Our Instructors

Meet Our Instructors

Mary a.k.a. The Color Queen, has had her fingers in fibers since she was a child, sewing her first dress at age 8.  She added knitting to her repertoire as a teen and then much later came weaving and spinning.  Since she learned mostly from books, she can undo as much as she can do.  Areas of special interest include color and ethnic traditions.

Nancy is Knitche’s one and only crochet instructor extraordinaire.  A self-taught crocheter who’s been “hooking” for 33 years, Nancy is willing to help with just about any problem that may arise.  Don’t tell anyone, but she’s also a darn good knitter.

Karen, an expert-level knitter who specializes in lace knitting, is a member of the Illinois Artisans Guild and the West Suburban Knitting Guild.  Karen has designed lace patterns for Lorna’s Laces, Jade Sapphire, Dream in Color, Just Our Yarn and Myrna Stahlman.  Her patterns have garnered awards from the Knitting Guild of America and Stitches (Editor’s Choice 2004).  Karen is a regular contributor to Vogue Knitting magazine. 

Janet is an experienced yoga teacher.  Her calm, soothing and nurturing nature works perfectly in the fiber arena. 

Edie's renaissance background includes teaching math and English to middle school and high school students for 8 years, managing a major landscaping company and periodically cooking gourmet meals for the Knitche staff.  Hubby Paul is the frequent beneficiary of Edie's detail-oriented knitting skills which make her a shoe-in for teaching things the right way the first time around.

Crisann is always on the cutting edge of knitwear style.  Having knit professionally for many years, she now prefers to turn her attention to designing and knitting projects that are personally satisfying to herself or her family.  Crisann leads a group of avid knitters in Knit-Along sessions Saturday mornings at Knitche.  Come join her and try to keep up!

Maria makes time for crochet amid her graduate school studies and land reclamation projects.  Although she prefers crocheting motifs, she's not opposed to taking on all sorts of projects and has even extended her skills to include some knitting as well.

Susan's knitting energy is contagious.  Coming from an extremely creative background in dance performance and choreography, Susan always brings a dramatic flair to her knitting.  Her current exploits span the gap between intricate eastern European patterns to trendy patterns befitting her "tweenage" daughters.

Theresa's  mother taught her to knit mittens without a pattern at age 7.  In college she knit so many Lopi sweaters she had to start importing her yarn directly from Iceland.  Later, her fiber arts interest turned to sewing, but after retiring from her career to become a full-time mom, she was back to knitting with a vengeance. Her passions include fashion-forward patterns and projects incorporating as many yarns as possible.  Her patterns have been included in Interweave Knits and Knitters magazines and Bag Style published by Interweave Press.

Kathy has personally made more than 100 felted purses, one of which was featured in Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader’s “Hip Handbags.”  In addition to her self-published "Knitche" patterns, she has also been published in books and calendars from Interweave Press and Accord Publishing.  As a busy shop owner and mother, these days her biggest sense of pride comes from assisting others in yarn and project choices and living vicariously through the successes of all of Knitche’s terrific knitters!

Knitche Address: 5150 Main Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: 630-852-5648          FAX: 630-852-5645
Send mail to kathy@knitche.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 9/21/10 Copyright © 2010 Knitche