November, 2000

Lion Brand and Knitter's Magazine Announce "Knitter of the Year" 2000

Katherine (Kay) Donaldson of Arlington, Virginia, is the recipient of the second annual “Knitter of the Year” Award, co-sponsored by LION BRAND YARN COMPANY and Knitter’s Magazine. Ms. Donaldson, whose name was announced on October 14 at the Stitches East Knitting Expo, will receive a $1,000 prize: $500 in cash and $500 worth of LION BRAND products.

The Knitter of the Year Award is intended by Lion Brand and Knitter’s “To recognize one individual who works to further the craft of knitting, openly shares his or her knitting knowledge with others, contributes his or her time and resources to the craft of knitting, and demonstrates innovation in techniques or design.”

While many wonderful knitters were nominated, the depth of feeling in the letters nominating Donaldson particularly struck the judges.

Having learned to knit from her grandmother as a child, Donaldson has taught knitting in Arlington County for more than 20 years, and one student called her “perhaps the single most non-profit advocator for keeping the craft of knitting (and crocheting) alive in this entirely urban county.” In addition to teaching a two classes a week at Lubber Run Parks and Recreation Center to students representing a microcosm of the Washington, D.C. metro area, Donaldson travels widely in the midAtlantic states as a visiting instructor. One of her regular Lubber Run students praised her particularly for “the confidence she instilled in me to try new, more difficult patterns.”

Besides her many classes, Donaldson is also known for her charitable work for such organizations as libraries, health facilities, and Warm Up, America!-all this in spite of a lengthy battle with cancer.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE WEBSITE