Kate Atherley (she/her)
Kate is an internationally known knitting author, teacher, and editor. She has written ten books about various aspects of knitting, including a series of four about customizing projects for perfect fit and style. Her latest book, Math for Knitters, aims to help knitters of all levels take control of their projects. It tackles yarn substitution, demystifies gauge, and shows easy ways to handle common number puzzles in pattern reading like “decrease evenly across”; it also offers a practical and very approachable guide to customizing and altering patterns. The combination of her university degree in mathematics, professional experience in software development and usability, and training in garment and fashion design give her a unique perspective. She lives in Toronto with her husband and their rescue dog Winnie.
Alison Cooley (she/her)
Alison began knitting as a teenager, and has long looked to this craft as a source of community, an ongoing chance to learn and challenge herself, and an opportunity to deepen her understanding of handmaking traditions and expression. She comes from the visual arts, and her experiences in gallery and museum education inform how she approaches her teaching: with an adventurous attitude and a strong belief in learning-by-doing.
When she’s not knitting, she finds other ways to keep her hands busy—including writing, ceramics, and nerding out about tabletop games.
Annabel Gomizelj (she/her)
Annabel grew up in Northern England, but made the move across the pond over ten years ago when she inconveniently fell in love with a Canadian. Thankfully her accent is stubbornly sticking around! She now lives in Toronto with her husband, and a beautiful white cloud of a cat named Roudina.
A longtime crocheter, Annabel discovered a talent for knitting while waiting for her immigration papers and has barely put down the needles since. Outside of the store you can find her knitting socks at K-pop concerts, or tracking down the best vegan baked goods in the city.
Annabel is proud of her background in early childhood education. This passion for education can be seen in all her classes, which are taught with patience and enthusiasm! She loves helping her students dive fearlessly into projects and showing them how to discover the endless possibilities a length of yarn can bring.
Shelley Scarrow (she/her)
Shelley began knitting at the age of nine in order to earn a badge for Brownies. She learned from her mother, who learned from her Aunt Mary – because she wanted to earn a badge for Brownies. Shelley still thinks everyone should earn badges for the new skills they learn. Her imaginary sash includes badges for crochet, cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, and theatrical costume design. She finds peace and creativity each time she picks up her needles and loves expanding her skills at every opportunity.
Outside of her fiber arts life, Shelley is a writer, mainly for television. She’s the proud mom of two teen boys who refuse to wear handmade items but still count on her for very specific Halloween costumes.
Amelia Lyon (she/her)
An avid knitter from a young age, Amelia has been teaching students to knit since 2007, first in her living room, and then branching out into stitch nights and yarn stores in Montreal and Toronto. One of her favourite things about fibre arts is being able to customize designs and garments down to every last detail, thus allowing the knitter or crocheter to create exactly what they have in mind. She has spent many hours learning the ups, downs, ins, and outs of how stitches fit together, and excited to pass on what she has learned to as many people as possible.
