Kelly Kanyok -Textile Artist, Founder, and Owner of Orphaned Wool

 Kelly Kanyok - Artist, Founder & Owner of Orphaned Wool  

Artist Biography

Kelly Kanyok - Textile Artist

Artist, Founder, and Owner of Orphaned Wool – A pattern design company specializing in textile patterns since 2017, located in Northeast Ohio.

The Orphaned Wool pattern collection focuses on textile designs, primarily used in rug hooking and punch needle art. However, Kelly’s unique patterns can also be used for other fiber arts, including needlework and embroidery.

Designing and creating patterns encompasses everything that inspires Kelly’s creative spirit. Her love for Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts Movement is reflected in the structure and use of color in many of her designs.

Since childhood, she has been drawn to the fiber arts. As a teenager, she was part of a small business that sold decorative home accessories locally. The company grew to a nationwide wholesale company with a permanent display showroom in New York City's Buyers Mart. She worked with petite boutiques, as well as nationwide stores like JCPenney. She also created custom products for Estee Lauder. With the rise of imported goods, the marketplace changed, and the business was sold.

Years later, when her children were older, her passion for creating was resurrected with her newfound time. Kelly was introduced to rug hooking by a friend she met at yoga. This began her journey, eventually leading her to found Orphaned Wool – a memorable company name that captures the idea of giving new life to previously used wool fabrics.

Orphaned Wool patterns are sold worldwide and featured in renowned fiber arts magazines and shows.

• Punch Needle Primitive Stitcher Magazine - 2020 - Current

• ATHA Magazine, Cover Art and Feature Story - 2018

• Rug Hooking Magazine - Celebration Issue - 2017

• Sauder Village Celebrations Show - 2017

• ATHA Biennial Show - 2017

She is an active member of ATHA (Association of Traditional Hooking Artists) and several Rug Hooking Guilds. Her mission is to expand the Fiber Arts Community by teaching and sharing her joy and knowledge of working in the fiber arts.

Kelly Kanyok – Textile Artist

My passion for creating fiber arts has been part of my life since childhood. While not formally trained in the arts, working with textiles has always been a continual source of joy. Designing the patterns, selecting the color palette, creating the design, and bringing them to market are truly fulfilling. Orphaned Wool is a genuine source of joy as it encompasses everything that inspires my passion for creating and sharing my work with others.

I find the rhythmic cycle of pulling up hand-dyed wool strips to create loops in the rug hooking process, or the steady cadence of punching thread through the foundation fabric, very meditative. The Zen-like process of creating fiber art is truly a gift.

I aim to share my designs and knowledge to expand the fiber arts community. In addition, I aim to inspire other artists who want to learn these forms of artwork by providing information and guidance on how to create textile art through my website and my continued teaching.

I hope that Orphaned Wool patterns will provide you with a beautiful design resource to further your creativity; whether you enjoy: rug hooking, punch needle, embroidery, Oxford rug punching, or needlework, these patterns were created for you!