When did you first start knitting / crocheting and where did you learn?
I started four years ago when pregnant with my son Edward. I had been a knitter for 6 years previous to that and one day decided to learn to crochet. Using YouTube I quickly grasped the British double crochet stitch (US single crochet) and I never looked back. I could make 3D shapes quickly and simply in a way that I couldn't when knitting.
Can you remember the first thing you made?
The first thing I ever crocheted was Bridget the Elephant from Edward's Menagerie. Instead of following a pattern I just picked up the hook and the shape just formed – the hard part was writing the pattern down! I have still to this date never crocheted from anyone else's pattern.
Who are your favourite pattern designers and celebrity knitters & crocheters?
I really enjoy Instagram (@TOFT_uk). Some of my favourite accounts to follow are:
@the.hook.nook
@thecrochetproj
@julietta_id
What are your favourite things to stitch and do you have a favorite item you've made?
My favourite thing to make is new and unique Edward's Menagerie animals. Having covered all the popular and common animals in my book, I am now moving on to more specialist animals (whether it be a Chinese Crested dog or a Quokka) and having lots of fun. I enjoy the challenge of spending ten minutes on Google images, then closing the screen down and reimagining the defining features of that creature with my hook.
What music/podcasts/TV shows do you love to stitch along to?
It might sound bizarre to some, but I usually choose silence! Often I am writing down the pattern as I go along, so I need to retain concentration or before I know it I've got a lovely looking animal, but absolutely no idea how I made it!
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I do still knit from time to time, and especially in the winter when it's hat season! I love to design and knit big chunky hats. Being a mum with a young family and running an ever-expanding business gives me little time for many hobbies beyond yarny ones. I love exploring new places though, whether that be walking my dog a different route on an evening down an unknown road, or going on long family holidays.
Clothes
Hats
