Wild Purls Teachers
We pride ourselves on the excellent quality of our teachers at Wild Purls. Learning how to knit or crochet is a life long interest and we make sure our classes are inviting, comfortable, informative, and most of all fun. Get to know our teachers and come take a class!
Katie Bitterman loves knitting with 2 colors so much that she can’t wait to share how magnificent her mittens really are. Come learn why this pattern is so ingenious and beautiful.
Becky Bales loves to design, knit and feed her sheep. We can’t wait for the next Mystery Shawl because who doesn’t love a good mystery? What could this one reveal?
Karen Norton (soon to be Mickelson) is fast approaching her wedding date to the very lucky, Dean Mikelson. She will wear her hand knit Rose Lace Shawl for the occasion and promises to share a photo or two with anyone who asks. When you see her new name in the class schedule, remember she is the crazy sock knitter she has always been.
Katie Brown started knitting several months before her daughter was born and has a marked fondness for lace & textured knits. Now, her baby is a full fledged toddler, Katie’s taught her to wind yarn and is wondering who’s been coloring on her lace charts with crayons. Any guesses?
Linda Shelhamer has 4 kids, 11 grand children and still finds time to dye yarn, spin and design knitting patterns. She loves patterns with technique but are easy to memorize.
Cindy Dell loves sharing her ideas. She is enrolled in the Master Knitter Series. She has passed level 1and is in the middle of level 2. She hopes to complete both Level 2 and 3 this coming year.
Linda Heins an art grad from EMC has a strong background in color and loves to work color into every project. Look for some strong examples in her classes this fall.
Becky Price really enjoys watching her students get it in her classes. Once they get it, she enjoys seeing them get excited to go on to new projects.
Toni Little is our resident crochet teacher. Come learn the basics using only 1 hook. You’ll hear Toni saying, ―So many stitches, so little time.
Martha Frankel started her embroidery career at age 6, and as a teenager in the 60s, embroidered nearly everything that moved. Martha’s business, Thistle Handwerks, is a textile business offering hand embroidered linens using naturally dyed silks. Her fragrant sachets are currently for sale at Wild Purls.
Hannah Knick lives with her family on a small farm south of Laurel. She grows ornamental willows, grasses, dogwood and vegetables for local shops and nurseries. In the winter, her focus is creating patterns for needle felted birds and flowers native to Montana.
Kassi Fleury is the creator of ―Rumour Has It, the adorable crochet hats and accessories at Wild Purls for kids or the kid at heart. She is excited to teach a few crochet techniques and get more knitters comfortable with hooks.
Janet Miller has found since taking a full time job she has re-discovered the pleasures of simple, uncomplicated knitting that results in simply elegant garments. Knitting for Janet has become like yoga: meditative, relaxing and satisfying.
Saralee Sanders has knit and crocheted since she was 8 years old. She is the mother of 5, grandmother of 14 and great grandmother of 1. She certainly has plenty of heads, feet and shoulders to cover! And that’s why you’ll always see she has projects going at all times.
Beth Casey is the owner of Lorna’s Laces in Chicago, IL. Last year, Beth presented such a fun and popular dyeing workshop, that she is back again by popular demand. Come learn the art of dyeing yarn the Lorna’s way. Join this fun workshop and learn how you can ―Make String Pretty‖ too.