| N E E D L E W O R K S The Premier Needle Arts Shop for Champaign-Urbana and Illinois |
S T A F F ( Sharon, Kate, Matthew, Ray, Kara )(click on an image to see a larger version) | |
Ready to Help  Bullfighting in the Yarn Shop |
Sharon Frazier, ProprietorHi! I'm Sharon Frazier, and I've owned this shop since 1984. Until the summer of 2001, I carried needle point and cross-stitch supplies, but then I was persuaded to stock knitting yarns. Shortly thereafter, I learned to knit, and the rest is history. I'm taking my position behind the counter in the first picture, and I'm taunting my knitters like a bull-fighter in the second. That red sweater, by the way, has a lovely story behind it. A number of customers know of my love of the color red, and they knit this sweater for me as a holiday gift -- and to say "thank you" for all the great yarns in the shop. The yarn, in case you're wondering, is "Elaine" by Schaefer Yarns, which is a merino thick-and-thin, lightly spun, with a nylon binder.Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you. You can email me at needleworksinc@msn.com |
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Kate Winkler, Instructor & SalesHi! I'm Kate Winkler, and I've worked at Needleworks part time since the late 1990's. In addition to general help in the shop and teaching, I also provide custom knitting services, including garment repair.I learned the rudiments of knitting from my mother at age 7 or 8, making slippers and mittens; and in high school, I knitted an Aran pullover, which my eldest daughter is still wearing, some 35 years later. Additionally, all of my children have learned to knit and stitch. In addition, I spin (both wheel and spindle), grow a dye garden, and am learning to weave. I also wear only hand knit socks "because I'm worth it." My Volkswagen Vest received an Honorable Mention in the Knitter's Magazine Kids Contest (and is printed in Kids, Kids, Kids). My knitting life also includes test knitting, model knitting, and self-publishing my own line of knitting and needlework patterns (Designs from Dove Cottage). I also served as the first administrative team leader for the Tips, Tricks, and Techniques section of the Athena Database Project on the Knitter's Magazine web site. In addition to all the other fiber related projects I have going, I am working on the Master Knitter program sponsored by The Knitting Guild of America (TKGA). I usually have knitting on the brain, but what possessed me to wear it on my head when the webmaster was armed with his camera? Please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you. You can email me at needleworksinc@msn.com  |
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Matthew Hesson-McInnis, Webmaster & InstructorHi! I'm Matthew Hesson-McInnis (also known as Hyphen-Boy). I'm the webmaster for this site, and I also teach classes here. In the first picture, I'm doing my very best "Princess Leia" imitation with some "Kid -n- Ewe" by Bryspun. In the second picture, I'm working away on a seaman's scarf (from Myrna Stahman's book) in "Cashmere Colors Fingering Weight" from Cherry Tree Hill Yarn in the "Java" colorway. The scarf is for my sister, Jenny. The sweater I'm wearing is made from "Dyed in the Wool" (now defunct, I'm so very sad to say). This sweater used to be a cardigan, but it stopped fitting. So, I frogged it, reconditioned the yarn, and the only down-side is the increased pilling. C'est la vie. You can see more of my fiber art on my personal web page by clicking here. This site contains several galleries of pictures of sweaters, hats, coverlets, and so forth. Although I've only been knitting since 1987, I've been a bit obsessive-compulsive for even longer, which explains why I have pictures of projects on a web site. Disclaimer: I'm about 5 years behind in uploads... In addition to knitting, I also crochet (mostly lacey things like table cloths), weave, and spin (I just learned in July of 2001, and it's great!). The same summer I learned to spin I also got interested in dyeing fiber, and oh what a pandora's box THAT turned out to be. I'll add a gallery of hand-dyed fibers when I get a chance! My latest big project has been creating my first commercial pattern -- The Modular Shell Felted Backpack -- and I'm busy working away on the next few patterns (coming soon are the Three Left-Turns Shawl and Free-Fingers Mittens. My pattern company is called Hyphen Boy Designs because I tend to be a bit anal-retentive and compulsive about my knitting. Sharon has been gracious enough to stock my first pattern as well. Please let me know if anything is messed up on the website (or if you have ideas for what to add, other than an online store which is a ways off, especially if my "real" boss finds out). You can email me at webmaster@cu-needleworks.com |
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Ray Arseneau, InstructorHello, my name is Ray Arseneau. I am a retired school teacher of 24 years, specializing in sixth grade language arts. I have been knitting off and on for about 50 years. After retiring in 2002, I learned of Needleworks, and I have spent many afternoons there learning and sharing knitting tips. My specialty is Fair Isle knitting. In the shop, we call it "two fisted, two color knitting" to make it sound more masculine. I have been teaching this class since 2002. With a recent surge of interest in knitting, I have been asked to add the beginning knitting class to my repertoire. I am also happy to provide private lessons upon request, and I am available at times that don't meet the class schedule. You can email me at needleworksinc@msn.com |
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Kara Walz, InstructorHi, I'm Kara Walz. I just haven't had time to email the webmaster with my knitting biography (called a "yarnography"). Let's hope he doesn't follow through on the threats to just make one up. You can email me at needleworksinc@msn.com |
| Last Modified on Saturday, May 17, 2008 2:13 PM | Back to the Top of the Page |