Mary A. Blythe

Mary A. Blythe was born, raised, and lives in eastern Iowa. Because she was raised around antiques and an appreciation for history, she has always been attracted to what she considers heirloom crafts. Penny rugs, punchneedle, and rug hooking have been what drives her passion for handwork.

In 2006, she opened The Woolen Needle, a quilt and wool shop in Williamsburg, Iowa with a group of fellow stitchers. While there, she designed more than twenty-five patterns and dyed the yarn and wool for the shop. In 2010, the shop was blessed with the honor of being named one of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine's Top 10 Quilt Shops.

Since selling the shop in 2011, she has been designing and creating new patterns for Blythe Girl Designs, her pattern design company. All of her designs are influenced by her collection and love of antiques, heirloom handwork, and the wool itself.