My mum taught me to knit as a child.
My first badge at Brownies was my knitting badge.
I have loved knitting ever since.
My love of all things knitted started young. My Mum was a professional knitter for a yarn company. This was before the days of Tech Editors and Test Knitters. They sent the yarn and a type-written pattern. Mum knitted it, corrected any errors, posted it back to them to sew up and use the finished garment for the published knitting pattern.
Over my 50+ years of knitting, I have made many, many things. The photo’s in the Gallery are some of the things made for friends and family in recent years.
My career started more formally with a Chemistry Degree and working in Industry as a Process Controller in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. After several years I became Technical Manager responsible for running a team of people.
There have been many twists and turns since this, including working for a Market Research Company, fundraising for a local Wildlife Trust and over 20 years as an Equine Insurance Advisor.
During this time I also qualified as a Shiatsu Therapist and Acupuncturist. My passion for Chinese Medicine and working to help people remains firmly in place.
This combination of skill sets have all come together with me becoming a Knitting Tech Editor – something I am very proud about. I enjoy working with numbers and equations; I love working and building relationships with people and am a strong advocate of good customer service.
During my journey to becoming a Tech Editor, I also learnt about Test Knitting. I love it! Test Knitters are a group of people who knit the item for the pattern designer before the pattern is published. The designer will request Test Knitters for all the sizes to check their instructions work and that the final measurements all work. Test knitting is a great way to get to know Pattern Designers; its a great way to see the different presentations of patterns; its a great way to work with people in different countries; its the most fantastic way of learning new techniques.
I have lived with my partner, Steve, for over 30 years on a smallholding just North of Colchester, Essex, UK and look after horses, chickens, a dog, a cat, a large garden and vegetable plot.