Crafts & Hobbies Lessons in Needham Heights, 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 ...

I learned to play chess from my dad when I was seven. Ever since, I have been playing in national and international chess tournaments. I was a four-time state high school chess champion. I'm an experienced tournament chess player (14 Years) and chess teacher (10 years). I have a masters degree in education from Harvard University. In addition, I have trained as a long distance runner. I was on my high school and college track and cross country team. I continue to run today and train for half-marathons and marathons.

I have taught chess with the US Chess Center in Washington, DC. I have created several after school and in school chess programs in DC, Ohio and Boston. I was a program officer for a small nonprofit that taught chess in hospitals, libraries and schools throughout the Massachusetts area. I have taught chess to both children and adults with a wide range of abilities. I was the Vice President of the Massachusetts Chess Association for 5 years.

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.

At age 11 I achieved the title of Master, and since then have become an International Master (with 1 Grandmaster norm), 5-time National Champion and am currently the #1 18-year-old on the west coast of the United States. Without chess instruction from the most patient, inspiring, and hardworking chess coaches none of this would have been possible.

I began to play chess at 7 years old and after my coach ended our first class by saying, "Every champion was once a beginner" my youthful imagination ran wild and I was hooked. My early development in chess proved to be nontraditional where my structured classes provided by my school were supplemented by the aggressive, unconventional playing styles I learned from spending my weekends sneaking games in with hustlers at my local chess park. Yet learning these vastly different approaches to the game allowed me to become a more complete player, and after 6 weeks of practice, I could beat every kid in my class and almost defeated my coach. ...

With the knitting lessons, we'll start out learning how to prepare your piece, read basic patterns, learn how to cast on and off. We'll go through the basic stitches (knit and purl), and how to use them to make a scarf.

As a sewing instructor, I aim to give beginner and intermediate students the time, attention, and encouragement needed to complete their projects so that they have the best experience possible. My goal is to teach you at your individual pace and level so you are comfortable with your sewing materials and equipment. You will be introduced to the sewing supplies needed at your instructional level such as commercial patterns, sewing kits, sewing machines, and more.

Online students receive a introductory call to discuss project goals and materials needed prior to class.

Look forward to creating with you all!