About Me…
Andrea grew up in an artful home, so it seems reasonable that she would choose fashion design as her field of study. However, upon graduating college in said field, she promptly went into the restaurant industry, thus proving once again, what a short attention span she has. After that, and many other careers and a family with three children later, she finally embarked on the path she is following today in the fiber and craft fields. In 2004, Andrea heard the call of the yarn and hasn’t looked back.
The last four years were spent at Knitters Mercantile. While there, she found the love of teaching and met her friend and sister in designing, Kathryn. Together they formed Quirky Bird Knits in 2012. When Jan decided to retire and close the Merc, Andrea knew she wanted to do something in her beloved yarn industry. After many ideas and the prompting of her very, very supportive awesome husband, Joe (please note the not so shameless plug for how wonderful he really is), Andrea knew what she wanted to do….start a knit studio. Timely entry of Jennifer from stage left and, voila, you have 614 Knit studio.
Instructor Q&A
How did you first learn to knit?
I tried learning from my mom three years in a row but only saw her a few days a year. So after the third time I got a DVD out of the library and watched it over and over again with my daughter. I kept staring at the lady’s nails (they were very long) and kept wondering how she could knit with them.
What’s the first thing you ever knit?
After I finally learned correctly, a rust colored garter stitch scarf out of Lion Brand Thick and Quick. I believe my son still has it and wears it. He is most knitworthy.
What’s your best knitting memory?
After I learned to knit correctly, I became a woman obsessed and made about 36 scarves in about 9 weeks. All with novelty yarns, of course ;)
What’s your best funny knitting story?
Somewhere, somehow, my husband must have listened to me teach someone. I was grumbling one night up in my kitchen about having to rip back to fix a mistake and he yelled up to me from the den: “Embrace the rip!” Yeah, I need to get a t-shirt made for the studio with that one!
What’s on your needles (or hook) right now?
Goodale by Cecily Glowik Macdonald in Berroco Fiora, a sample for the top-down sweater class, a hot pink, neon green and black sockhead hat, a hat that I’m designing, and way too many more to add……
What’s your favorite place to knit?
I like to knit at my kitchen table and I have a special knitting chair in one of my craft rooms. I also knit pretty much wherever I go.
What are your favorite kinds of knitting projects?
I love knitting things that either take a short time to make or can hold my interest longer than the first few rows. I have the attention span of a gnat.
What’s your most irresistible fiber temptation?
Right now, I love sheepy wools like Brooklyn Tweed Shelter or Titus by BaaRamEwe, but give me some nice hand dyed tonals any day.
What’s your best advice for beginners?
Knit a little bit every day and don’t give up.
Why do you love to teach?
I love to spread the love of the yarn. Welcome to the dark side, it’s peaceful and we have cookies.
