All About Fiona |
It started way back 2006 when I wandered into a LYS in my home of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. I decided to take a learn to knit class, and fell in love at first stitch! From the jump I wanted to learn everything there was to know about this craft. Within a few weeks of my first class I was working at the store, and a couple months later I was teaching. As I became more involved in the yarn community, I started to be invited to teach and speak at other yarn stores, community groups and fibre events. I have continued to work and teach at Unwind Yarn House for almost 17 years.
I began designing very early in my knitting career which eventually led to pattern writing, and the creation of Fiona Stevenson Designs. I started Like a Fox Woolery to showcase my designs which developed into a small online yarn retail business. With Like a Fox I began to do trunk shows and fibre arts festivals which eventually led to me organizing fibre arts events. My first retreats were called Pines & Needles where we hosted 35-40 guests. A few years later I founded the Opinicon Knit Weekend (Opiknit) which quickly filled up with over 60 knitters, and is currently the planning stages to add a second yearly retreat in spring. Through the Opiknit weekend I've had the experience of organizing a very successful fibre arts market that opened to the local community as well as retreat knitters. I've created a lively online presence on Facebook and Instagram which led to writing for the online knitting magazine, Knitmuch.com. I've been sharing my knitting experience with their readers for almost two years. I continue to learn and grow with this beautiful knitting community I've found, and I look forward to a lot more lovely wooly adventures in the future! |
I am sure if you looked up ‘Yarn Whisperer’, there would be the name Fiona Stevenson.
She is, without a doubt, one of the finest knitting educators I have had the pleasure of meeting on my yarn journey.
Fiona is able to provide an excellent forum for learning, from her patterns that give such clear and concise instruction, in a friendly and welcoming environment (just like her!), with an intuitive understanding of her students issues - yarn or pattern - no matter how garbled the question. Thank you for your patience, Fiona!
I continue to enroll in her classes, always learning something new - whether pattern lingo, yarn, tension or technique. And truthfully, how often does one get to learn from the designer herself?
I highly recommend grabbing your ‘sticks’ and jumping into a project - with her expertise, you will enjoy every stitch along the way. "
~ Trudy N.