Who, What, Why?

Hello!  I am Jacqui Pearce ...  designer, writer, homemaker and business women who likes to create stuff! 

Granny Knits is my crafty alter ego ... 

My childhood was filled with homespun crafts influenced by 2 ladies from the original 'Make Do and Mend Generations' - my Grandma Dora (a lover of crafts, pattern and colour), and my mum (who taught me how to sew, knit and crochet).   I still knock up designs and samples on the old family Singer machine I learnt to sew on... and on which my mum made me a wealth of ric rac covered clothing in the 70’s!  

All of my creative endeavours are filled with my own style of Nostalgic Chic...  and I can’t help but admire and create things which are filled with colour, pattern, nostalgia and a good dose of wit and humour…  The name Granny Knits seemed to sum this up..  not naff nanny Christmas jumpers - but modern designs with a respect for their crafty roots.

My first love is textiles.. the more colour and pattern the better, which is why I love cross stitch, embroidery and tapestry.  I also have a long time love of sewing (fashion background) and crochet...  but whilst I designed knitwear for 5 years for a fashion house, I am embarrassed to admit that I am a bit rubbish at hand knitting myself and prefer to work on machines.

I love to collaborate with like minded folk on different things..  and earn a few extra pounds contributing to editorial and write a monthly column; plus I am super thrilled that my first craft book will be published worldwide in 2012.

We have been making our living selling our creative collections since 2004 – Pearl and Earl (lifestyle, home, art)  Granny Knits (crafty stitching kits and bits) and Nostalgic Events (decorations and delights for chic celebrations)…

Whilst we have been lucky enough to win lots of awards for our businesses – they are still very much small family concerns run with my husband and a few pals in our home town of historic Arundel – in the Sussex Downs National Park in the south of England

I feel super lucky that I get to create things that I love, that other people seem to like too.

Happy Stitching,

        Jacqui & the Crafty Crew at Granny Knits