Rita at 

Machu Picchu, Peru,

in 1998

Rita O'Connell

KNITTING & CRAFT HISTORY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• 1962 - learned to knit from book - and crochet, too
• 1980s-early 1990s - still knitting, now working part-time in a yarn shop, began recording my original knitting designs, began teaching knitting classes at the shop
• 1989-1994 - taught 1-2 classes each year at Minnesota Knitters Guild's spring workshop
• 1991 - taught 2 classes at Appleton, Wisconsin, workshop
• 1991 - won Grand Champion (Sweepstakes) in hand knitting at Minnesota State Fair
• 1993 - first nationally available knitting pattern ("Sam the Ram")
• 1994 - won Grand Champion (Sweepstakes) in hand knitting at Minnesota State Fair
• about 1995 - taught basketry class at a week-long camp for adults
• 1996-1999 - taught 1-2 classes each year at Minnesota Knitters Guild's spring workshop
• 1998 - second nationally available knitting pattern ("Sue the Ewe")
• 2000 - became knitting pattern writer for Alpacas magazine
  • Winter 2000 - "Peruvian Drawstring Pouch" pattern
• 2001 - knitting patterns written for Alpacas magazine
  • Spring 2001 - "Shrunken Hot Pad" and "Diagonal Scarf"
  • Summer 2001 - "Ribbon Heart Afghan"
  • Fall 2001 - "Lace Candle Sleeves"
  • Winter 2001-2002 - "Ruffled Mitts"
• 2001 (spring) - Earth Heart Designs business launched
• 2001 (May) - booth at first Pagosa Fiber Fest (Pagosa Springs, Colorado) and 1-hour demo class on knitted lace
• 2001 (June) - Earth Heart Design website launched
• 2001 (September) - Bayfield Heritage Days booth
• 2002 - knitting patterns written for Alpacas magazine
  • Spring 2002 - "Lattice Bag Set"
  • Summer 2002 - "Man in a Maze Pillow"
  • Fall 2002 - "Spiral Ribbed Socks"
• 2002 (March) - taught series of workshops in Tucson, Arizona
• 2002 (May) - taught class at Villa Grove Spin Fest, Colorado
• 2002 (May) - taught 2 half-day classes at Pagosa Fiber Fest & hosted a booth
• 2002 (September) - taught half-day class for Durango Knitters Guild, Colorado
• 2002 (September) - second year of a booth at Bayfield Sheep Trailing & Heritage Day, Colorado
• 2002 (October) - accepted for first retail booth at Taos Wool Festival, New Mexico: won 3 ribbons in competitions there and demonstrated dyeing with "Kool-Aid" 
• 2002 (Winter) - garden maze garter stitch technique & child's sweater pattern in INKnitters magazine
• 2003 - knitting patterns written for Alpacas magazine
  • Winter 2003 - "Learn a Complex technique: Garden Maze Pouches"
  • Spring 2003 - "Toys for Spring" (teddy bear puppets and ball-like rattle/toy)
  • Summer 2003  - "Three Fun Projects for Beginner Knitters" (buttoned treasure pouch, lop-eared bunny toy, & buttoned slippers)
• 2003 (October) - hosted booth at first Wool Festival of the Southwest, New Mexico
• 2003-2004 - volunteer project leader for 4-H knitters - 4 girls and their moms, Pagosa Springs
• 2004 (May) - taught class at Villa Grove Spin Fest, Colorado
• 2004 (May) - Pagosa Fiber Fest - scheduled 2 teaching classes and hosted a booth
• 2004 (May-June) - Art Exhibit - Pagosa Springs Arts Council hosted a display of my knitting, polymer clay jewelry, and basketry
• 2004 (June) - Estes Park Wool Market - hosted a retail booth selling my knitting patterns
• 2004 (July-August) - move to Duluth and beginning exploration of Midwestern fiber opportunities
• 2004 - knitting patterns written for Alpacas magazine
  • Winter 2004 - "Two for One Beginner Project: Hat/Neck Gaiter"
  • Winter 2004 - "Ancient Ties" knitting essay
  • Spring 2004 - "Basket Wave Cable Tea Cozy"
  • Summer 2004 - Ladder Diamond Table Runner of Scarf
  • Autumn 2004 - "Eyelet Ridge Shawls"
• 2005 (February) - Trunk Show of patterns at Yarn Harbor yarn shop in Duluth, Minnesota
• 2005 (April) - Minnesota Knitters Guild Yarnover - hosted a retail booth selling my knitting patterns
• 2005 (Spring & Fall) - taught classes at Yarn Harbor in Duluth - polymer clay, intarsia, entrelac, mosaic stitch, lace
• 2005 - knitting patterns written for Alpacas magazine
  • Winter 2005 - "Sideways Garter Stitch Hat with Dahlia"
  • Spring 2005 - "Loon Pillow and Chick Toy"
• 2005 (May) - Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival in Minnesota - hosted a retail booth selling my knitting patterns
• 2005 (June) - Estes Park Wool Market - accepted for booth, but had to cancel due to time conflicts
• 2006 (April) - Minnesota Knitters Guild Yarnover - taught 1 class (Sweater Design) and hosted a retail booth
• 2006 (May) - Shepherd's Harvest Festival booth again
• 2007 (April) - Minnesota Knitters Guild Yarnover - teaching all-day class (garter stitch around the corner) & tentative hosting of sales booth (on waiting list)
• 2007 (May) - Shepherd's Harvest Festival booth again