Carol Anderson moved to Osage from northern Wisconsin as a high school sophomore when her father began construction of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church — a striking limestone landmark that has since been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1955, after marrying Paul Anderson, Carol returned to Wisconsin, where Paul taught high school in Monona for 32 years. During those years, Carol devoted herself to raising their four children while also attending the University of Wisconsin. After earning her degree, she taught special education in the Madison public schools for 20 years.

Even with a full family life and teaching career, knitting was always woven into Carol’s days. She taught knitting to 4-H members, conducted adult vocational classes, judged county fairs, and in 1983 co-founded Cottage Creations with her partner, Kristi Williams.

Following her retirement from teaching in 1993, Carol and Paul left Cottage Grove and moved to a country acreage in Iowa. During those years, Carol’s knitting influence expanded nationwide. She led workshops across the country, hosted week-long retreats in Door County, Wisconsin, taught summer sessions at Sievers on Washington Island, guided a group of knitters on a tour to Norway, and hosted knitting cruises along the Mississippi River and to Alaska.

After nearly 30 years of rural living, Paul and Carol returned to Osage in June 2022 — encouraged by their children and mindful of the changing needs that come with their eighties. In January 2026, Paul Gerhart Anderson passed away peacefully, with his loving wife and daughter, Lori, by his side.

Carol cherishes a growing family of five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, living in Wisconsin, Colorado, and North Carolina.

In 2024, Carol sold Cottage Creations to David Emert, who is honored to carry forward her remarkable legacy and keep her designs available for future generations of knitters.

I was born and raised in Rochester, New York, the second youngest of seven kids — five sisters and one brother — so I learned early how to find my place in a lively household. In 2003, my spouse and I moved to Collingswood, New Jersey, never imagining that a simple act of generosity would change the direction of my life.

In the fall of 2011, our dear friends Joe and Olivia gave me Joe’s mother’s knitting supplies when she was no longer able to knit. I didn’t yet know it, but that gift was the nudge I needed. I signed up for a continuing education knitting class at Haddon Township High School with Therese Inverso — and let’s just say, it was not love at first stitch.

I dropped stitches constantly. The bamboo needles felt awkward. The yarn stuck. My first class almost became my last. I put the half-finished hat down in frustration — but a few days later, I picked it back up. By the midpoint of the class, I had finished that hat. And something shifted.

Before long, I was knitting backpacks and countless pairs of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s Add-A-Booties — so many that Meg Swansen affectionately dubbed me the “ADD-A-BOOTIE King.” What started as a challenge quickly became a passion.

In January 2020, Therese introduced me to knitting designer Carol Anderson. Carol hired me to digitize her entire collection of patterns — even the out-of-print ones. What began as work soon became friendship. Over the next few years, we shared stories that brought laughter, perspective, and yes — sometimes tears. Many of Carol’s wonderful stories are now shared here on the website.

Then, on February 24, 2024, Carol called me and asked a question that completely surprised me: “Have you ever thought about buying the Cottage Creations business from me?” That one question set everything in motion. On May 31, 2024, we officially closed the sale of Cottage Creations, and I became the steward of her remarkable legacy.

Today my spouse and I live in Wilton Manors, Florida, and I’m still knitting — of course. I teach a weekly class at my local 4-H club, which feels especially meaningful since Carol also volunteered with 4-H in her community. It feels like another thread that connects us.

I’m deeply honored to carry forward Carol’s work and to keep Cottage Creations patterns available for knitters today and for generations to come.