Sad news: Rest in peace, Bev Galeskas

I just heard the sad news that Bev Galeskas, founder of Fiber Trends, died yesterday, about a year after being diagnosed with cancer. Bev was one of the first true "indie" designers; she founded her pattern company before the Internet brought indie designers into the mainstream, at a time when yarn companies and magazines dominated the field of knitting design. I find it hard to imagine that there could be many gung-ho knitters out there who have never made a Fiber Trends pattern, like the baby/toddler fruit & vegetable caps



the adorable stuffed animals, like these felted lllamas


or the many clever felting patterns Bev designed.


Fiber Trends also published many beautiful lace patterns (notably those by Evelyn Clark and Eugen Beuler), bringing those lovely designs to knitters all over the world. All of these and more are available on the Fiber Trends website here, and no doubt at the vest majority of yarn shops in the US.

Bev also wrote one of the best books on felting, Felted Knits:


I only had the pleasure of meeting Bev once, but I enjoyed that meeting greatly. My sympathies to all who knew and loved her. The knitting world will miss you, Bev.