Though I learned to knit in childhood, it was not until my homeschooled daughter (then age 9) asked me to learn to knit socks with her that I discovered the wonder of soft engineering that knitting represents. Together, we learned to spin our own yarns and explored the world of felting and weaving. Every technique in the world of knitting can find its place on the tiny and pragmatic sock, which remains a favorite canvas on which to practice my creative craft. My handspun skeins have taken top honors at America's largest fiber festivals and my original sock designs have appeared in print. I also assist with judging for the New York State Fair and teach throughout the northeastern U.S. I always prefer to let "curriculum" play second fiddle to my students' needs and questions and to find a way to translate pattern instructions and techniques into methods that will best serve and make sense to the person making the project. I welcome students to bring in projects that have them stumped or which they're leery of attempting without guidance. I constantly aspire to have students reach beyond a particular technique, color, shape or pattern into the arena of their own creativity.