2020 TEACHERS
PATTY LYONS
Patty is a nationally-recognized knitting teacher and technique expert known for teaching the “why”, not just the “how” in her pursuit of training the “mindful knitter”. She specializes in sweater design and sharing her love for the much-maligned subjects of gauge and blocking.
STEPHANIE PEARL-MCPHEE
Stephanie returns to KITH for another inspiring “Yarn Harlot” adventure. She is a knitter, teacher, writer and designer who learned to knit at the age of four and never looked back. Stephanie was named “the Michael Jordan of Knitting” on a late night TV talk show and has published several books about knitting and the lives of knitters.
ANN WEAVER
Ann is a writer, editor, artist, knitter and teacher living in Baltimore. Since 2007, she has been designing handknits and teaching knitting across the country. Ann’s goal is to give knitters confidence to try and apply new techniques and approaches.
BEA BONANNO
Bea Bonanno is a fiber artist from Lawrence, Kansas. She primarily
weaves tapestries and wall hangings in her studio and during her free time, She loves knitting for herself and loved ones.
She works at the ever-popular Yarn Barn in Lawrence, on the sales floor and teaching various classes.
MEAGAN CONDON
Meagan Condon is a librarian and fiber artist who has been spinning yarn for over a decade. On top of her experience with spinning, weaving, crochet, and knitting, she is also a woodworker and makes many of her own fiber arts tools. Meagan teaches fiber arts classes both digitally and in person and contributes content to publications including Spin-Off and Ply.
Meagan strives to grow the fiber arts community through digital connection, free and open access to information, and by providing high quality tools and supplies to help artists develop in their skills.
CAROL EDDINGTON
Carol received an MFA in Textile Design from the University of Kansas. She has been teaching knitting and crochet since 2004, as well as designing knitting patterns.
EMMA FAHRLANDER
Emma has been crafting with yarn for over 15 years and teaching crafting with yarn for over five, mostly at Studio Knitting and Needlepoint in Overland Park, Kansas. She is active in the Sunflower Knitter’s Guild and the Fiber Guild of Kansas City, and she gives spinning demonstrations at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival.
A professional writer, Emma writes a fiber blog, “FahrOut Fiber Adventures,” and has self-published designs on Ravelry.
MARY LEE DUFF
Mary Lee has been knitting since she was about 8 years old. In 2013, she started designing and publishing knitting patterns as Fifty Four Ten Studio. Her collection now includes more than 30 blanket designs which feature clean, classic lines. She is a life-long resident of the Kansas City area and several of her patterns are named for local locations. Mary Lee loves helping knitters,
especially beginners, gain confidence in basic knitting skills.
DEBRA LEA
Debra has been knitting and crocheting for more than 50 years (OMG!) and teaching in the greater Kansas City area and at regional conferences for about 25 of those. She is certified by the Craft Yarn Council of America and has had crochet designs published in Interweave Crochet, Crochet World, and in The Crochet Prayer Shawl Companion. Debra is now retired and she lives at Table Rock Lake with her husband and their new dog, Roxie (who may be too smart for them!).
CHRISTINE LONG-DERKS
Christine Long-Derks is the owner of Treasure Goddess Yarn. She is an indie yarn dyer, spinner, knitter, crocheter and pattern designer. Treasure Goddess Yarn can be found on her website at www.TreasureGoddess.com and in yarn shops around the midwest, southeast and Pacific northwest. Christine has a passion for teaching others to combine simple techniques with beautiful yarn to create works of art. Christine will be moving to a new larger studio and will be offering classes and pop up shopping events in Spring Hill, KS, just south of KC.
CHERYL MURRAY
I have been knitting for over 40 years and have been sharing my love of the craft through teaching for the past 15. I entered the world of professional knitwear design in 2006 when my first design was published in Knit Simple magazine. Since then, I've been honored to have my designs featured in Vogue Knitting, Knitters, Creative Knitting, Noro Magazine and multiple books published by Sixth & Spring Books. My passion is stranded colorwork, especially Nordic designs. I’m blessed with a husband & daughter who appreciate knitwear and who rarely complain about every surface in our house being covered by yarn, needles & stitch dictionaries.
SHOW ME YARNS -
CHRISTA KELTNER AND ESTER BOFF
Ester and Christa have been dyeing yarn and fiber for about 9 years using various acid dye techniques. Both have a passion for color and sharing that passion with others. They are two of the three dyers at Show Me Yarn that has been dyeing commercially for 5 years.