Mary A. Blythe was born, raised, and lives in eastern Iowa. All her life she has been doing either needlework or some sort of craft. She fell in love with wool when she was able to join a rug-hooking class with the late Emma Lou Lais. This opened her eyes to the beauty and endless possibilities of working with wool. Because she was raised around antiques and an appreciation for history, she has always been attracted to what she considers heirloom crafts. Rug hooking, cross-stitch samplers, penny rugs, and knitting have been what drive her passion for handwork. In 2006, she opened The Woolen Needle in Williamsburg with a group of fellow stitchers. While there, she designed more than twenty-five patterns and dyed the yarn and wool for the shop. In 2010, the shop was blessed with the honor of being named one of Better Homes and Gardens’ Top 10 Quilt Shops. Since selling the shop in 2011, she has spent her time with her family, traveling, and enjoying designing again. Look for more of Mary’s patterns and inspiration by visiting blythegirldesigns.com and blythegirldesigns on Instagram.