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

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.

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 ...

0-15 minutes. Review homework.
16-30 minutes. Learn a new theory (strategy, tactics, endgame, openings, etc).
31-60 minute. Analyze your own games or the ones played by the grand-masters and chess champions and reinforce your knowledge.

I am an experienced knitting teacher and am certified to teach knitting by The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) and the Craft Yarn Council of America. My goal is to educate and preserve for future generations the appreciation of hand knitting as a fiber art that provides stress relief, is a creative outlet, and provides a sense of accomplishment.

I truly enjoy teaching others to knit and have enjoyed 15 years of helping new knitter's confidence soar and creativity grow while teaching knitting in various venues throughout Los Angeles and Orange Counties including Pasadena City College, Monrovia Adult School, the City of Santa Fe Springs, City of Glendale, City of Orange and City of Whittier.

Since 2004 I’ve taught hundreds of people the craft of knitting. While developing a well-organized teaching approach, creating effective lesson plans and fun methods of teaching basic to advanced techniques and sharpening my ability to tailor my teaching skills to fit the needs of all ...