We recently connected with Dana Fehrenbach and have shared our conversation below.

Dana , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I grew up with two Grandmothers who were very artistic in all forms of crafting. My paternal Grandmother quilted, crocheted and encouraged me to create anything from scratch uses various materials such as cloth, felt, thread, paper, fiber, etc. My maternal Grandmother was my idol.. She was an amazing seamstress and sold Pfaff sewing machines door to door. She could look at any dress, or outfit and recreate it without a pattern, down to the exact detail, plus. She was also an amazing artist.. She created beautiful chalk pastel paintings of lakes, nature, etc many which are hanging on the walls of my home.

One of the skills that are most essential is just pure patience. Patience to dabble in many different arts to see which one best suits you and your talents.

If I were to pinpoint an obstacle to learning more, it would just be simply, mental health.. I could always tell in my life when I was content and balanced as these were the most creative times for me.. When I was struggling mentally or indulging, my craft was always the first thing that was left behind.

Dana , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I grew up on on a Farm in Southern Wisconsin, where we were taught the values of a good work ethic. The 3rd of 4 children, I was born after two older brothers and was brought up to work alongside them.. We milked around 80-100 Holstein dairy cows on the home farm at any one time twice daily. Drove tractor at a very young age, along with helping my mother with housework, preparing meals, baking, cleaning and laundry.

I learned crafting from my grandmothers, mending from my mother and a good friend taught me how to knit on the bus on the way to school at the young age of 8 years old.

I was given my first needlepoint craft at this time at Christmas from my Godmother and the world widened quite exponentially for me at this time… probably around the age of 10? I dove into anything that was I could create with thread.. Whether it was free hand embroidery on the sewing machine, embroidering pillow cases, needlepoint, knitting but mostly crochet.. Crochet was my passion and with a skein of red heart yarn purchased from the local 5and 10 store in town, (variegated blues) I created a beautiful poncho that I proudly wore to church on Sundays.

Crafting or playing the piano was a huge passion growing up.. I found much solace in both of these talents which I believe has helped shape me into the designer I have become today.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When I opened my Retail knit shop in Prairie du Sac, WI… many thought it would be a bust. I started in a 400 Square foot retail space in between a veterinarian and a dog groomer!! DMarie knit and fiber soon because a hot spot for fiber enthusiasts young and old! I cannot tell you how many people I taught to knit in the 8 months of opening ‘The Knit Shop’. I soon decided that I was ready to move to a larger space to accommodate the many teens and adults that frequented the shop.

The best part of opening The Knit Shop was the kids! After I had moved to a larger space, I decided to hold a summer knit program for kids.. I had 5 kids sign up to learn to knit. Using social media and posting pics of the kids and their smiles when they finished projects opened a door to the community that became the new hobby for children of all ages.

The following summer I had over 30 students enrolled. It was amazing.. But was the best part, was teaching kids that everyone was cool in the knit shop.. Kids would knit and teach other kids to knit that in school they most likely wouldn’t associate with for whatever reason.. Kids of all ages, genders and disabilities learned to knit and felt socially acceptable in the shop. They let down their guards and opened up to me and others in ways unimaginable.. Parents to this day still thank me for helping their socially awkward child blossom.

it was also quite a learning tool for me, as I noticed that Kids did not all learn the same.. I would watch them for a few moments and figure out which style was best for them to learn to knit and teach them in away that made sense to them.
I taught many handicapped children, children with autism and worked with the middle school principal to let children knit in the classrooms to help them focus better on their teacher during a lecture.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I remember the day I looked out my shop and saw a young lady walking down the street wearing one of my creations that she had purchased in my shop. She was almost dancing as she made her way to the local coffee shop, She was wearing a beautiful, bright colored poncho I had knit with fringe.. I cried.. It was such a joy to see another person, who I did not know, enjoying something I had created and wearing it proudly.
To this day, I it brings me almost the same emotion, every time I see someone wearing one of my designs or their joy when the find something I created and want to gift it to someone they love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danafehrenbachdesigns.com
• Instagram: @therunwayknitter
• Facebook: The Runaway Knitter

Image Credits

Dana Fehrenbach Designs