Our Staff

Barbara Lagos

Barbara Lagos, Froufrou owner, opened the store in the fall of 2003. Having an art and design background she knows how beautiful things inspire every day life. Learning techniques from her mother, Barbara has always designed patterns and knitted garments. Her experience working for her brother, Steven Lagos, world renowned jewelry designer, helped prepare her for this next adventure.

Barbara wanted to create an inviting and encouraging atmosphere where knitters of all levels would want to be. She saw the potential to create an artistic and fashion forward kind of knitting.

The Italian yarn mills had started the trend to create different sorts of yarns. They were metallic and bumpy, thick and thin…often in the same yarn. Other mills followed, and knitting choices exploded. It became possible for even beginner knitters to create fabulous garments using simple knitting stitches. The yarn was doing the design work.

Barbara’s positive energy is the hallmark of the store. Even the occasional visitor is likely to hear her say, “Oh, that’s easy to do…we can help you with that.” Or “No problem, we can adapt the pattern for that yarn.”

And before you can even think to doubt her—you’re starting a new project.

Bobbi Rowe

A big challenge to Bobbi’s knitting skills is how to knit while keeping her two dogs (Colby and Chancy) on her lap. She finds the flexibility of circular needles to works the best to keep everyone safe.

Those two dogs were part of how Bobbi became a part of the Froufrou staff. A friend (Phyllis from the Tuesday afternoon group) had told her the shop was opening. A good friend to Phyllis (and good neighbor in Berwyn) Bobbi took the dogs for a walk and went to introduce herself to Barbara.

Bobbi had learned to knit as a young bride (making a sweater for her new husband) and then didn’t look at a set of needles till the scarf craze of the early 21st century. Barbara inspired Bobbi to knit a Wedding Shawl for her daughter’s upcoming wedding. Created with ivory and silver yarns of various textures and weight, Bobbi presented the shawl at the wedding shower—her daughter was touched and thrilled with the gift.

Knowing first hand how satisfying knitting can be, Bobbi came to work in the shop she had visited that day with Colby and Chancy. Always learning, and sharing that knowledge with customers, she has moved far beyond knitting and purling.

Jennifer Mihok

Did you ever know someone whose passion for color is so great that they decide to buy some paint and redecorate a room—in a day? A person whose imagination is never limited by typical combinations and is inspired to create spark and flair?

That person at Froufrou is Jennifer.

Jennifer is a “new knitter.” She walked into Froufrou in January 2004. Barbara showed her how to knit a scarf with a novelty yarn, and Jennifer was then making scarves for craft shows, fundraisers and consignment shops. Two months later she was working at Froufrou.

At Froufrou, Jennifer has learned to read patterns, determine gauge, and create button holes. More interested in knitting for herself and working with more demanding projects, Jennifer sees the shop as a great place to learn something new each day.

But it’s not just about the knitting.

It’s great to meet women in different stages of life. There are women from the business world seeking a calming activity after a day of meetings and phone calls. There are women starting the swirl of PTA volunteer activities; women who are saying good bye to all that. Grandmothers and great grandmothers come in to create garments for the next generation.

Jennifer sees everyone united by the pleasure they take working with great yarns to create something special.

Judy Uhrich

Living by the adage that it only counts as a project if it’s on needles, Judy rarely has fewer than 5 projects underway. A caplet, an afghan, a family of sheep….her repertoire is always an inspiration. Considering the number of craft shows she actively sells for, that’s no surprise!

Judy is the only one of the Froufrou staff who learned to knit from reading a book. Although the women on her father’s side of the family were skilled crafters (embroidering, crocheting, even weaving) she had not considered knitting until a dull afternoon in college. Following the directions in the book, she started to knit a sweater. Although she ripped it out, she was inspired enough to keep on knitting.

Teaching elementary school for 39 years, Judy especially enjoys teaching customers how to get started with knitting. She finds knitting and working at Froufrou to be fascinating. The warmth of the customers and the support of the staff makes life long learning the pleasure it is intended to be.

Julie Kincade

As a college student, Julie took some time to enroll in a knitting class. Convincing her mother and sister to join her, it turned out that Julie was crazy about knitting, but her mother and sister went on to find other interests. Maybe they were deterred by the challenges of creating a fitted garment—a cable knit sweater, no less! But Julie was excited by the challenge.

When Julie’s first child was born, she became engrossed with creating sweaters, hats and mittens. Joining a class (again!) she became part of a group of women who met weekly. Everyone worked on a different project and shared the tips and techniques for inspiration for the next project. Great as the inspiration was, so was the night out with dad at home with the kids!

When her three children decided that mom’s knitted garments were not appealing (a sad moment for all knitting mothers) Julie went on to knit afghans and of course more sweaters for herself, family and friends.

Working at FrouFrou allows Julie to share her skills and passion with others. She particularly enjoys teaching the baby garment classes, and now her children have rediscovered the pleasure of their mother’s efforts. Currently working on an afghan with the Penn State lion, Julie is also creating a shrug for stylish teenage daughter.

Beth Wright

Beth is an advocate of car knitting. Not to knit while driving, but to knit during those times between car pool pick ups for any of her soccer playing children. A car knitting project needs to be a “no brainer” one that is portable and requires a minimal amount of counting or changing yarns.

Beth knitted as an elementary school student, starting with knitting scarves—lots of them. She soon discovered the pleasure of Icelandic and Portuguese patterns whose intricate color combinations demanded some close attention. Living in New England and thriving in the cold north eastern winters, gave her multiple opportunities to wear the raglan sleeved sweaters she enjoyed creating.

An avid yarn collector, Beth has multiple projects (she won’t confess to a precise number) underway at any given point. Attracted by the color, the texture and the sheer possibilities of yarn, she has a bag established for each project…and, yes, she knows the ones that will make it into the car.

What with the Farmer’s Almanac predicting a snowy, cold winter, Beth will never be stranded without a project and, most importantly, she’ll be able to keep everyone warm.