Embracing Fiber Arts: A Journey of Learning and Creativity

Fiber arts have always been a part of my life, woven into my earliest memories. My grandmother’s quilting setup in the basement, her black Singer sewing machine, and the giant thread cones on her serger fascinated me as a child. She gave me my first cross-stitch kit in the late ’80s or early ’90s—a cat with a red oval hoop. I still have it somewhere, tucked away in a box. My first quilt was a chessboard made from blue fabric and white bows, likely remnants from a dress she sewed for me. I’ve held onto so many of the clothes she made, like my favorite jumpsuit with fake paint splatters—my “painter’s outfit.”

My family’s legacy in fiber arts runs deep. My great-grandmother quilted, and the oldest quilt in our family dates back to the 1850s, brought over in a covered wagon. Both my grandmother and mom continues to quilt and embroider, and my aunt has taken quilting to an artistic level, creating stunning art quilts. Their work has inspired me throughout my life.

I started with that first cross-stitch kit and expanded to quilting, Renaissance costumes, embroidery, crochet, and even tried knitting. While crochet remains my favorite, I’ve dabbled in it all. But it’s always been a side hobby. I’m someone who collects hobbies—and sometimes just the tools for them—but I’m ready to dive deeper.

Professionally, I’ve spent 20 years in education, working in registrar’s offices and curriculum management. I have a doctorate in educational leadership, and my research focused on student pathways through curriculum. Now, I want to apply that same methodical approach to learning fiber arts. I’ve searched for structured training opportunities, but they’re scarce. The San Francisco School of Fine Arts has an amazing program, but it’s expensive and not feasible for me. So, I’m creating my own learning journey, combining my passion for fiber arts with my expertise in curriculum design.

I’m breaking this journey into modules, each with a competency-based approach. For each topic—knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, weaving, spinning—there will be introduction, intermediate, advanced, and mastery levels. Mastery projects will be capstone-style, pulling everything together. This isn’t a quick process; it’s a years-long journey, but that’s the fun part. I’m an amateur, and that’s okay. Being an amateur means being a learner, exploring, and discovering.

I’m documenting this journey through videos, blog posts, and visual stories, sharing resources like online courses, books, and in-person classes. I want to highlight the small, local stores and communities that offer the best resources. Joann’s may be leaving, but the heart of fiber arts is in these small, creative spaces.

I’m hoping to build a community around this journey. Learning is more fun and effective when we share our experiences and knowledge. If you’re interested in fiber arts—whether it’s knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing, weaving, or spinning—I’d love for you to join me. Let’s embrace the frustration that comes with learning new skills, grow together, and have fun experimenting.

This is a journey of creativity, learning, and community. I’m excited to see where it takes us.