Meet the designer: Nicola Valiji

Name: Nicola Valiji

Speciality: quirky designs for motifs for cards.

Website: www.knitola.co.uk

Favourite yarn: Sirdar Wash ‘n’ Wear Double Crepe DK.

Favourite local yarn shop: Needlecraft, Hemel Hempstead and Mavis Bushey.

Knitting for: 33 years.

Best knitting memory: knitting with my mum in her craft room while having a good chat and a giggle. 

Guilty pleasure: Designer handbags.

Favourite song: Wicked Game by Chris Isaak .

Favourite dessert: Ice cream with chocolate sauce.

Favourite television show to knit to: Emmerdale or something that requires minimum attention!

Favourite gift to knit: Blankets - I must have done about 15 so far! In fact, I just finished one today as a gift for lovely kind lady. I find them very relaxing and love designing new ones.

Number of WIPs: I’m usually designing one for Knitola and one for Let’s Knit. Then I have one travel knit which I keep in the car boot, one home knit for pleasure or gifts. Then a portable mini project that can fit in my bag, so five all together. Oh, that’s a lot!

First knitting project: Jean Greenhow’s knitted doll with help from my nan.

Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind your beach hut bag?
My parents have a summer house in Kent, and the bag was inspired by the beautiful beach huts in Broadstairs.

Where did the idea for Knitola come from?
I wanted to combine cardmaking and knitting. The idea grew from selling knitted cards at craft fairs to knitted cards kit and doll kits. Now I am concentrating on designing. I am working on a new range of quirky knitted children’s items, and more non-garment items.

Pick up a June issue of Let’s Knit for Nicola’s beach hut bag pattern – on sale now!