At the request of her family, I have the sad duty to reach out to the NeedleArts Community to share the news of Renee’s passing
Renee Ashby of Fiberworks in Ashton MD
died on Monday, Sept 20, quite unexpectedly.
At this time arrangements are incomplete, but a graveside service occurred on
11:00am Sept 29th 2010 at
St Marks Episcopal Church Highland MD
Please feel free to share this with anyone who may have counted Renee among their friends and associates.
If you would like to leave comments, I will also be sharing your condolences with the family.
I’m so sorry to hear that. My condolences to her family and friends….
I’m shocked and saddened to hear of her death. I did not know her well, but I really enjoyed her sense of color and her ability to match the project with the best yarn for it.
Wheat – are you on Ravelry? There are other comments there.
No, I am not on Ravelry, but will have to see if someone else can get those for me to share with the family
I am so sorry to hear about Renee’s passing. My sympathies to her family. I just saw the sign on 108 for the new shop.
I am so sorry. She was a beautiful person in her own very unique way. She started me back on my knitting path again and I am grateful. Rest in peace Renee.
Martha
Shocked and saddened. I was looking up her phone number to see when she could help me and looking forward to her new shop.My sympathies to her family and friends, she will be missed by many.
jean
I am so sorry to hear of Renee’s death. I always enjoyed going to her shop and was looking forward to the new location. My condolences to her family & friends.
I really enjoyed going to Renee’s shop. I loved hearing her laugh. She helped me many a time and made me want to shop at her store. I will miss her very much.
Dolores
I was shocked and saddened to learn the news about Renee just yesterday. I regularly went to her shop for beautiful yarns and knitting advice. Renee was a very special person, and I will miss her. My condolences to her family.
Suzanne
I was shocked to see that Renee had passed away. She was such a help to all. I was looking to see if she had moved yet as I needed more yarn only to discover this sad news. Much love and support to her family, we will all miss her very much.
I only heard of Renee’s passing this morning from a friend. I have known Renee for many years, back to her time at the old location, next door to the Cricket Book Shop. She was a lovely person, a delightful sense of humor, I would go to buy yarn ad we would end up talking about everything under the sun! She was a wonderful teacher, especially to young children who wanted to learn to knit. Even though I have been a knitter since my childhood, Renee managed to teach me some things I never knew, she was always willing top share her knowledge. Rest in peace Renee.
I send my condolences to her family.
Margaret
I stopped by the shop for what I thought was going to be a wonderful new venture for me and Renee, only to find a closed door and a web site. What a shock it was to find that Renee has gone from us! I loved her shops, with all their jumble of beautiful yarns, and Renee’s calm, sly sense of humor. Oh, Renee, we will miss you so much. Hopefully, you’re where you can be surrounded by beautiful yarns and unlimited knitting project and knitters. Rest in peace, dear friend!
I got the news at 7:30 Am Wednesday from a heartless guy. “Hey did you hear Renee died.” Sorry, he is the husband of one of you out there. But I just broke down in tears. Since then I have been trying to remember & revisit the fun we all had together there was a lot. I moved to this area in 1997 and I was desperate for a yarn shop, one Saturday I found Renee. When I got there she was of course the Renee that we all grew to know and appreciate. But I also saw her talent. As a lover of the craft, talent and skill go a long way for me. I returned the next week only to find the Teddy Bear crew sitting around the table knitting the most unique outfits for teddy bears that would be given to children for Christmas.
I was going mad over all the red yarn, Renee realized that I was a red freak and from then to the Saturday before she left us, she always called me when one of my favorite manufacturers came out with a new red dye lot.
Some of you might know that Renee was a protegee ~ of Inez of Inez Stitches, years ago Inez had a shop in the Columbia mall – Renee worked with her. Inez left us in April of 2008.
So one might say they are together again.
We all knew that Renee was not well but she never complained. Bless her heart.
I miss both of them,
Rest in peace my friend.
Annece
I was truly shocked and saddened to hear of Renee’s death. She was always generous with her time and advice. As a new knitter she explained techniques and different ways of doing yarns to me, as I got more experienced we exchanged news and opinions. She will be sorely missed and her death is a loss to the entire knitting community.
Renee was unique. Never any pretense – just pure Renee. I loved visiting her store not only for her yarn and fabulous button collection but also for conversation. I miss her.
These are sad moments for all her family and friends. I liked coming to Renee’s store and introduced her to my friends and visitors from the Netherlands.
I am praying that the loving arms of God will hold you all extra close during this difficult time.
An appreciative customer.
Renee left a great legacy to all of us.
Each time I pick up a skein of yarn I will think about her and what comment she might have made about the color, fiber or how it worked up.
To her family I extend my sympathy and prayers.
My condolences to family and friends of Renee. I had just picked up knitting again two years ago, and one of my pals pointed me in Renee’s direction. I have lost count of the number of weekend afternoons wandering around her shop, shooting the breeze with her, fondling the amazing yarn she surrounded us with. I will truly miss those moments when I was able to make her laugh. I wish I had spent even more time with her. I loved to watch her knit, and I appreciated her generous encouragement. They broke the mold after making Renee. So sad for us, so happy for God and Angels.
I had just visited Renee’s Ashton store, only to find it gone..then because I needed yarn I went up to the knitting store in Olney. I was told of Renee’s death that very morning. I always visited Renee about this time of year and certainly for many sales. It is so very sad and I send my condolences to her family. She was fun to visit and I always had great conversations with her. She was witty and irreverent. I loved her store..just bursting with a wide and interesting variety of yarn..and her book selection was fabulous. I will miss her. I do hope her shop can continue on in her memory.
You can sign up to be kept informed at:
Fiberworks4Yarn.com
This makes me so sad. I introduced my sister to knitting and our bimonthly jaunts to Fiberworks were so fun. My sister was undergoing chemotherapy at the time and Renee was so kind to her and really helped her with her knitting. My prayers for her family. Hers was a life well lived. She touched many people.
I did as I always do when I have time, I dropped in to see Renee last Saturday to give her the update on my family and get some new patterns, yarn (don’t tell my mother) and share a laugh and smile with my special friend. I was greeted with an empty room. (I never noticed that all Renee door art was missing.) I rushed to Cricket Bookstore and they gave the sad new that Renee had passed. As I stood there in total shock, I remembered the may times I share with Renee laughing and sobbing over our hardships and happy times. She was with me prior to marriage, during my pregnancy’s, children’s birth, my divorce and death of my father. She even acted as referee between me and my mother, the christmas I bought lessons for us to learn how to knit together. Only to find out my mother already new how to knit and had forgotten (LOL) . She always had a kind word, a good joke, a good book, and great stories. I felt that I knew her friends and family.
I can’t possible express my feelings for Renee. I extend my condolences and prayers to her family. My mother, my girls and I will truly miss her. Rest in peace dear friend.
Thanks Wheat for providing this information and helping us share.
I’ve always thought that Rene was a knitters’ knitter. She was interested in its complex and challenging aspects and it was fun to see what she was up to on each visit. From the Cricket days and making scarves through the Maggie Jackson fashion show and everyone’s favorite Superbowl and Leapyear sales, Rene was such a great companion along the journey. She let people dream and who could ask for a better friend than that? She had just recently said to me in deciding to move and continue with the store, “I think I’m pretty good at doing this, don’t you?” Yes Renee, you were the best.
I just found out about Renee. I will miss her very much.
She taught me to cable when I thought it was impossible to learn but she dryly explained that practice made perfact. It took time but was true. Renee helped me personally with my fears of leaving the house and driving.Somehow she could explain how I had to touch and see the yarns. I will miss her very much!
I just found out the very sad news last week. When I ran to find the perfect yarn I always found in her store only to find it to be closed. I started taking classes a few years ago. I knitted as a teenager and decades later picked it up. Renee always helped me out it so many ways. She was also a friend of my teenage son who also started knitting once he found it was a great way to meet girls. My son helped sort yarn for her and inventory. I have knitted three scarves since I heard of the news. I realieze how much she affected our life. We will miss her and rememeber her fondly.
Renee’s death is such a shock – was hoping to see her this week so that she could once again give me her sage advise and give me her opinions! I am deeply sorry about her passing – please pass along my sympathy to her family and friends.
i send sincere condolences to Renee’s family.
My heart hurts after learning of this sudden loss. Her creative vision, expert advise, and cheerful demeanor and wit will be missed. Once I entered her store about 7 – 8 years ago, I knew I’d found my new “favoriteist” yarn supplier!
I was curious if there was a FIBERWORKS group on the Ravelry website today and happened to visit the store’s homepage where I learned of the news. The local yarn store community has lost a treasure in Renee.
I am so sad to hear about Renee’s passing. I live in Minnesota and whenever I visit family in Maryland I visit Fiberworks and Renee to see what is new and get a little “vacation yarn”. We would talk about her college in St Paul which is near where I live. Renee was a pleasure to visit and I will miss her and the shop.
I only met Renee this past winter and she taught me how to knit. I’m so sad to hear this news, I’m sorry that I didn’t find out earlier. Condolences to her family, I will miss her and the shop.
I just heard about Renee’s passing. Condolences to her family. I met Renee when she was in back of the Cricket Bookshop and she inspired me to knit again. She was such a talented fiber artist! I’m working on an afghan with yarn that Renee heled me pick out. I was going to see her for help with assembly. I don’t have a shop, but if it is decided to have a sale of her inventory I would like to come. We always joked about that special piggy bank she had for so many years. I told her looked everywhere and could never find one like it. Will surely miss her.
I am really saddened and shocked that renee has passed. She was one of my favorite people and soooooooo
talented! She has been on my mind since early Sept. I just this week (Nov) tried to call the shop and found out the phone had been disconnected–that’s when I knew something was WRONG!!!!! Renee had a full life but it is sad hers was cut short suddenly. We will all miss her greatly.
What a gem she was!
Thanks.
Pam
I have been looking for Renee for the past month and a half. I heard she was moving and wet up to that store. Looking up her phone number today, I came across this website.
My daughter and I always enjoyed going to see Renee, showing her what we were knitting, and looking for more yarn. Renee was the one person I turned to for advice on knitting…..she always had great ideas. I’m imagining that she is teaching the angels to knit, right now.
I was shocked to hear of Renee’s passing and will greatly miss her. She had the best selection of yarn anywhere. The yarn she selected was fun and spunky. When I walked in the shop I felt like I was in wonderland. I could crochet but lerned to knit because of the scarfs Renee had displayed using her wonderful yarns which always inspired me. Renee was a joy and I loved spending time with her and will miss her wit and wisdom.
Janice
Whenever I’m back in MD, a visit to Ashton is always on my itinerary. Even though we have super yarn shops here in England, I often think ‘if only I could go to Fiberworks I’d be sure to find what I have in mind.’
I always look in US knitting mags under MARYLAND, because I liked to see Fiberworks listed and smile at the fun memories the name brings back. Noticed it was missing in the most recent Knitters Magazine and went online to investigate.
I am so sorry to read of her passing. Our loss is heaven’s gain.
The news reads as if Renee was opening a new shop?
This summer I was knitting up some yarn I’d bought from Renee back in the 1990s on some wooden circular needles I’d bought on my last visit – May 2009.
I hadn’t been up to Fiberworks since sometime in the summer, and just this afternoon brought my son’s new girlfriend (a fine young knitter) up to Ashton to see if Renee could match some anonymous yarn she was working into a neck gaiter, and was greeted by the locked door without the decoration. We all peeked through the window and saw the empty room. I knew that Renee had intended to move the shop, so we returned home to look at the website to find out where she went; what a shock to learn that she has gone away from us for good. When I close my eyes I can still picture the shop with her and all the yarn in it; I will try to hold that image in my head for as long as I can.
I would just like to thank all of you about your kind words and memories of my aunt. My family and I truly appreciate it.
God, we missed Renee so much, my daughter and I were with her on Sunday the 19th helping her to move to her new place. We usually came to knit with her every saturday. Our Saturdays feel so weird now.
A perfect outing for my friend Mary Ann and I has always been a visit to Renee and then the Cricket book store. I always go thinking I will just look and end up with a new pattern or yarn or both. I will really miss those visits but everytime I work on any of those projects (most still incomplete!) I will think fondly of Renee. Right now it is Noro Kuryeon socks for my nieces.
I just received the news of Renee’s passing from a friend.I’m very sorry we’ve lost her. I had been to the shop twice in the past couple of months and was puzzled about why it was not open. I’m a beginning knitter. I started about a year ago. Renee was very kind and patient with me and my many questions.She always went above and beyond to be helpful to this newbie. Once I told her how much I loved a hat that she had knitted for display so she offered to write out the pattern for me. She will be missed. My condolences to her family and friends.
Today I accessed FiberWorks website to check the hours and learned of Renee’s passing. I will so miss her. Over the years she has helped me with many knitting and crochet projects. I am a bit stunned and saddened here this evening. God bless her and I hope she has all the yarn her heart desires in heaven.
I’m so sorry to learn of Renee’s death. I will miss her kindness. My condolences to her family & friends.
I think I must have come the farthest to patronize Renee–NYC. Going there helped me thru losing my dad back in ’97, my mom in 2001, & my younger brother in 2006. God bless her, now who helps thru losing RENEE? I was just getting ready to stop by after the Xmas holidays with my older brother…added condolences to her family.
I was shocked and so saddened to hear of Renee’s death she was always so patient with helping me take out and start over and often times would do the difficiult parts of the finishing for me. She taught me so much and I can’t imagine finding another knitter who would be so patient. She was one of a kind and could work wonders with those knitting needles.
Renee, we will miss you. I pray that you at peace.
Patt
I’m so sorry. I went up to the store yesterday and saw that the store was gone… I loved going in here and chatting with Renee. She always had time to talk, and I always planned to come to one of her classes. I’m so sad…she and her shop will really be missed.
I met Renee 23 years ago when I first moved her from the midwest. Fiberworks was my favorite shop and I enjoyed shopping her clearance bins as much as I enjoyed purchasing her sock yarns, specialty yarns and wool for felting. She was always so helpful to my family and me in helping us choose yarns, showing us how to read our patterns or explaining how she made an item…the last interaction I had with her was when I brought my college aged daughter in to learn how to knit. Renee was very patient and very kind to her as she helped Noelle choose yarn. She told her to come in anytime she had a question on her project. We still feel her absence.
I recently found out about Renee’s passing while surfing the Net for people I used to know. I wanted to learn how to knit and Renee was just the person to teach me. Can’t say I had much talent then and I still don’t, but Renee was so patient with me. She encouraged me, even though she had to know my talents were elsewhere! Thank you so much Renee. My sincere condolences to her family and friends.
I just found out about Renee’s passing today 1/15/12 since my moving away from the area. I’m crushed and sadden about the loss of a wonderful person. I’d known Renee for at least 20 years when I starting creating baby blankets and outfits when my first grandson was born and four more grandbabies thereafter. Renee was my savor to my many dilemas with crocheting and my new found hobby in knitting. My condolences to her family and friends.