It seems like I’ve always been a fiber junkie. My maternal grandmother taught me to sew and crochet when I was a little girl. In the early 1990s, I studied fashion design at Washington University in St. Louis and opened my first fiber-related business - Studio #96 in St. Charles, Missouri. I worked for several years with an artist who painted original designs on silk fabric which I then transformed into clothing that was sold in upscale boutiques across the country. I also designed and sewed clothing for others, including wedding and bridesmaid dresses.

My husband and I purchased and restored a circa-1870’s building in downtown Madisonville, Kentucky in 2003 and it became Black Dog Fiber Studio in 2010. The studio got its name from our sweet black lab, Magic, who used to come to the studio with me. Alas, the storefront closed in June 2019, however I'm still around working from home.

Currently I spin, weave, knit, felt, and dye my own yarns and fabrics which I make into wearable art. I also create sewing patterns. I’ve always derived great joy from creating a design in my mind and then making the materials come alive. Seeing others enjoy my work is icing on the cake.

Black Dog Fiber Studio was not a retail shop with set hours, but I did open the studio for “fiber fellowship” most Tuesday evenings, as well as for occasional local art shows in conjunction with the Hopkins County Art League. I plan to teach fiber-related classes at the local makerspace, Kentucky Movers and Makers, and I also create and publish knitting, crochet and sewing patterns. Many of my patterns are featured in the online and print catalogs of Knit Picks (www.knitpicks.com), as well as through Craftsy.com. I spend way too much time on the social network for all things fiber (Ravelry.com) - you can find me as “Mariaknittedit.” I also have a Facebook page you can visit!