Ilene Gast

I am a lifelong knitter. I fell in love with knitting at age 10 when received a “Knit your Barbie a Ski Outfit” kit. Since then, I have expanded my skills to incorporate a variety of garments and decorative objects. But most importantly, I have always found knitting to be intensely engaging and relaxing. After a long career as a Personnel Research Psychologist, I began a new chapter as a Project Knitwell Instructor, which allows me share my love of knitting and appreciation of its therapeutic benefit. I have been working with Smith Center since 2014, facilitating its weekly group for cancer patients, survivors, and community members, Knitting in the Nook. I am also an Artist in Residence at the Inova Schar Cancer Institute where I have been teaching knitting since 2019 to cancer patients, their caregivers, and the Inova Staff.