Meet Emily Turner from weewoollies
Emily Turner from weewoollies is a knitwear designer originally from Scotland but now based in Nottingham who makes contemporary colourful knits for the home in bold colour blocks and stripes. Here she talks to fellow Folksy maker Alex from Rags and Tatters about leaving behind a successful career designing for high-street brands to strike it out alone, and rediscovering the joy of using her hands to craft her own fabrics in the colours she loves.
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Hi Emily, it’s lovely to meet you. Would you like to introduce yourself and your business?
Hi Alex, I’m Emily, designer, maker and founder of weewoollies knitwear.
Can you describe your craft in a sentence?
Colourful and contemporary knitwear accessories in bold stripes and colour blocks.
Just over four years ago I decided it was time to go it alone as I craved getting back on my trusty knitting machine – it had been under my bed for too long!
Emily Turner, weewoollies
How did you begin your journey working with wool?
I studied knitwear design at Nottingham Trent University after falling in love with wool and textiles from a young age. I grew up in the Scottish Borders, which had and still has (to a lesser degree) a strong history of traditional textiles.
Since graduating I have worked in fashion and knitwear, designing for many high-street brands. Just over four years ago I decided it was time to go it alone as I craved getting back on my trusty knitting machine – it had been under my bed for too long!
Where do you go for inspiration and what influences your work?
My work is hugely inspired by the textiles I grew up around, particularly tartans and the luxury wools which were spun locally in the Borders. When we think of tartans we think of Black Watch tartan and the Stewart tartans, which are so commercialised. I worked in tartan mill that produced a huge range of tartans. The colours were sublime – soft, ancient dyes with bright colour-clash rakers (“rakers” are the fine stripes that run through a check). I would pore over these for hours on end, deciding which was my favourite colour combo. Sometimes the more clashy the better. My interest in colour has never waned, so it’s great to be back knitting and using my hands to craft my own fabrics in the colours I love.
What is your creative process?
I knit rather like a painter would paint: once I’m on the machine I kind of create what comes to me, mixing up stripes and colours. Swatching new ideas is the fun part.
Wool delivers colour in the most beautiful way as it’s got that ‘knocked back’ colour level – a softness that you can’t get from other yarns.
Emily Turner, weewoollies
Your work is beautiful and colourful. Do you have a favourite colour combination?
I love colour. As you may have gathered, colour is what excites me. Wool delivers colour in the most beautiful way as it’s got that ‘knocked back’ colour level – a softness that you can’t get from other yarns. I enjoy putting colours together that shouldn’t really work. I do like a good bright highlight – I’m particularly in love with orange at the moment but I know that will change.
What would a typical day be for you?
I pretty much split my day into three parts.
Morning: coffee, knitting room, knit.
Afternoon: coffee, sewing and making.
Evening: hand finishing and sewing.
What do you do to relax when you’re not working hard in your studio?
I work long hours but only because I absolutely love it. I do have to prise myself away. I love cooking new food and enjoy the odd open water swim and the gym. I also love a weekend away by the sea to blow off the cobwebs.
What advice would you give to someone starting out on their creative journey.
- I would suggest doing some artisan markets that are not too expensive to trial your products. You’ll soon get a feel for which pieces are selling and then you can upscale from there.
- Be sure you’re doing something you love, as hopefully you’ll be making it for many years to come.
- Decide if you want to wholesale or sell direct, as this will affect your pricing structure.
- Most of all, keep the passion and enjoy the journey.
I see you do a lot of craft fairs. How do you prepare for one, how do you choose a good one and how much work is involved?
Working in knitwear is very seasonal, so I only do a handful of fairs between October and December, about five in total. I try a new one each year and, if it works well, I apply the following year. There is a lot of prep involved and they are physically quite tiring but they are hugely rewarding on lots of levels. There’s nothing quite like taking your product to market and someone wanting to buy it. Working at home alone can be lonely, so getting out and meeting customers and other makers is so joyful.
What does craft mean to you?
Exceptional quality, design and originality.
Use code Hello24 for 10% off in January
Shop weewoollies on Folksy
folksy.com/shops/weewoollies
Meet the interviewer
The maker asking the questions this time is textile artist Alexandra Keller from Rags and Tatters who creates fabric sculptures of magical creatures and fake taxidermy animal heads.
Shop Rags and Tatters here https://folksy.com/shops/Ragsandtatters
Read Alex’s interview here – Meet the Maker: Rags and Tatters
1 comment
Very interesting. My knitting machines are calling to me too.
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