Donna (She/Her)

Donna, owner of Sister-Arts Studio, is a natural born designer who loves experimenting with color, texture, pattern & shape. After learning to sew at age 7, she immediately started designing her own clothing. Later in high school she discovered architectural design, which led her to pursue a 21 year corporate career in Interior Architecture. In 2011, in an attempt to find work-life balance, Donna taught herself to knit and an entire new world of design and meditation emerged. Her series of capelet designs are heavily influenced by her background in architecture and her love of colorwork. She is a compassionate and patient instructor who loves to mentor the new generation of fiber-artists!

Jami (She/Her)

Self taught from 2 books, Jami began her knitting journey about 11 years ago. She didn’t know Sister-Arts was here and didn’t know how to use the internet to find what she needed so Jami basically "did it wrong until she did it right." After discovering a book on knitted lace about a year into her journey, she fell in love and since has explored every technique she could find from Mosaic to Japanese Lace and everything in between. Jami specializes in knitting and designing beaded lace and has done so for knitting magazines and silk fiber companies in the past. Although Jami is fascinated with knitting, by far her favorite experience has been teaching. She loves seeing a novice knitter look at what they’ve accomplished with wonder, as if they didn’t believe they could really knit or when someone pushes their boundaries to try a new, complex technique or pattern. That's her happy place and she hopes to see you there.

Valerie (She/they)

Valerie learned how to knit so she could make it through the mountain of texts they were reading for their undergrad thesis. Yes, that does mean she can read and knit at the same time, it's an important life skill, especially when making it through mountains of texts. Besides yarn, she very much loves museums, archaeology, coffee, and cats. A product maker, Valerie likes to make things they'll use, especially cozy sweaters and comfy socks. As a teacher, Valerie likes to remind her students (and especially first-time sock knitters!) that they are smart, literate people, capable of following a pattern. She can be found on Instagram (gornwen) and Ravelry (gornwen). 

Shara

Shara Varner, an avid knitter since 1999, is a Virginia transplant here in Chicago. She came to Sister-Arts first as a customer then began as an instructor in 2008 teaching spinning and novice knitting. As a lover of all things yarn, Shara can usually be found extolling the virtues of wool or sharing the latest mohair-silk blends and covetable hand dye. If you would like to change the subject just bring up true crime or share a picture of your pet (kitties are a favorite, but she loves all animals). Her favorite projects to teach are colorwork, beginning pieces to add new techniques to a novice knitters’ toolbox, and sweet little sweaters for children of all ages.

Maria (She/Her)

Maria learned to crochet in middle school with the help of her aunt and every crochet book at her local library. After graduating college, she got her first job in a yarn shop and learned to knit— begrudgingly at first. But these days she loves both equally, and happily shares her passion for exploring fiber arts with her knitting and crochet students. When she’s not playing with yarn, Maria is a writer, editor, gardener, birder, jewelry collector, monster movie fanatic… and on and on. In addition to teaching at Sister-Arts, Maria works behind the scenes on our website, social media, and newsletter. Find her on Instagram (anthropocene.chic) and Ravelry (AnthropoceneChic).