It’s been a season of change for Arnall-Culliford Knitwear, and one piece of that has been growing the team from two to four! Our newest team members, Lou and Kat, have been settling into their new roles, so we thought it was high time we introduce you to the small but mighty crew dedicated to helping you unlock your full knitting potential.
Meet The Team!
I’m Jen, and I’m a geek for all things, but particularly knitting! I’ve worked for years as a technical editor and take a particular joy in a beautifully written, accurate knitting pattern! These days, I am the driving force behind our technique-led publications, commissioning work from talented designers from around the world, writing and editing patterns, putting together tutorials to help knitters tackle our projects with the utmost confidence and also writing and overseeing all the other bits and bobs that make up our books! When I’m not thinking about knitting, I love sewing, gardening, baking and playing board games!
Favourite Knitting/Craft Project: It's like trying to choose between my children! I do really love wearing my Mustard yellow Hey Now Sweater (which I’m wearing in my photo above) because it makes me smile, but it also makes other people smile at me too. It's a really happy, cosy sweater!
Favourite Yarn in the Shop: Oh my word, what are you trying to do to me?? These questions are TOUGH. I'm going to be cheeky and choose the Fab Funky Fibres yarn that will be in the next round of Confident Knitting Kits (on sale at the start of August). :P
Favourite Pudding: Sticky toffee pudding with heaps of dates and lashings of custard!
On the list to learn: In knitting I would like to try Two-At-A-Time socks and in sewing I want to learn pattern matching. I think the meticulousness of it would appeal to me!
Image © Jesse Wild
I'm Jim and I'm a theoretical knitter, long distance runner and former science teacher. I know more about knitting than I have ever physically done. Since we started the business, I have been a tech editor, pattern writer and grader, photographer, model, mail room operative, swatch knitter, masterclass writer. These days I mostly complete the hidden jobs within the business – bookkeeping, HR, carrying boxes around, and making the tea. I still do the occasional bit of editing, pattern checking and all of the video editing.
Favourite Knitting/Craft Project: My just finished Mountain Mist sweater. I adjusted the pattern so it fits my shape.
Favourite Yarn in the Shop: Schoppel Gradient. It seems a little unpromising in the ball, but knits up into beautifully soft fabric. Also, no matter how sharp my needles, I cannot split the yarn.
Favourite Pudding: Bread and butter pudding with lumpy custard. I worked for a couple of years in a school where this was on the menu for lunch even on the hottest summer days. Always worth a second helping!
On the list to learn: Playing guitar better.
I'm Lou, and I am the newest member of the team. I'm the Retail Manager which means I assist the wonderful Jen and Jim with the online shop, send out all the orders to our lovely customers, ensure the books, yarn and accessories that we sell are well-stocked and generally keep things organised and running tickety-boo! My roots are in East London but I have lived in Frome with my husband and two daughters for 8 years and I love it! I applied for the job because of the company's ethos – there's always something new to learn – and since starting in April I have learnt so much already. I really enjoy being part of a team that is passionate about learning and widening our experiences. I have also rekindled my knitting skills (I knitted with my granny when I was a little girl) and I am loving it - it's so nice when you see something coming together.
Favourite Knitting/Craft Project: What I'm currently knitting at the moment, which is the Hitchhiker shawl by Martina Behm in a lovely rust/coppery 100% merino yarn by The Urban Purl. My favourite craft project is making the annual Christmas wreath with the plants and shrubs we have available in our garden.
Favourite Yarn in the Shop: Oh it is very hard to choose as all the yarns have such character but my favourite yarn in the shop is the bouncy, vibrant Fyberspates Vivacious DK which I hope to use in a project soon!
Favourite Pudding: Apple crumble and custard because it is warming, hearty and you can experiment with other fruits that you have available.
On the list to learn: How to make sourdough bread that doesn't take 3 years to make!
I’m Kat, and I’m the Social Media Manager around these parts! I learned to knit as a child, but got properly into it while I was training as a historian … sticks and string were the perfect antidote to a long day of writing! I’m originally from the US, but have been living in the northwest of England for nearly four years now. I was thrilled when Jen and Jim asked if I could do some freelance work for them just over two years ago, so you can imagine my excitement when we put things on a more permanent footing this year! I look after the blog, newsletter and our social media channels and still can’t quite believe I get to write about my favourite hobby as a job!
Favourite Knitting/Craft Project: My favourite project tends to be whatever sweater I’ve most recently finished. Right now, that’s Natalie Warner’s terrific Unite Sweater … I love the texture and the sunny mustard colour, and I’m also super proud that I managed to seam it together neatly! I’m so excited to be able to properly wear it that I’m almost wishing the summer away.
Favourite Yarn in the Shop: So many lovelies to choose from, but for me, it’s got to be Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight. Those little 25 gram balls just burst with potential!
Favourite Pudding: I’ve yet to meet a pudding I don’t like, but one of my summertime faves is cherry cobbler. There are lots of different versions, but the one I grew up with has an almost cake-like consistency at the top, that goes softer as you scoop into it. It’s simple to make, and growing up, it was my mom and grandma’s go-to when we needed a quick dessert, so it reminds me of summer with family. Oh, and it must be served with a tremendous scoop of vanilla ice cream.
On the list to learn: Long term, I really want to learn how to throw pottery! But I think it’ll be awhile before that’s in the cards. In the meantime, I’d like to steek my first garment and improve my hand sewing skills!
Giveaway is now CLOSED.
We’re so excited about our growing team and so appreciative of all of you, our readers and customers … so we’d like to celebrate with a little giveaway! We’re giving away enough Something to Knit With Aran to make your own Unite Sweater (as modelled by Kat, above) as well as a copy of Something to Knit Together Winter Edition eBook. To be in with a chance of winning, simply comment on this blog post sharing what’s on YOUR list to learn this year. If you're a blog subscriber and reading this via email, just click ‘read in browser’, below, to get to the blog where you need to leave your comment! Entries will close at midnight (BST) on Wednesday 23rd June.
I hope you’ve enjoyed meeting the team, and thanks, as always, for your support! Your purchases in the online shop, follows, likes and shares all let us keeping doing what we love to do. If you’re not already, you can sign up for our newsletter here, subscribe to our YouTube channel here, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook!