About KnitWillo

I'm not quite sure whether I would call myself a writer who knits or a knitter who writes. I learned to knit when I was four by which time I already knew that I wanted to write fiction.

Some years ago, encouraged by positive feedback from one of the country's best-known literary agents, I gave up a regular job, sold my house and began to write full-time. As the savings from the house sale dwindled, I began to supplement my income by offering quality hand-knitted clothes and accessories. KnitWillo was born on a sunny day as I sat knitting under a willow tree in my garden. I have since added toys and homewares to the range and it now provides me with enough income on which to live as well as paying for writing time and paper.

Throughout this time, Jannette at Jannette's Rare Yarns has been my regular yarn supplier. Invaluable when I have needed advice on yarns, I have always been able to rely on her to deliver on time. If I quote a 7-10 day delivery time on bespoke orders, I don't need to be waiting four of those days for the yarn. In the Spring of 2013 she came to me with the idea of offering a limited range of knitted baby gifts via her website. It makes a lot of sense. I'm sure she must already feel that she has so much input into my colour palettes and choice of yarns that she does everything for me but the knitting! And with the Royal baby due in the summer of 2013, we had an ideal starting point and the perfect goal to work towards. Knitted baby slippers; a regal gift for precious princely and princess-like babies everywhere without a 'king's ransom' price tag.

First Footings, the name for the new venture with Jannette's Rare Yarns sprang from the ethos behind everything I knit combined with my inner writer's love of folklore. In Scottish and Northern English folklore, the first-foot is the dark-haired person who must be the first to cross the threshold on New Year's Day, bringing with them several gifts, to ensure good luck and prosperity for the coming year. This dark-haired woman can't guarantee good luck or prosperity but I can promise the cutest little pair of baby's first shoes to cross any threshold at any time of the year.