Fiona Goble is a brilliant knitting teacher and author of many knitting books, including the gorgeous Knitted Animal series. She has filmed a series of beginner's knitting tutorial videos that are great if you are just learning the basics. Join us for a catch up with Fiona to find out her favourite knits, and scroll down for a sneak preview of her adorable new knitting book, coming out in the new year!
You’ve now written three books in the knitted animal series...What first inspired you to start creating these gorgeous animal patterns?
I was talking to the team at CICO about new ideas. We’d seen quite a few people wearing cute woolly animal hats. But they were mainly bears and cats and, while we love bear and cat hats (and include patterns for them in the book), we thought knitters might like to give some more unusual creatures a go as well. So in addition to the old favourites, you can knit a koala hat, a zebra, lion… and even a dragon.
Do you have a favourite project from your latest book, Knitted Animal Cozies?
I love the hedgehog cozy because it looks so darned cute and, though I say it myself, I think I’ve got the pointy little face just right. But my absolute favourites are the dog golf club cozies because they’re ever so slightly mad.
Aside from knitting, what is your favourite way to pass the time?
I’m a Pinterest addict which I’m not particularly proud of but it does stop me buying quite so many home and interiors magazines. And I’m trying to improve my French at the moment because I studied it for years at school and always regretted not taking it further, even though I’m not really a natural.
You have recently launched a brilliant new website. If you could give one piece of advice to anyone hoping to start a craft website or blog, what would it be?
It would be the advice I’d give to just about anyone thinking of doing just about anything – just do it. You never know where it might lead. There is a lot of free or reasonably priced software that is fairly easy for the normal person to get to grips with, but don’t expect it to be quite as easy as some people claim it to be. You need to be prepared to spend a bit of time learning to get it to look the way you want it to, which can be frustrating at times. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m improving slowly.
Knitted sprout anyone? Got to start Xmas early if your knitting. Make your own: https://t.co/oSN3hzbjuu or https://t.co/HMPGlqHATn pic.twitter.com/ggo46DL1d6
— Fiona Goble (@fiogob) November 24, 2016
And finally, are you knitting anything exciting right now?
I’m in the middle of knitting some mini Christmas decorations, including a Brussel sprout and an acorn which I think I’ll embroider little faces on. I fancied a change to my rather tasteful Christmas baubles this year!
And last but by no means least, here's a glimpse of one of project that you will find in Fiona's new book... yes, it is more knitted animals. Yes, there are also really cute babies. The book is called Knitted Animal Nursery and we cannot wait to share it with you!
