Today marks one year since our friend, yarnista, amazing manager, instructor, and all-around incredible human, Alex, passed away after battling metastatic breast cancer for over a decade. Alex left us with so much, through the way she touched so many of our lives and the lasting impact she has had.

For those who had the fortune of taking her classes, her patience and kindness created a supportive space where they could learn and better their craft. But what many did not witness was her fortitude and her strength. Alex defied all predictions, all expectations of her illness. She continued to teach, showing up for her regular students every week, even while sick from intense treatments. Her trunk show modeling on socials was legendary (and no one has been able to bring themselves to take the job on, self included). She could make any hand-knit piece look runway-ready. She was so exceptionally put together every single day, even when getting dressed in the morning was a huge struggle.

Not only did Alex give her all to the community she loved and was passionate about, but she also showed up for this team and for me until the very last days. Her biggest lasting impact here has been stability. We are able to weather any storm with grace and confidence—taught to us by Alex who saw every major change as an opportunity and approached it with excitement and a plan. She helped me to let things go, trust others, and have faith in the team I’ve built and what they are capable of.

And she gifted me with Susan, her incredibly strong and resilient mother! Susan is now a big part of our string community AND also my personal family. It feels like what Alex would have wanted but never asked for, and I can’t imagine it any other way. It allows us all to share her stories, memories, and have some laughs, even while we still feel immense pain from her not being here.

Last year, you all posted so many memories of Alex on our blog, Instagram, etc., honoring her, and these stories and tributes have continued to hold her mom, Susan, and the whole fibre space team through this past year. Some of you described her light and radiance, something that I miss deeply; her aura was undeniable, and those who knew her strive to carry a little bit of that with them every day, even though our everyday lives feel a bit dimmer without her in the shop. There isn’t a day that goes by, however, that we don’t carry her with us.

We’ve kept the comments open below if you’d like to add a memory.