Crafts & Hobbies Lessons in Elmwood, MA. It's your time.

I began knitting when I was twelve years old; I sat beside my neighbor, Mrs. Turner, and listened to her stories while I watched her wooden straight needles move expertly along, clacking-clacking in counterpoint to the crackling of the wood in the corner stove. Mrs. Turner had a laid back approach to teaching knitting. The point of knitting wasn't simply to produce a useful item: it was to enjoy the process. If you made a mistake, just unmake it and try again. The worst that could happen was you would end up with two sticks and some string.

When you're twelve, life is filled with drama. Knitting was not. It has always been a meditative, nurturing retreat. There have been times in my life when I've knitted more, times when I've knitted less. But the lessons I learned from knitting have served me well over the years: patience, perseverance, and keeping it all in perspective.

I'd love to share this craft with someone else. Come, learn to knit and see what else you might learn ...

Go at your own pace and have fun are my knitting mottos! I teach continental style knitting and have been teaching beginners to knit for over 5 years. Together we'll experience the excitement that comes when you cast on something new, learn a new stich, or finish a favorite project.

I'm can start with the basics (cast on, knit stitch, purl stitch) or jump straight into helping on a project you have planned (or started and got stuck on? don't worry - it happens to all of us!). There is no limit to the kind or number of projects we can do. I have plenty of project ideas and am always happy to help with your ideas, too.

I'm excited o share my knowledge based on a combination of approaches of US CHESS SCHOOL AND SCHOLASTIC CENTERS and SOVIET SCHOOL AND STANDARDS incorporated with Eastern philosophy principles and original ideas that will help you to get a broader chess basis understanding and not only gain an advantage over the opponents but to get better control and understanding of decision-making processes and life flow principles.

Beginning students can expect to learn piece movement, game rules, point value, notation, opening theory, pawn structure, en passant, check v. Checkmate v. Stalemate, pawn promotion, castling, and more. Intermediate students can expect to quickly refresh on all the above as well as learn techniques like pins, forks, skewers, discovered check, double threat, advanced openings, end game theory, tournament prep, and so much more.

I have been crocheting since I was seven years old. I have made hundreds of projects. I specialize in baby apparel but I also make specialty items such as: purses, scarves, beanies, headbands, and blankets. There isn't much I cannot make with a pattern by my side.

This is perhaps my favorite subject to teach. There are such a variety of things you can do with the most basic of stitches, which students can then build upon depending on their interests. My goal for my students to walk away with a confidence in creating their own designs, with techniques tailored to their specific aesthetic goals.

*No machine embroidery.