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

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 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.

I'm a Home Economics teacher with 30 years crochet experience. I have skills and strong foundation in handicrafts and specialize in fundamentals of crochet. I typically use inspirational ideas around me and modify them according to my students' needs. I structure my lessons in a way the students will learn what they want to learn without feeling bored.

I'm available for eager students of all ages and experience levels. I would love to work with you and help you learn to master the basics of this needlework. I will also help you build a crochet portfolio that you can use any time as a quick reference guide (and inspiration as well) so you can comfortably make your very own DIY crochet projects!

I have played billiards for over 20 years, with success at many levels. I am a certified educator who also enjoys teaching the art of pool. I have helped many players along the way and I am adept at incorporating useful practice techniques to help my students achieve their goals.

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.