Recently we’ve welcomed a few new faces to the Lion Brand Yarn Studio, and we wanted you all to get a chance to meet them.  We also bid a fond farewell to our own James, a published author, who is returning to the world of publishing and to work on his writing.

We thought a great way for you to meet the whole staff was to take a moment & give you a glimpse of what the staff of the Lion Brand Yarn Studio has on their hooks & needles.

PATTY:

I first learned to knit when I was a kid.  Like so many kids, I learned knit, purl, made some boring scarves, and never kept going.  In 2001 I became (as the Yarn Harlot would say) a knitter with a capital K.  I fell in love and have not gone one day without needles in my hand since.  I’m working on two Toe Up Socks for new Studio Workshops .  The little red one is out of Wool-Ease and it will be the sample for Toe Ups Socks - Level 1 class (short row), and the larger sock is out of Sock-Ease is for Toe Up Socks - Level 2 (slip stitch gusset heel).  I am also working on a tank top  for my niece (who insisted on choosing her own colors!) out of my personal favorite, Cotton-Ease .  Next up for me, a tank top out of LB Collection Silk Mohair . . . mmmm, yummy.

WILL:

I learned to knit from my mother when I was about 8 years old. I made my first sweater when I was 16 and I have been working in the yarn world for the last 7 years. I used to knit sweaters all the time, but right now I am a graduate student studying literature at Fordham University and that limits my knitting time somewhat so I have been knitting socks constantly. I love socks because they are small, portable, wearable, and so comfortable especially during a cold New York winter. The sock I am working on at the moment is the coriolis sock from Cat Bordhi’s New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I am using my favorite Lion Brand Yarn, the LB Collection Superwash Merino in the Denim and Mahogany colors. They are excellent!

MICHELLE:

I’m Michelle, and I moved up to NY from DC last September. I mostly enjoy knitting pieces with a lot of texture, lace, or cables. I also crochet, and my latest obsession is Amigurumi . I’m pictured with a wee Corporate Zombie from the book Creepy Cute Crochet made up in the Cotton-Ease . He’s a present for James, our former assistant manager, who is a big fan of the idea of crocheted zombies. Since this little guy is finished now, I’m currently working on a cabled vest from the latest KnitScene in the Wool-Ease .

TRACEY:

Greetings I’m Trace and I have worked at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio since before we officially opened! I prefer to knit and crochet fine gauge garments on sizes 00-6 needles and A-G hooks. Of course I have a lot of projects going on-a knitted dress, a shawl, a crocheted blouse, a cowl, a scarf………… Everybody knows that my absolute favorite colors are those of Autumn leaves-so as a friendly challenge, our very own Will has picked a color out of my comfort zone for me! That’s why I’m knitting this V-neck top, The Fitted Top in psychedelic lime green (Microspun color Lime) Will’s favorite colors are Black and Grey-he has yet to make that Cotton-Ease Seaspray colored scarf! I’m still waiting……….LOL!!!!

CLAIRE:

Hi, I’m Claire, and I’ve also worked at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio since before we officially opened! My co-workers like to refer to me as the "beret queen" - I admit, for a while I was perhaps a little obsessed - but as you can see, I knit more than just hats! This is my first sweater in a while, and my first from the top down. So far I’m loving it; it’s easy to try on as you go, hardly any purling, and best of all, very little seaming!! I love working with Cotton-Ease , it’s such a soft and squishy yarn!

Of course I have more than one project going at a time. Right now I’m also working on an afghan out of Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton , a shawl/wrap/scarf with the new LB Collection Silk Mohair , and yes, a beret done in Sock-Ease . I just taught myself how to crochet a few months ago, and now I’m busy making cute little Amigurumi for every occasion I can think of!

ANDREA:

Hi, I’m Andrea. The sweater you see me working on is the Fair Isle Wrap Cardigan, in Wool-Ease from the recent issue of "KnitScene." I enjoy patterns with Fair Isle or lace work, since they keep me from getting bored with the projects. (I save all my Stockinette pieces for watching all my shows in the evenings! ) I rarely make accessories because they’re finished too quickly - I like projects that last. (Knitting them is the best part, anyways!)

When I’m not knitting, which is rarely, I’m exploring this amazing city, cooking, or am in class at NYU (but I always manage to bring my knitting to lectures, too. )

GINA:

Hi, I’m Gina! After growing up in Syracuse, NY and living in Boston for several years, I moved to Astoria last September and have been attempting to get my NYC bearings ever since. I’m a hard-core crocheter and am obsessed with designing weird, twisted, googly-eyed monsters that dominate my apartment and threaten to eventually take over the entire building. In this photo is Lizzer, a little chameleon/seal monster that I made with Rainbow Falls-colored Moonlight Mohair yarn. He is the first project in my attempt to crochet a new monster every day, which you can follow at my blog, anotherdayanothermonster.wordpress.com .

GILLIAN:

I studied textile design at the Rhode Island School of Design where I was introduced to the world of machine knitting. I love to play on the knitting machine to create exciting patterns, textures and shapes. I enjoy the speed and consistency you can achieve when working on a machine, which allows for quick material and stitch experimentation. I have been hand knitting since the second grade and attribute my affinity for the craft to my mom who has a wonderful collection of 80’s knitting magazines and inspirational books.

The project I am working on is the Lion Brand Green Living Tote , in Lion Cotton , color Mustard. It is a great design for the hot month of August!

Tags: staff

This entry was posted on Monday, August 24, 2009 at 10:46 am and is filed under On Our Needles & Hooks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.