theKnitster ............... for the fiber artist in everyone

While growing up in the Seattle Area, I enjoyed learning crafts from my mother and grandmothers. I started crocheting when I was 7 and attempted (clumsily) to knit soon after. I continued to crochet, embroider, weave, spin, dye wool, create jewelry, and sculpture and throw pottery through my high school years. I went to the University of Washington and earned a B.S. in Occupational Therapy and a B.A. in Psychology. During my programs, I added spinning, basketry, origami, woodworking and quilting to my repertoire. Soon after I graduated, I took a knitting class and realized that I was a “picker” and not a “thrower”. I have enjoyed knitting ever since. I worked in the Seattle Area as an Occupational Therapist for 10 years until I met and married my husband Tom Johnston. I relocated to Anchorage and continued working as an O.T. until the births of my daughters, Kaitlyn and Emily. Both of my girls are now in school and also love doing arts and crafts like mom. I work part-time as a peer navigator, and as a knitting and crocheting instructor. My hope is that I can pass on my love for creating with fiber through teaching knitting and crocheting.