I am the eldest sibling in a family of 10.
7 boys & 3 girls born at a time when there was no Warehouse, no KMart etc and you either bought clothes at a New Zealand made price or made them.
So I learnt to knit at an early age, about 6, to help my Mum.
I would knit the sleeves while she would knit the back and front.
It was never a chore to me.
I loved knitting and that has stayed with me.
Each time Mum had another baby, I stayed with my Granny and she taught me how to spin and crochet.
Image: 1974 - Left to Right: Me (aged 26), Granny & Mum
Mum told me one of my teachers used to called me a "Knitwit". I would sit down the back of the class with my desk lid up... busy knitting!!!
Time passed, I finished school & started working.
I kept knitting for myself, family and friends then for my 21st birthday, Mum and Dad bought me a spinning wheel.
Dad was also an avid spinner.
Image: Dad spinning in the kitchen in my childhood home.
You could say spinning was definitely in my blood.
Fast forward about 10 years when Our Patch, a craft shop opened in our town.
This was the start of me selling my garments.
I can still remember the buzz I got when I saw someone wearing a garment I had made.
I also started doing markets mostly in Queenstown, which I still do, and soon my garments were being worn in countries all over the world.
I love meeting and talking with so many different people from all walks of life and different countries.
Through the years I tried other hobbies, patchwork, machine knitting, card making but spinning and knitting stayed my go to place.
I made sure I took any classes available to increase my skills and spend time with like minded people.
Image: Mum and Dad. Mum is carding fleece for Dad to spin