EVIE ROSEN

Evie Rosen was recognized nationally for her knitting expertise and for starting the Warm Up America! foundation. She was an amazing teacher who delivered knowledge with wit and humor to the delight of thousands of students. 

It was her love of knitting, and two young children at home, that led her to open the Knitting Nook in 1964. While managing her shop, she began teaching nationally and was instrumental in developing the Craft Yarn Council’s Certified Instructors Program to grow a future generation of knit and crochet teachers. She designed original patterns that were published in several magazines and authored the popular Teach Yourself to Knit for Leisure Arts, among many other publications.

Her children Mike Rosen and Robbin Stott describe their mother as ”a woman with a heart for others.” In part, it was her professional training—she graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Occupational Therapy—but it went deeper. In the early 1990s, when the homeless situation was becoming a national crisis, she came up with the idea for Warm Up America. She said: “I’ve been knitting afghans and donating them to a local shelter but I can’t knit them fast enough to fill the need, but I have an idea. What if we break down the task of making blankets to manageable parts so we can involve lots more people?" That’s how the idea for Warm Up America was born. 

It wasn’t long after that she had people across the country knitting and crocheting 7” by 9” sections, which other volunteers joined together to make afghans for the homeless and others in need. With support from The National NeedleArts Association and Craft Yarn Council, the program became a national success. 

Because of her work with Warm Up America!, she was named a “Local Hero” by Time Magazine, with Oprah, Loretta Swit and Vanna White endorsing Warm Up America! She was also recognized for her charitable work by the Craft and Hobby Association and Stitches Magazine awarded her their Knitter of the Year Award.