Kathleen Sams grew up in a creative family, so craft has always been with her. Since childhood she has forever been armed with a crochet hook or knitting needles, and never sits still without a work in progress.

Kathleen was raised in the rural area of Sycamore, Ohio and comes from a long line of self-sufficient women who made their own clothing, gifts and grew much of their own food. When Kathleen married she travelled the world with her husband’s career. During this time she says, “I was always sewing, knitting and crocheting. I found it an easy way to communicate with people if you couldn’t speak their language.” Craft was always a way of opening doors with people.

The family finally settled in South Carolina and Kathleen was lucky to get a job with Coats and Clark. Before long, her craft talents were spotted and Kathleen moved to the marketing department. She worked up to the position of Editorial Director and is now Ambassador for Red Heart yarns. 

As Ambassador for Red Heart, she promotes awareness of all aspects of needle arts, and how to use yarn and crochet threads.  She develops Learn How programs, and demonstrates techniques using products to promote sales of yarn. 

“The best things about my job are that I get to be creative, talk with other creative people and teach others to love it as I do.  I like to think I make it fun and easy when others find it difficult.  I’m always looking for new ways to teach, little tips and tricks and methods on how to hold knitting needles and hooks,” explains Kathleen.

One of the highlights of Kathleen’s career was when she was asked to do TV programs. “I never thought of myself as a TV personality, however, I was good at it, and to me it was just an extension of teaching, always showing colour changes and style and techniques.”

Even when she is on the move she doesn’t waste a moment. She always travels with a tote bag and at least two projects and is a travelling ambassador for yarn who even uses airline delays to teach crochet.

Kathleen has recently begun making crochet items for her own back yard. “This is a new trend called ‘tagging’. I’ve read numerous stories about groups of ladies tagging areas of the towns where the live.  I just decided I would do it in my own back yard.  I’ve begun blogging about it and will be showing the projects as they develop.”

Kathleen’s love of craft and crochet moves forward with every project and it is said, that of the many hats Kathleen wears, it is always the one she has just finished making that she likes best. 

Click here to read Kathleen's blog.