Nicky Epstein is a

knitting Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile, or fabric. It is used to create many types of garments. Knitting may be done by hand or by machine. Knitting creates stitches: loops of yarn in a row, either flat o ...

designer and author of numerous books on knitting. She is known for her creative combinations of knitting stitches, and for the colorful patterns often found in her sweaters, especially involving applique of separately knitted motifs. In 2005, she was given a prestigious award by the National NeedleArts Association. In 2006, her work was featured in a retrospective fashion show at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. Since the (winter) Holiday 2005 issue, Epstein has written a regular column in '' Vogue Knitting'' called simply "Nicky Epstein".

Early life

Nicoletta Quinones was born into an Italian/Spanish family and grew up in a mining town in

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the ...

. Her Italian grandmother taught her to knit, and she completed her first sweater in seventh grade with the guidance of her home economics teacher. Epstein's mastery of knitting techniques began, however, when she was fourteen, with lessons from a local

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: ** Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Ca ...

woman. In 1970, Epstein enrolled at the

Columbus College of Art and Design Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is a private art school in Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in 1879 as the Columbus Art School and is one of the oldest private art and design colleges in the United States. Located in downtown Columbus, CC ...

to study fashion design, but switched to retail sales and fine art. She continued to knit in college and earned money for tuition by selling oil paintings. In 1979, she was art director at a design firm when she entered a ''McCall's Needlework'' design contest with a unicorn sweater and won first prize. Since the early 1980s, Epstein has published many knitting designs, sometimes over fifty a year. She is married to Howard Epstein and lives in New York City.

Contributions to knitting

Epstein has long been respected as a knitter and designer, and has been quoted as saying, "I will support anything that promotes knitting." Since 1999, she has published a series of technical books on knitting, focusing on applique ornaments and borders of knitted garments, which are renowned for their creativity. More recently, she has begun to explore other areas of knitting, such as

felting Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers such as petroleum-based acrylic or acrylonitrile or wood pu ...

. Epstein has also authored popular books on making knitted or crocheted clothes for Barbie dolls, as well as sundry projects for the home, such as

afghan blanket An afghan is a blanket or shawl, usually knitted or crocheted. It is sometimes also called a "throw" of indeterminate size. Afghans are often used as bedspreads, or as a decoration on the back of couches or chairs. Etymology The word ''afghan'' ...

s and

Christmas stocking A Christmas stocking is an empty sock or sock-shaped bag that is hung on Saint Nicholas Day or Christmas Eve so that Saint Nicholas (or the related figures of Santa Claus and Father Christmas) can fill it with small toys, candy, fruit, coins or ot ...

References

Bibliography

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External links

Website

Show at the Museum of Arts and Design
Living people People in knitting Columbus College of Art and Design alumni Year of birth missing (living people) {{textile-arts-stub