Hi! My name’s Nicki and “Being Knitterly” is my blog about knitting and stitching, creating and making.
My love of working with fabric and yarn goes back to my childhood. Although I learnt to crochet, as well as many styles of embroidery and dressmaking, the ability to hand-knit eluded me, despite the endeavours of family members. In my late teens, I had a eureka moment. I realised that being severely left-handed was the cause of my knit difficulties; once this was solved knitting rapidly became my passion.
I’ve worked as a biochemist and a biology teacher for many years. Recently, I completed a Graduate Diploma in Fashion Knitwear Design, followed by an MA in Fashion and Textiles, both at Nottingham Trent University. During my MA research, I transferred traditional hand-knit techniques to fully computerised knitting machines, developing a craft-based methodology for working on these machines, You can imagine that my scientific training was very useful! My final pieces, inspired by natural forms, were large sculptural installations knitted in a synthetic monofilament. This project brought together apparently disparate aspects of my life: an early interest in natural history, a love of traditional craft skills and the ability to use complex technology.
I’m working on new projects, both hand and machine knit, and am looking forward to sharing these.
