Dr Helen Knibb is an independent researcher, adjunct and sessional faculty member at Trent University, teaching in the School of the Environment's Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems BA/BSc program. Her doctoral research and current interests examine wool cultures and regional wool histories, including practices in wool husbandry, the origins, distribution and adaptation of sheep breeds, and the wool ecologies and early processing infrastructure of Ontario. Field work has taken her to the flocks and mills of Wales, Iceland, and Greenland, investigating wool revivals and new business models. She lives on a small farm east of Peterborough with six border collies, a small flock of fibre sheep, and heritage breed ponies. She can be found helping out on local shearing crews as a wool handler.

Fiona Stevenson has been happily tangled in wool since a “learn to knit” class sparked her fibre journey in 2006. A knitwear designer, teacher, and community builder, she spent nearly 20 years at Unwind Yarn House before settling in Eastern Ontario, where she’s affectionately known as Fiona the Knitter. Fiona designs under Fiona Stevenson Designs on Ravelry and for Canadian yarn companies like Fleece Artist. She is the creative force behind multiple fibre retreats, festivals, and stitch socials. When she’s not organizing the next wool-filled gathering, she’s designing knitwear and working on an upcoming pattern collection inspired by Canadian fibre arts and culture.