Keith Leonard began his knitting journey when he joined a lunch time knitting program in elementary school. Once the knitting bug bit, the itch never went away. After graduating from college, he started a knitwear finishing business called Knits All Done, completing hundreds of finishing projects for clients all over the United States. His finishing expertise organically transitioned into teaching knitting classes, and he has taught his skills to thousands of knitters throughout the country. In 2019 Keith started his own yarn line, yarnsnobyarns.com, and he currently spends his days producing astonishingly vibrant skeins to put in the hands of knitters.

Megan Lapp of Crafty Creations

Megan Lapp has been creating creatures since she was small – first using paper and pencil, then out of clay and plaster, and later using fabric and felt, before finding that yarn and hook are the goldilocks medium for her art. She began publishing her own digital crochet patterns in 2017 with one small octopus under her business name of Crafty Intentions, and now has over 200 patterns available digitally and has published four books including Crochet Snails and Mushroom Sprites. 

More information available here: https://linktr.ee/CraftyIntentions

Hello! I’m Gianna,

the artist behind GEMmade Designs. I am a Guelph, Ontario born artist that creates landscapes made entirely from wool. I frame my pieces in unique way by restoring and repurposing antique window frames collected from across Ontario.

My artistic goal is to create a style of artwork full of colour, texture and movement that can add life to any room. I believes a handcrafted piece of art can transform any space into feeling more inviting and special because it brings a high level of craftsmanship and most importantly, a story. 

The roots of my journey as an artist began with my nonno, my beloved grandfather. Nonno was an inspiring model of creativity, from his love of the earth which was in full expression through his impressive vegetable and flower gardens, fruit trees and beautifully manicured lawn to his fondness for drawing simple pictures just for the joy of it. It’s the treasured memories of my time in the garden and countless blissful hours spent sitting at the kitchen table with nonno encouraging me and giving me some drawing instruction that the first seeds of my love of the arts were planted. I’ve been an avid illustrator ever since those early years.

I’m Pam, the creative mind behind Firefly Haven Fibre, located in Southern Ontario, Canada. My journey into the world of yarn and fibre arts began years ago with a simple knitting project, and it quickly grew into a passion for all things fibre.

I love exploring the art of hand-dyeing yarn, creating unique blends of vibrant hues and rich tones inspired by nature and cozy moments. When I’m not dyeing yarn or knitting, you can find me spinning, sewing, designing, teaching, or spending time with my family, usually with a cup of coffee to hand. I’m also an employee and Classes Coordinator at The Little Red Mitten in St. Thomas Ontario. I’m grateful to share my passion with you and be part of this creative community.

Aleks Byrd is a knitwear designer and illustrator whose work reflects a rich blend of heritage and creativity. With roots in the USA, Estonia, and Canada, Aleks draws inspiration from all three cultures, though her Estonian heritage remains a central influence in her designs. She skillfully integrates traditional Estonian knitting techniques into contemporary patterns, creating pieces that are both modern and connected to the past. As a self-proclaimed ambassador for Estonian knitting, Aleks is passionate about preserving these little-known techniques, giving them a fresh, wearable twist that resonates with knitters today. 

In addition to her design work, Aleks shares her expertise through popular workshops, where she teaches these unique methods to knitters of all levels. Her background in illustration adds a distinct visual flair to her knitwear, with a playful use of colour and pattern that makes her designs both enjoyable and rewarding to knit. Her portfolio of designs includes individual patterns as well as those published in The Knitter magazine and Laine Magazine as well as books like her llatest book Traditions Revisited – Modern Estonian Knits. Whether through her patterns or her workshops, Aleks brings a vibrant and accessible approach to traditional knitting, making it exciting for a new generation of makers.