Some words from Gayle and Andrea, creators of Tara Handknits:

18 years ago we, Andrea and Gayle Shackleton, two sisters from Northern California started designing and knitting sweaters by hand. With a love of fine art, heirloom knitting, crochet, antique buttons and trims, we created one of a kind pieces for private collections and galleries. We now design both Hot Knots and Tara sweaters and our lines also include fine dresses, accessories, and children's sweaters.

At home in Arcata, California where Hot Knots is based, we have a small group of talented women working together to create fine pieces of wearable art. In the last year we have also opened a store in this little gold rush town. It has been a great new source of creativity and inspiration.

In 1990 ATA (Aid to Artisans) asked us to help out with a woman's knitting cooperative in Nepal. Now, more than 10 years later, we are lucky enough to still work with the wonderful woman of ACP (Association of Craft Producers). The Tara sweaters are handknit by ACP a non-profit woman's cooperative in Kathmandu, Nepal. We are proud to say they now own their own studios. Increased wages, retirement programs, health care and educational scholarships are a few of the benefits available to the knitters. ACP dyes all of the yarn for the Tara sweaters with technology that is clean and non-polluting. Being given the opportunity to work with ACP has been one of the richest experiences of our lives. Named for the Nepali Goddess of compassion, Tara represents our ever-expanding collaboration.