Designer Emma loves to create stylish, wearable accessories using elegant cable and colourwork stitch patterns
Interview
OUR ‘FIELDFARE’ accessories set on pages 55-59 is a fine example of Emma Sadler’s design work, with its elegant stitch patterns that will offer a soothing, enjoyable knitting experience. Emma has been creating and publishing her accessory and sweater patterns for nearly a decade, and her designs feature subtle textures and colourwork which combine modern styles with vintage touches. We chatted with Emma about her design career.
When did you learn to knit?
“Like many people, I was taught to knit when I was a child by my Nana. I would knit one row and then hand the needles back to her to do a row, as I thought that I couldn’t knit ‘backwards’. Eventually she got through to me by knitting two rows before handing it back. After that I only ever handed my knitting to her when I dropped a stitch.
“I don’t remember ever doing the usual beginner scarves. I do remember being quite ambitious, even from the start. My sister was expecting a baby, and I was determined to make a little jumper. It was in baby blue with a boat on the front worked in purl stitches. I was very proud of that little garment.”
Can you remember the first original piece of knitwear you ever created?
“When I was 19, I moved in with my now husband. I used to knit when he was out playing golf because I didn’t think it was the sort of hobby that he would expect from me. I remember making a gorgeous Aran jumper with lots of cables down the front and a blackberry stitch pattern on the arms. When it was finished, I didn’t know what to do with it. I wanted to give it to him, but didn’t know what his reaction would be. After it being hidden in the back of the cupboard for months, I put it in the charity bag. I really wish I had written down my design so I could recreate it.”
How did you come to work as a freelance knitwear designer?
“Back in 2013 I left my job as a full-time primary school teacher. My son has autism, and he was going through a particularly difficult transition from his primary school into his secondary school. At the same time, I was helping my mother-in-law care for my father-in-law who was seriously ill with dementia.
“I was knitting a lot during this time, as I found the calming nature of fibre arts helped with my mental health. But I didn’t have the headspace to follow patterns or work on complicated designs.
