2019-07-01_Simply_Knitting

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She and my other tutors encouraged me to design, combining all my

crafting skills together, so some of my designs had elements of both

hand and machine knitting with hand embroidery and beading. After

that, I upgraded my HND into a BA (Hons) then studied at Heriot-

Watt University in the Scottish Borders for an MDes in Textile Design,

once again specialising in knit.

How did you become a designer?

I started by designing freelance, selling knit and embroidery designs

through an agent to fashion designers and brands, and at the same

time worked as a technician on a degree course. From there, I’ve

designed for hand-knitting magazines (including Simply Knitting),

I also run a yarn shop and I’ve authored books of hand knitting

patterns. A couple of years ago, I worked with Erika Knight to create

a couple of designs for her yarn label.

Tell us about your first big knitting project...

When living in Scotland, I worked on a few jobs for the advertising

industry. One of the most memorable was a TV commercial

encouraging people to insulate the loft area of their houses. My

brief was to knit the props that were being filmed and animated,

including a telephone, phone number and a beanie that appeared to

F

rom knitting with her mother to studying in the Scottish

Borders, Hove-based hand-knit designer Jeanette tells

us what first got her hooked on her hobby and how it

blossomed into her dream career.

When did you start knitting?

I learnt to knit when I was seven – I was bored one day and asked my

mum to teach me... it started from there. My mum was an amazing

knitter – I loved that her fingers moved so quickly as she worked.

The way she held her needles and yarn was always so elegant too.

What are your earliest memories of knitting?

I remember when I was young, feeling frustrated at how much

stocking stitch fabric curled. Mum once gave me some bright red

acrylic yarn and I tried making a scarf for my doll with it. I must have

been pulling really tightly because I still recall the squeaking noise it

made every time I tried to slide the stitches along the needles.

Where have you studied?

I studied for my HND in textiles, specialising in knit at Amersham

College. There I learned machine knitting. One of my tutors was Jane

Chadwick of British knitted accessories brand Quinton Chadwick.

M

knittin

Aclassicdesign

broughtup-to-dateby

contemporarycolours

A happycollaboration:

Camelliasweaterdesign

forErikaKnight

Jeanette’s North Point

wrap featured in Issue

134 of The Knitter

Jeanette’s mum knitting

• a linotype from
  Jeanette’s school days

orne

Designer Jeanette Sloan talks about how knitting isn’t just a job

and pastime she loves, it’s crucial to her well-being and health