Ilene Gast

Ilene is a lifelong knitter. She fell in love with knitting at age 10 when she received a “Knit your Barbie a Ski Outfit” kit. Since then, Ilene has expanded her skills to incorporate a variety of garments and decorative objects. But most importantly, she has always found knitting to be intensely engaging and relaxing. After a long career as a Personnel Research Psychologist, Ilene began a new chapter as a Project Knitwell Instructor, which allows her to share her love of knitting and appreciation of its therapeutic benefit. She has been working with Smith Center since 2014, facilitating its weekly group for cancer patients, survivors, and community members, Knitting on the Couch. Ilene is also fortunate to have been selected as one of Smith Center’s Artists in Residence at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute where she teaches knitting to cancer patients and their caregivers.