Meet the Staff
Janet Hampson, Party Planner, Chief Instigator, Owner. I have been crochetting and knitting since I was a child. When family came along, we joined 4-H and had a flock of sheep which our daughter Lesley still keeps today. After several administrative position in human resources, environmental services and health and safety fields I needed a break. Working in retail was the furthest thing from my mind when I returned to college in my 50′s to complete my business degree. Upon graduation I landed at Classic Elite Yarns as the National Sales Manager, combining my passion with my newly earned degree. It was quite a rush. I loved meeting with designers, book authors and the very people at the heart of the industry.
Then, in 2002, my bubble burst – I’m sure some of you can relate to this. I arrived at work one morning and was told I was no longer needed. I didn’t see it coming. I spent the next six months at the unemployment office applying for job after job but times were tough and I knew my best chances of employment were to create a job of my own. Everyone I know, friends, relatives, my CPA, even my physician would ask -”What is it you really want to do?” I would reply “I want to open a yarn shop – I know how to knit, Lord knows I’ve done enough consumer research, I have business management skills and I love encouraging people in new endeavors.” Everyone’s reply was the same – “So why don’t you.” And my reply was always the same “What if I open a shop and no one comes?”
But that is the true challenge of retail – creating an experience that your customers will want to repeat again and again and again. Our website says “if we help you become a successful knitter, we’ll be a successful shop. What we have come to know is that success is measured in many different ways. Sometimes it means picking up the dropped stitch or unraveling a cable back 20 rows to avoid having to reknit an entire piece. Once in awhile, it means finding the exact dye lot for the last 3 rows of a sweater. And, every so often it’s just a hug or cup of tea.” I opened a yarn shop and EVERYBODY came and I thank you all.
Debby Hess. I have been knitting since I was about nine years old, which was a long time ago. At that time, a wonderful Scottish lady came into my life who taught me to knit. She rarely used a pattern, and came from a culture that needed to knit to survive the cold winters of Northern Europe. She also taught me to be a problem-solver, by making me figure out and correct my mistakes; this has served me well both in knitting and in life! I am not afraid to change, tweak, or “frog,” and I tend to view mistakes as opportunities. I have no doubt that treating knitting as a blank canvas of creativity influenced my decision to become a teacher, which allowed me to remain a student and enjoy the company of children for over 30 years. Between teaching and raising a family, time was at a premium, but I never stopped knitting. To this day, it remains my favorite “thinking cap” and token of love. I love knitting for its history and its craft, its endless variety and opportunity for self-expression and for community. always have, always will.
Denise Pegrum was taught how to knit by her grandmother as a child in England and has been knitting ever since. She loves to see all the beautiful projects customers bring in and enjoys helping them when they think they are stuck or need assistance finding just the right yarn or pattern. The rest of the staff is picking up on her accent. She will be working at the Woolpack through the winter until she is able to enjoy her second passion – gardening – in the spring. Denise has her own landscape business, Cheshire Cat Organic Gardens. She does garden designs and implementation but her niche is as a garden mentor. She loves to work with clients who want to learn how to garden – building a garden bed together, learning how to divide perennials, identifying weeds, pruning a shrub correctly, planting bulbs. Check out her garden and those of clients at www.cheshirecatorganicgardens.com. Her mentoring expertise makes her an ideal addition at The Woolpack. So much talent, how lucky we are.
Tammie Davis is known as the felting queen at the shop. She has been teaching our felted mascot class based on the Wool Pets kits. Tammie works in both dry and wet felting. She loves that the new shop has a kitchen where we can teach wet felting classes. She described herself as Lucille Ball reincarnated. (If she is, then I’m her Ethel Mertz.) If you have taken one of her classes, I’m sure that her unflappable, fun-loving spirit has infected you. We love her so much we wanted more of her, so we put her on staff duty on Fridays. She is well versed in both knitting and crochet and will give you wonderful personal attention.
Maryanne Cleary I have been knitting since I was 7 years old and my grandmother decided that I needed to learn to sit still for 5 minutes. She started me with mittens on double point needles. I fell in love with knitting. By the age of 13, I had started knitting sweaters that were filled with texture. In high school, I got hooked on Icelandic sweaters and made them for my family and friends. Knitting is my passion and I have rarely gone a day without knitting since I started. Eight years ago, I started working at the Woolpack and discovered a passion for teaching knitting. Working at the Woolpack has introduced me to Gwen Bortner, and I start knitting for Gwen’s new book. This continues to be an amazing experience. Since that time, I have knit for a local Acton designer for her fall fashion show.
Eileen Ralske. Like many other children, I was taught to knit at age 8 by my mother. But not until the early 1980s did I pick up the needles as a hobby. After I retired from a career as a counseling psychologist, my husband and I moved to New Hampshire. There, I found my passion for yarns and the wonderful world of fine knitters, serving briefly as president of the Mt. Washington Knitters’ Guild.
Eventually, we moved back to Acton. And, finding great teachers at the Woopack, I was inspired to take their class in Sweater Design, in which I was taught the basics of design from start to finish. I have also had classes with Jil Eaton (MinnowKnits), Kaffe Fassett, Melissa Leapman, Cat Bordhi, Margaret Fisher, and Sally Melville, among others.
My personal knitting is usually done for family and friends. I delight in helping new knitters with knitting basics; of learning something new about the world of fibers, yarns, patterns or needles, and then passing this onto our Woolpack customers. It’s the best!
Lorri Wurtzler. I taught myself to knit as a child, but only played with the techniques. I did not pick up knitting again until 2001, and it has been a passion obsession ever since. I will knit anything to learn a new technique or to knit a new yarn. My favorite knitting techniques are lace and texture knitting. When I’m not working at the yarn shop or teaching knitting, I am following my other obsession – quilting. Knitting and quilting share many characteristics
These similarities bring additional, beneficial insights to both obsessions. In 2005 I started my own business Seventh Heaven Quilting, long arm quilting the quilt tops of customers to create cherished heirlooms and heart warming gifts.
Proudly introducing our newest additions!
Meet Beth: My Great-Grandma Mollie, bedridden with Rheumatic Heart Disease taught me to knit at age 8. I was more interested in crewel embroidery at the time (Hey it was the 60′s-’nough said!). When I showed her my embroidery, she pulled it out and told me to start over because the back should be as beautiful as the front. Because of that, I have worked hard to make beautiful things that look good no matter what angle you look at it. I have been knitting off and on since then but preferred crochet for many years. After 9/11, I felt the need to be creative and MAKE things in the wake of such needless destruction. I took up the craft of knitting again but this time, I work hard to expand and perfect my craft.
I have a fondness for all things wooly and have been known to wear sheep clogs to work. I enjoy finding just the right pattern and yarn for the project desired for our customers and think I have just the knack. I love making socks and have shown more than one person the joys of Magic Loop or the fun of using two circular needles. My stash is at “SABLE” (Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy) or at least my sock yarn stash is! I am a nurse by trade but retired in 2004 and spent all my time knitting, raising my kids and cooking scrumptious meals. I met the staff at the Woolpack through STITCHES events and came to call the store my home. I can be found at the shop Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during mother’s hours.
Marcia; When I was a child, my mother was a wonderful knitter and I was able to watch her for years. She knit sweaters, mittens and Christmas stockings for everyone. I watched her for years, but never learned. But when college came, and money was tight, I reclaimed yarn and taught myself to knit, especially afghans and aran sweaters for all of us. Now my hands never are idle. Working full time for the school district, every lunch break is filled with knitting. At home I knit and weave, and my stash is not always manageable. I love researching new techniques. But what a fun way to be! You can find me most Saturdays and special events at the shop.
Nicola is our latest edition and a recent bride. “I was taught to knit in high school by my mum. Starting with a scarf, followed quickly by socks and hats, I’ve been knitting ever since. I am a full time nanny for two little girls and especially like knitting for little ones! Hats, two socks on circs, and sweaters are among my favorite items to knit. I tend to find something I love and knit it several times before moving on to something new! When I’m not with the girls or at the shop, I’m home with my husband and our cocker spaniel.” I’ve become very proficient at winding yarn since I get plenty of practice on Saturdays, my scheduled shop day.
Suzanne - I learned to knit as a child. I also enjoyed needle point and cross stitch in my younger years. But none of it really stuck with me. I didn’t start knitting again until recently and now I am an addict! Stashing yarn and patterns by the boat load, planning my next project before I complete the one I am working on.
In my former life, I was an elementary school teacher and a reading specialist. After becoming a full time mom I started my own business as an independent consultant for a scrapbooking company. I spent 10 years hosting home parties, building a team, and teaching others how to preserve their memories in scrapbooks. My favorite part was spending time with groups of women sharing stories. I find knitting to be very similar.
When I am not working at the shop I am at the shop as a “customer,” taking classes, or “feeding” my stash with more yarn. The rest of the time I am the wife to an amazing husband of 20 years and a mom to two teenage children and a 4 year old beagle. (What Suzanne failed to mention in her bio, is her 6’1″ height which makes her “highly” qualified – Janet)
