, Editor, Interweave Knits and
knit.wear magazines
Through Kristin, Kathy met Michelle Rose Orne, who Kathy
believes had the greatest influence on her as a designer. Kathy
assisted Michelle as a test knitter for several years before
beginning her own design career. From Michelle she learned
how to unify the various stitchwork aspects of a garment, how
to work with schematics and charts, and how to write a proper knitting pattern. Most of all, Michelle helped Kathy learn
what it takes to succeed as a professional in the yarn industry.
Kathy is also grateful to Alice Starmore whose Aran and
Fisher Gansey classes reinforced her interest in cable and texture designs.
"Kathy Zimmerman's classic patterns are a great
fit with Kraemer Yarns classic American yarns.
Kathy is not only a true professional and a
pleasure to work with; but is also a great friend
and part of the Kraemer family."
David Schmidt, President
Kraemer Yarns
“I am a huge Kathy Zimmerman fan! As a
consumer I find her designs absolutely beautiful.
As an editor her patterns and instructions are
accurate. Her passion for knitting is obvious in
all that she does.”
Rick Mondragon, Editor
Knitter's Magazine
Kathy designs one to two
sweaters per month, as well as
countless accessories. She is
blessed to have the support of
an understanding husband and
a staff of knitters who help her
with the hands-on work. Her
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She Never Met a Cable She Didn’t Like
favorite vintage design is “The English Gardeners,” which
was featured in Classic Elite’s British Collection as a man’s
raglan, all-over cable pullover and won an award for design
excellence.
Her favorite design today? It’s the one on the needles or the
one waiting to be published. Her latest design will be introduced at this year’s Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival. The
“Sock knitting teaches us to take
one step at a time–cuff, heel, foot,
toe–and not to be overwhelmed by
the big picture.”
Published quote by Kathy Zimmerman from
A Good Yarn, by Debbie Macomber
“CONGRATULATIONS TO KATHY ZIMMERMAN! All of us at The Knitting Guild Association are
pleased to congratulate Kathy Zimmerman on her
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pittsburgh
Knit & Crochet Festival! Kathy was an early member
of TKGA – her member number is #1622 (TKGA now
has nearly 10,000 members)! She is a TKGA Master
Knitter and her designs have appeared in our Cast On
magazine pages. Kathy’s Kreations has exhibited in
TKGA Conferences, and Kathy has also been an
active member and president of the Laurel Highlands
Knitting Guild #26 now has which has been affiliated
with TKGA since July 1986. Kathy is one of the
wonderful shining stars of our knitting world! Again,
congratulations!”
project is a “signature piece” women’s, all-over honeycomb
cable and rib pullover called “Connected.” This self-published pattern will be available for purchase at Kathy’s booths
(#2 and #3). While you’re there, she will be happy to autograph her free pattern that appears in this program for you.
During Kathy’s spare time (when she’s not facing a deadline),
she enjoys reading. Her favorite author is Debbie Macomber,
whom she considers a friend. In the final chapter of A Good
Yarn, Debbie includes a quote from Kathy: “Sock knitting
teaches us to take one step at a time—cuff, heel, foot, toe—
and not to be overwhelmed by the big picture.” But Kathy’s
all-time favorite quote comes from Ann Bud, Interweave editor: “Kathy never met a cable she didn’t like.” This quote
appears at the end of Kathy’s DVD, Knitting Daily Workshop:
Classic Creative Knit Cables with Kathy Zimmerman.
”
Penny Sitler, Executive Director and
Debby Johnston, Member Program
Coordinator, TKGA
Kathy enjoys vacationing at Cape May, New Jersey, where
she draws inspiration for her designs from the Victorian architecture. She also loves to knit for
hours on end, with her Siamese cat,
Karli, on her lap.
“Kathy Zimmerman has made such timeless
contributions to knitters throughout the years.
Kathy once told me she sees cable patterns
everywhere she goes, and that gives her so many
ideas for gorgeous sweater patterns! Besides
being a joy to work with, Kathy has been an
inspiration to all of us at Classic Elite Yarns.”
Kathy’s vintage designs will be
showcased in the Revolving Trunk
Show at the Pittsburgh Knit and
Crochet Festival. We hope you will
take the time to see these designs,
as well as her newest designs,
which are featured at her booth.
Betsy Perry, Owner & President
Classic Elite Yarns
www.classiceliteyarns.com
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