hat a St i tch Story by Hayley Bridgewater images by Stephanie Crousillat Photography Giant knitting? Yes, giant knitting. Most mornings you will find her nestled in her apartment, surrounded by 30-pound boxes of unspun wool roving, ferociously knitting her cozy creations to the smell of coffee and the strains of NPR. Knitting has always been a part of her life, and now she is sharing it with others. Originally taught by her grandmother, LeeAnn’s knitting started out as a small hobby. Recently, it has taken on a life—and a business—of its own. “This business has been in the making since I was a kid,” Lisella says. “When I was about 8 years old, my favorite game was ‘art show’ where I showcased my work in my parents’ hall and made them purchase my finger painted and clay creations. Once I moved to New York, knitting was a project that I could do in my small space, and became my primary craft at home. I learned about this amazing artist in Australia called Jacqui Fink. She creates huge installation pieces and blankets with Tops from Australian merino sheep. For some reason, I was totally transfixed. I had to give it a try. “Chris, my partner, and I were brainstorming about how big I could actually knit, and he created 4-foot wooden needles for me,” she continues. “It seemed completely laughable at the time, but I accepted the challenge and went for it. It was an absolute nightmare at first. I knocked over so many things. My downstairs neighbors banged on the ceiling on several occasions when I dropped them. It W Meet Happy Camper Lee. Stage manager, distillery tour guide, Peekskill born hiker with a crafty heart and an adventurous soul, and a true modern-day Renaissance woman. More formally known as LeeAnn Lisella, she has rightfully woven herself a moniker as Astoria’s “giant knitting lady.” 20 I BOROMAG.COM I MARCH 2016 sHOPS
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