The main focus of Mosaic Yarn Studio is instruction. We have classes ranging from beginning to expert running 7 days a week, mornings and evenings. The MYS staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Our goal is to continue on our way to becoming a celebrated fiber arts design school, and we know that excelling at customer service and instruction is the key.

Meet our Staff:

Darlene Joyce
With a background in fashion design and an Illinois Teaching certificate, owner Darlene Joyce set out to make her dream a reality. Twelve years later and still going strong, Mosaic Yarn Studio is a result of hard work, creative engineering and persistence. Darlene has been teaching knitting classes since 1992 and has a strong following of loyal students. Although she is responsible for paying the bills and keeping the shop in order, her favorite part of owning the shop is her students and her staff. She loves sharing her excitement for knitting and relishes in her students accomplishments. Darlene has been published in Cast On, Socks, Socks, Socks and Interweave Knits and has taught numerous workshop for knitting guilds and for many shops. Email: darlene@mosaicyarnstudio.com

Barb Blume
Come to the shop during the day on almost any Tuesday or Wednesday and meet manager Barb Blume. Barb's mother, Rosella, taught Barb to knit when she was 11 years old. Barb, a retired nurse, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the shop. She teaches classes on knitting socks with two circular needles, double-ended crochet, 2-needle mittens, patchwork mittens, etc. Barb is also responsible for bringing home the popular Maui Hooded Baby Jacket (one of our free patterns). Email: barb@mosaicyarnstudio.com

Georg Luxton

Georg has been with MYS since 2004.  By day she’s an art teacher, but can be found here on weekends and Monday or Wednesday evenings teaching beginning and intermediate classes.  Fiber has been her “thing” ever since she can remember.  She enjoys any form of fiber technique, but weaving and knitting are her favorites.       

June Sorensen

June was taught to knit by her mom and her grandmother, both wonderful knitters.  She set it aside for years, and began knitting again in college.  The most growth, however, in her knitting has come as a result of working at Mosaic for the past four years.  June  is always looking to try new projects, and loves a challenge.  June has two married daughters and a son in college.  When not at Mosaic, June teaches Middle School English.

Courtney Buckalew      

Courtney comes to us from New York.  She moved here in 2005 and has been on the MYS staff since 2007.  You will see her working here mostly during the day and teaching on some Thursdays evenings and Sunday afternoons.  She learned to knit and needle felt at The Yarn Tree in Brooklyn.  She is a fan of Elizabeth Zimmermann and considers patterns a "polite suggestion" on how to make something.  She has a vivacious boy who keeps her laughing.

Kathy Kelly

Kathy has been attracted to the arts since childhood and learned to knit and crochet when she was a child. Music called her to Chicago where she performs as a jazz vibist, composer and founder of the Chicago Jazz Composers Collective. As an adult she fell in love with and has developed a burning passion for all things crochet. A designer with crochet patterns available on Ravelry, a pattern tester, and a member of the Crochet Guild of America she currently is a teacher at Mosaic Yarn Studio. Kathy enthusiastically shares her love of crochet with her students and anyone else who will take a moment to admire the possibilities of this art. You can find her on Ravelry as vibeskat.
 

Emily Hrobsky

Emily has been completely in love with knitting since the day I first bought a ball of yarn and a pair of needles. She enjoys exploring our diverse yarn selection and attempting projects that help me grow as a knitter. What’s better than being surrounded by fellow knitters, basking in a beautiful pool of yarn, and calling it work? When she's not busy knitting she teaches middle school English and practices yoga.