Marissa Alain Stitched by Marissa
Like a patchwork quilt, the variety of crafts that begin with a single stitch are only limited by the artists’ own imagination. Marissa Alain is passionate about all things needles and yarn, including crochet, knitting, embroidery, punch needle, and needle felting.
She recently moved to Sparwood after five years in Fernie. Originally from Calgary, she began sewing as a young girl and graduated from Olds College in 2019, having studied Costume Construction and Design where she recreated vintage garments from scratch and learned drafting, draping, and other skills.
Alain arrived in the Elk Valley during the pandemic, doing sewing projects and formal alterations as a side hustle. An invitation to teach led to Art in the Park sessions and then workshops at the Art Station. She enjoys helping people find their craft, focusing on the joy of the activity rather than a predetermined outcome.
From the tiniest felted creatures to wearables including sweaters, bags and hats, her work is both whimsical and functional. Her crochet chickens are tiny warming hugs thanks to hidden interior rice bags that can be heated in the microwave.
On June 20, she is offering a full-day immersive experience at 6 Acre Farm in Grasmere. The workshop will begin by retrieving fibres from alpaca or Rambouillet sheep, then cleaning and preparing the raw fleece. This immersive day includes transportation, a farm tour, lunch, and a relaxed afternoon of crochet using yarn from the farm. She offers regular Sip & Stitch sessions in Sparwood & Fernie, and a variety of workshops at the Arts Station in Fernie and other locations. When not stitching, she loves paddleboarding at Grave Lake or Koocanusa with her partner.
For more information or to book a workshop, visit stitchedbymarissa. com
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