Nancy Wheeler, of Knit Sip Happy is our January speaker!


Nancy is a passionate knitter with a love for socks! She has knit over 400 pairs! Her sock patterns are easy to knit but engaging and fun, but not complicated. Driven by a desire for both the enjoyment of knitting and the need for a great fit, Nancy loves to talk about modifications and empowering you to customize your knitted items. She actively shares her passion through her YouTube channel, teaching workshops and participating in local knitting communities.


Deanne Fitzpatrick, of Deanne Fitzpatrick Studio, our December Speaker


Deanne Fitzpatrick is a renowned artist and writer who believes that rug hooking and creativity deepens and enriches lives. She has exhibited widely, including two solo exhibits at The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Deanne has written eight books, received an honorary doctorate from Mount Saint Vincent University and was awarded The Order of Canada for her contribution to advancement rug hooking as an art form.

Anna Hunter, of Long Way Homestead, our October Speaker

Anna Hunter is a first-generation sheep farmer and wool mill owner in Eastern Manitoba, Treaty One Territory. She is passionate about building community and connecting rural fibre farmers with urban consumers, fibre artists, and crafters. Anna believes that regenerative agriculture and climate-beneficial food and clothing are integral to moving forward as farmers, fibre artists and Manitobans, and she is passionate about growing a vibrant Canadian wool industry. Her first book Sheep, Shepherd and Land,  came out in 2023. And her Bestselling book The True Cost of Wool released in June 2025.  Learn more about Anna and her farm and wool mill at longwayhomestead.com.

Sarah Schira, #NeverNotGnoming, our September Speaker

Sarah Schira is a Canadian knitting designer who loves gnomes. A lot.

To her delight, thousands of knitters around the world have been #NeverNotGnoming with her. When Sarah’s not knitting gnomes, she’s working on knitting accessories for everyday adventures, filming tutorials for her YouTube channel, and planning cycling trips. 

Dawn Barker of Barker Wool, our May Speaker

Dawn Barker is a wool dyer and knitwear designer known for her innovative work in assigned pooling, rhythmic slipped stitch colorwork, texture knitting, and color theory for knitters. Her designs are characterized by clean, modern shapes, featuring classic, deeply saturated colors. A lifelong fiber enthusiast with a background in fine arts, Dawn founded Barker Wool in 2017, where she shares her hand-dyed yarns and unique knitting designs. She enjoys balancing the creative freedom of dyeing with the structured discipline of designing practical, wearable knitwear. Residing in Amarillo, Texas with her husband and two sons, Dawn continues to push the boundaries of knitting, leaving an indelible mark on the worldwide fiber community.