Schacht School of Textile Arts
Meet Our Instructors
Jane Patrick
Weaving has been Jane Patrick’s passion and profession for nearly 50 years. She first learned to weave while an exchange student in Iceland and knew then that weaving would be a part of her life. After moving to Boulder in 1976, she decided that she wanted to make her livelihood through weaving. Jane was an editor at Interweave Press, where she edited books as well as Handwoven magazine. After leaving Interweave, Jane joined her husband Barry Schacht at Schacht Spindle Company as Creative Director. Jane is the author of The Weaver’s Idea Book, as well as 2 other books on rigid heddle weaving. She is enthusiastic about the power of the simple rigid heddle loom and its ability to get new weavers feeling confident quickly.
Sienna Bosch
Sienna comes from Fort Collins, Colorado. She grew up in a family of craftspeople; her father is a woodturner. Sienna learned to weave while working towards her Bachelor's of Fine Arts at Colorado State University. She went into school thinking that she would study sculpture, but after one project on the loom, she discovered a passion for weaving. Alongside fiber art, Sienna studied art education. She was an intern for Schacht Spindle Company during the summer of 2019. She warped and wove on many looms in preparation for the Schacht's 50th Anniversary. Now, Sienna is back at Schacht as the Content Developer and Education Specialist.
Stephanie Flynn Sokolov
Stephanie has a degree in Retail Merchandising from Rochester Community and Technical College, and a degree in Accessory Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She is a Schacht girl through and through. Name a Schacht product, and chances are she spins or weaves on it! Stephanie returned to Schacht in 2020 (after a few years away) as a Sales Specialist.
Mackenzie Keller
Mackenzie is from Berks County, PA and now lives in Colorado with her husband and cat. Her mother has repaired antique spinning wheels for years, so fiber crafts have always filled her home. As a Client Engagement Specialist at Schacht, Mackenzie puts her English Writing degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania to good use by examining and improving the way we engage with our users. She loves to share her interests and help others learn. Mackenzie enjoys weaving, crochet, macramé, watching movies, and going on walks when the weather is warm.
Deb Gerish
Deb has enjoyed yarn and fiber as a hobby since the 1980s, so when she needed a career change, she got into the fiber arts world. She loves to knit and weave with her handspun and can frequently tell you the names of the sheep who contributed their wool for her sweaters. As Project Manager for Schacht, she helps get new products out the door with assembly manuals and diagrams; she also produces content with the School of Textile Arts team.
Kelsey Wiskirchen
Kelsey Viola Wiskirchen is a studio artist and educator living in North Carolina. She is a lover of all things textiles, but especially weaving, embroidery, quilting, and natural dyeing. With a BFA and an MFA in Fiber Art, Kelsey has taught textiles at every age level, from K-12, to university and adult continuing education, with a heavy emphasis in community outreach. Kelsey operates Viola Textile Studio, which provides community education in textiles, focusing on sustainable textile processes and creating resources for Art Educators. (You can learn more about Viola Textile Studio at www.violatextiles.com)
Laney Engle
Laney grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma and moved to Botetourt County, Virginia in 2014. She received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Craft and Material Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA in 2020. She began weaving as soon as she could hold a potholder loom, moving to frame loom tapestry weaving and then floor loom weaving in 2016.
