Hello and welcome to The Knitting Shed.
We are Louise and Nicola, two sisters bought up in a family where we were encouraged to make and create. If you saw something you wanted first of all you tried making it yourself.
We remember balsa wood models of gyspy caravans, crystal radio sets and model boats. We made our own clothes, Nicola sewing her first skirt, aged eight, in sky blue polka dots with enormous pockets and Louise teaching herself to knit in an era before Youtube, big shouldered mohair jumpers in primary colours. We had aspirations but very little style! We both worked as Saturday girls in the village haberdashery enthusiastically spending all our earnings on ambitious new projects which were rarely finished.
In between we’ve both had creative careers. Louise as Nursery Manager to a highly acclaimed nursery, propagating and growing rare plants, Nicola as a freelance Food Stylist to various photographic studios.
We are now both West Sussex, living in impractical period cottages set at the edge of the Downs. Still avid knitters, sewing, gardening and growing our own vegetables. Beautiful local views inspire our hand dyed yarns and patterns and spark new creative ideas for The Knitting Shed. We haven’t moved far from our early obsessions!