Margaret Radcliffe

Margaret Radcliffe is the author of the Knitting Answer Book, The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques, Circular Knitting Workshop, and The Knowledgeable Knitter. She has worked professionally as a knitting teacher since 1991 and as a designer since 1997. She enthusiastically teaches everything from beginning knitting to garment design, including color theory, color knitting techniques, dyeing yarn specifically for knitted projects, and design considerations for varying fiber types (plant, animal, and especially breed-specific wools).

Her many teaching venues have included the John C. Campbell Folk School, the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair (SAFF), The National Needlearts Association, The Knitting Guild Association, Knitters’ Day Out, Houston Fiber Fest, the Madrona Fiberarts Winter Retreat, Webs, the Schooner J&E Riggin out of Rockland, Maine, and online fiber challenges for The Livestock Conservancy, plus numerous shops and fiber guilds across the U.S. 

Like many fiber artists, Margaret has had a long and varied career. She has degrees in Medieval Studies and English Literature, has been a Certified Information Systems Auditor, computer programmer, business executive, research administrator, dancer, and editor. Her current fiber arts interests include preparing, spinning, and designing hand knits using heritage breeds from The Livestock Conservancy’s Shave ’Em to Save ’Em program and blending fibers to produce long-gradient yarns.

Visit Margaret’s website at http://maggiesrags.com/.

I emphasize hands-on learning. in small group classes.  Depending on the subject matter, classes are a combination of lecture, demonstrations, and hands-on practice.  My emphasis is on learning techniques and how to apply them, and focusing on process, rather than product.  I rarely teach classes where  the goal is to complete a specific project.