Learn from Great Arts Teachers

Angela Schneider is a weaver, spinner, knitter, and enthusiast for all textile structures from the common to the esoteric. She has degrees in engineering, math, and art, and a Master Spinner certificate from Olds College, Alberta. Angela worked in the tech industry as a programmer, network engineer, and trainer, and is now the Project Editor for Long Thread Media.

Henri Benard is a dynamic musician and educator based in Phoenix, Arizona, best known as the drummer for Okilly Dokilly, the internationally recognized “Ned Flanders-themed metal band” that has toured worldwide and garnered a passionate fanbase. His explosive drumming and high-energy performances have been central to the band’s distinctive sound and cult success.

I am a TEFL-certified ESL educator currently based in Japan, where I work as an Assistant Language Teacher inside Japanese public schools every day. I serve as the lead teacher across all elementary grades and co-teach at junior high school level which means my teaching practice is active, current, and grounded in real classrooms rather than theory.

Amelia Garripoli spins, weaves, cranks, and nalbinds her way through fiber festivals across America. Teacher, author, and fiber instigator, she sparks creativity in workshops, guilds, Zoom, articles, videos, and her books Productive Spindling and Power Spinning. A childhood immersed in needle arts led to a lifelong love of fiber arts. Find her at askthebellwether.com

Jenn Lampen is a passionate knitter, instructor, and knitwear designer who publishes under Synaptic Stitches—a name inspired by her background in neuroscience and her love of innovative, brain-teasing knitting techniques. She specializes in brioche knitting patterns that challenge and inspire, helping knitters gain confidence while creating stunning, textural designs.

My experience teaching both in-person and online has strengthened my ability to make complex concepts accessible through any medium. I prioritize a warm, professional atmosphere in which students can take risks, express themselves authentically, and experience the joy and discipline of artistic practice.

Geri creates mixed media art from her studio in Tennessee, teaches internationally, and her winning art is in museum collections. She was awarded an Appalachian Craft and Culture Fellowship at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts and has taught at John Campbell Folk School for 19 years.

I am an architect with experience teaching technical and design studio courses in several higher education venues. I bring my experience of geometry and writing design syllabi to my pattern writing, and my love of connecting with people to my teaching opportunities. My size-inclusive patterns are mostly modular designs, and mostly garter stitch!

TahNibaa Naataanii is a traditional Diné woman, representing the Many Hogan Clan and Coyote Pass Clan. She hails from Table Mesa and Toadlena, New Mexico. TahNibaa was introduced to Navajo weaving by her mother, Sarah H. Natani at 7 years old. She learned to weave stripes first, then advanced to complex patterns.

Fiber arts has been a life-long passion. When I was only 14 years old, I took fiber classes at my local Art Museum. Imagine my surprise when some of my pieces were displayed in the museum store! I was smitten. Though I was never without fiber work in one form or another, I didn’t find my way to knitting until 2000.