Hullo!

My name is Jan Nethercutt of YesterYear Design and I live in Drumright, Oklahoma. I am one of the original members of the Thread Artist Guild and have been active since its inception in February 2005. I was bestowed the honored title of Master Artisan of the Thread Artist Guild on 15 January 2007.

My first bear was born in January 2005. All of my crocheted items (and most of the tatted and knitted ones) are created without the use of a pattern.

I have crocheted, tatted and knitted for 65 years. There is something about sitting quietly, my mind and hands creating with thread or yarn. Maybe it’s the rhythm of the hand movements….or the idea of taking one form of substance and making it into a completely different form….or a self-challenge accomplished. Whatever the something is, it satisfies my inner self….my soul. A bit of "me" is woven into each item I make.

I was very blessed because I was taught by my mother and grandmothers; they were taught by their mothers and grandmothers. My sister and I were included in daily tasks and taught how to do whatever the older women were doing. We snapped beans, shelled peas and dug potatoes as well as doing the refined arts of crocheting, tatting, knitting, quilting and embroidery. We were taught the aesthetic values of shape, color and form and how to accomplish a required result. Knowledge was passed from generation to generation without a thought that "women’s work" was a form of art, interwoven with mathematics, engineering and, yes, even rhythm.

I have used the knowledge of art for my own pleasure and at times have depended on the monetary benefits derived from it. I have profited much from the women who passed this talent and knowledge on to me and their loving hands that showed me how.

Jan Nethercutt, YesterYear Design

Email: Jan@YesterYearDesign.com

Website:  http://www.yesteryeardesign.com