We had a lovely catch up with the incredible knitter that is Annah from Pattern Knits! Let’s see what she’s been up to!

Tell us a little bit about yourself – your background, general day-to-day life, and hobbies (other than crafting).

Hi! I’m Annah, fan of all things textiles. I live in Sussex with my husband Jake, and baby Wren, and am a teacher of D&T and Art at a secondary school. I’ve always been drawn towards creating – whether that’s sewing, knitting, jewellery making or photography, so teaching creative subjects is so much fun! I studied Textiles at university, specialising in woven textiles (knit wasn’t an option at that point, sadly) and have worked with fabric in some capacity since then. I don’t think I really have any hobbies that don’t involve creating in some capacity! It’s a real passion – my dad described our wedding as an ‘art project’ as I’d DIYed so much of it!

Tell us a fun fact about you!

I ran my own gifting business for six years, making personalised cushions and other gifts using vintage maps. It was a real adventure, and I loved it!

When and why did you start crafting?

I think it probably started as a toddler with crayons, sequins and pasta necklaces! I remember getting obsessed with designing swimming costumes around the 2000 Olympics, and then started creating accessories for friends when I was about 16, and have been skipping from craft to craft since then. I tend to start an idea, get super focused on it, make lots – but then move on to the next thing, which explains my extensive craft stash! My parents always encouraged me to be creative, and making and using my hands definitely helps me to feel calm, relaxed but also like I’ve achieved something.

Do you have specific inspiration behind any of your projects?

My big blanket started with Portuguese ‘azulejos’ (highly decorative tiles) that we saw in Lisbon, but I’ve drawn inspiration from many different sources since then. When I started the blanket project, it was to help with a period of anxiety I was experiencing, but has become so much more than that. The fact that it’s so modular and can be worked on a small amount at a time makes it really addictive.

In 2022, I created patterns inspired by each month of the year which was a really fun challenge.

What is your favourite square you’ve done so far?

I think probably the two birds, although I also love the geometrics and the September ‘daisy’ flowers (which aren’t part of the main blanket). Don’t make me choose!

What three things are essential to set the vibe for a full day of crafting?

Ooh. A candle lit, a drink of some kind (coffee, hot chocolate or wine, depending on the time of day!) and a good podcast!

What does your creative process look like?

It depends on the inspiration, but I’ll use the September ‘daisy’ pattern as an example. I started with reference pictures/cut flowers, and sketched them out simply. My squares are all 21 stitches square, so each motif or pattern needs to be simplified a lot onto a 21×21 grid. It takes quite a lot of trial and error to keep the ‘essence’ of the inspiration, but I’ll usually come out with two to five different patterns based on that inspiration. I’ll then knit them and make any adjustments needed.

What crafty designers are you loving at the moment?

I love Knitting For Olive’s patterns for baby clothes, they’re so beautifully designed! I’m also obsessed with Katryn Seeburger’s Heirloom Quilt Cardigan, which I think has a very similar vibe to my blanket, although I’m yet to give it a go.

How would you describe your style?

Colourful, eclectic and patterned! Definitely not minimalist.

What yarns do you like using the most and why?

Drops Nepal is my go-to for these squares, although I’m also loving Cascade 220 for its infinite range of colours.

What are your future plans for Pattern Knits?

I’m currently on maternity leave after my daughter was born in July, so life is in a bit of a transition at the moment and I’m trying to work it out! But, I plan to finish and publish the full blanket pattern ASAP, and then I’ve got so many ideas for other patterned squares, and finished items too. I’d love one day to publish the pattern as a book, and maybe even teach classes on designing your own squares!

Follow Annah on Instagram here