My Gran, Freda, taught me to knit as a child and it’s a hobby I’ve never stopped. I find knitting extremely relaxing and meditative. I can’t sit still for long if I’m not doing something. Knitting forces me to sit down and relax. I love following a knitting pattern and producing something at the end of it. I especially love it if I’m learning a new technique and have to really think before I master it.

I remember many happy holidays in Cornwall, raiding Gran’s yarn stash and patterns to knit tea cosies, dolls’ clothes (including the latest trouser suit and ski suit for Barbie), gloves, jumpers, anything! Gran would be sat with knitting needles clacking furiously as she knitted a new jumper for one of her grandchildren. I’d ask her advice if I got stuck or went wrong. I was in awe of how she’d be able to look at my knitting and see exactly where the mistake was and fix it. Roll on thirty years, and as I teach people to knit I amaze myself. I can find and fix mistakes in the same way!

Every female member of my family knits: my mum, sister, aunt and cousins. I love that we are collectively continuing the tradition that my Gran passed to us all. It is a common skill she taught us that makes me feel really connect to them all.

Modern, contemporary style is really important to me. Knitting quite often conjures up images of fussy, unattractive and often poor fitting garments. I decided to start designing a few knitting patterns to make fashionable accessories: scarves, hats, gloves, and home-ware. I’ve had the fortune to work closely with Wool Couture in Barnsley, designing a pattern that they sold as knitting kits.

Up until a few months ago, I was planning to expand my creative business into selling yarn, knitting kits, knitting needles, and so on. But in July 2018 I became a mother. My little boy is understandably the centre of my world and until I get more time I’ve decided to focus on designing knitting patterns. Who knows what the future will hold?