Sarah Jo Mosbeck modeling original knit skirt

Hi Sherry,
I was in the PiPN program last year, as an apprentice, and you were a tremendous help to me in the application process, and while I was in Columbus for TNNA. You had me give a talk on how adding the apprenticeship option had helped me, and as a result I was approached by Trisha Malcolm the next day, and she gave me a copy of Vogue Knitting’s Lace Stitchtionary to aid my designing dream.

My summer with Shannon Okey was amazing – informative and fun, and I came away having learned a lot and made a great friend. She wrote me a glowing reference letter for the job I have now.

I am currently filling Renee Lorion’s place as yarn editor here at SOHO Publishing in New York City while she’s on maternity leave for 3 months, and I feel that my participation in the PiPN program is responsible for me having the job I’ve wanted since I learned to knit. I’m also doing a couple of designs for them (one for Knit Simple Winter and one for Vogue Knitting Winter), which has been a long-held desire of mine.

So, thank you – the PiPN program, the addition of the apprenticeship option, and all of your kind council and advice has helped me to achieve my dream.

Sincerely-
Sarah Jo Mosbeck

PiPN’s Pathways Open Up Even further

We are continually receiving applications from both host companies and potential interns, so we’ve decided to open our process to matching students with hosts throughout the year.

We’ll still focus our student recruitment efforts towards positions in the summer months, but will maintain an active matching process for fall, winter and spring placements.

If you’re a TNNA host company who did not match with an intern this summer, we’ll be contacting you soon to see if you would like to keep your position active.  If you’re thinking about having an intern in the future, feel free to go to the Host Application and send it in now.  We will be updating the opportunities available on a quarterly basis.

PiPN 2011 interns and apprentices to date

Sophia Adodo
Texas Woman’s University, Denton
The Handwork Studios, Narberth, PA

Dania Carter
Mississippi State University
The Handwork Studios, Narberth, PA

Leah Chapman
RISD
KnitWhits, Emeryville, CA

Necol Dattilo
Kent State University
Stitchgrrl, Akron, OH

Sarah Ellison
Kent State University
Acorn Street, Seattle, WA

Kimberly Esasky
U of Akron
SoHo Publishing, NY, NY

Alice Faye Huff-Idom
U of Akron
Business Directions inc, Columbus, OH

Kelly Kleiden
apprentice
Helen Hamann, Tennessee

Alice Koelsch
U of Akron
Craft Akron, Akron, OH

Kelsey Leib
Kent State University
Stitchgrrl, Akron, OH

Mary Markeshewski
University of Alabama
Tanglewood Fiber Creations, Seattle, WA

Elli McHugh
Eastern Washington University
BeSweet, Sausalito, CA

Christina Musich
Carnegie Mellon University
Colonial Needle, White Plains, NY

Crystal Spann
Mississippi State University
TNNA, Columbus, OH

Heather Stanco
Carnegie Mellon University
Misti International Alpaca Yarns, Arequipa, Peru

Brigitte Tijerina
SCAD
Misti International Alpaca Yarns
Arequipa, Peru

Rylee Tomlinson
Mississippi State University
TNNA, Columbus, OH

Kelsey Tucker
U of Akron
Stitch, Piece ‘N Purl, Cuyahoga Falls, OH

This year, with the new format, close to 40 students registered for PiPN 2010.  More than half have been placed, with several still pending.

Congratulations to the following:

• Bagsmith
  • Ashley Schweikert – University of Akron
• BeSweet
  • Caroline Moore – State University of NY at Geneseo
• Blue Ball Mountain Spindle
  • Amy Church – Western Kentucky University
• CNS Yarns
  • Helen Cosgrove-Davies -  Bryan Mawr
• Coats-N-Clark
  • Samantha Lever – East Tennessee State University
• Crooked Fence Alpacas
  • Alyssa Edlund – University of Utah
  • Kimberly Trusken – Kent State University
• Handworks Studio
  • Trekina Miller – Missouri State University
• Knit Knack
  • Julia Rhoden – Colorado State University
• Knitgrrl
  • Abra Forman – apprentice
  • Sarah Jo Mosbech – apprentice
• Knitting on the Square
  • Alice Koelsch – University of Akron
• Loopy Yarns
  • Jacqueline Shunnara – University of Alabama
• Royal School of Needlework
  • Justin Campbell – University of Akron, graduate student
• SoHo Publishing
  • Claire Kersey – Georgia College & State University   
  • Amanda Montgomery – University of Akron
• Stitches Etc., Beth Gantz Designs   
  • Diane Capuano – apprentice
• Tanglewood Fibers
  • Mariel Snetman – University of Alabama   
  • Emily Sidle – University of Akron, graduate student
• Yarn Designers Boutique
  • Erin Rice – Art Institute of California-SF
• Yellowbird Yarn Room
  • Jennifer Weiland – University of Akron

There are still a number of opportunities available for this summer:

• Barbara Bergsten, Chagrin Falls OH
• City Knits, Detroit MI
• Cowgirl Yarn, Laramie WY
• Fiber Arts Yarn Shop, Cape May NJ
• Fine Points, Cleveland OH
• Kreinik Manufacturing, Parkersburg WV (2)
• Maria’s Knitting & Crochet, Chula Vista CA
• Red Barn Yarn, Pasadena CA
• The Needlepoint Boutique, Collingswood NJ

At SoHo Publishing I worked on a number of different projects.  Generally, I worked with marketing in our magazines, Vogue Knitting, Knit 1, and Knit Simple, or with our book publishing side of the company.  I have never worked for a magazine company before and I was able to learn such a different side of advertising that I had never learned in classes.  I enjoyed being able to see the issues of each magazine come together piece by piece and it’s really amazing to see it all happen.  Sometimes, it seems like ciaos, but once the copy is finished the pages all make sense together and it is awesome to look through it for the first time.  It has felt like such an accomplishment to say that I was able to be a part of it.

Some of my favorite days during this internship were being able to help at the photo shoots.  I was able to go along to two of them, one for Knit Simple and the other for Vogue Knitting.  The issues that we worked on were for Holiday 2009.  It was at first crazy that we were setting the back grounds to look like winter and dressing the models in sweaters, but we were in a studio overlooking a beautiful view of the New York.   At one point, I even texted my mom to tell her I felt like I was in a movie! Those days I was able to work closer with some people that I generally didn’t get a chance to work with.  The Art Director was really inspiring.  He set the background and still shots and really had a great eye for what would be perfect in the magazine.  I also worked hand in hand with the stylist.  It was amazing being able to help with the outfits and accessories that the models were being photographed in.  I was defiantly on cloud nine.

Along with the marketing projects and photo shoots, I also learned so much about the Textile and Knitting industries. I myself am not a great knitter… (at all), but I try and I loved to see the editorial staff knit some of the most beautiful garments I have ever seen.  During the lunch hour a group of people would hang out at the table to knit and talk.  I would ask what they were working on, and they were knitting the designs created by the designers, which were going to be in the Vogue Knitting magazine.  SoHo Publishing employees a group of very talented knitters. Being that I worked in the Marketing Dept. we spent a good amount of time working with Yarn companies all over the U.S. and it was nice to get to know more about the Yarn Industry and all the companies involved in so many different ways.

Overall, I’m so happy that I was able to not only be a part of a great internship, but also the experiences I gained through both The University of Akron and PiPN.  AkronU. and PiPN has brought me great opportunities, but also more importantly I have met so many people who really inspire me. As my final days of being an undergrad student at Akron come, it makes me excited and confident to use these experiences and what I have learned while taking my step into the professional world.