Hi, I’m Liz, aka Bizzymitts because I’m at my happiest when busy creating something with my hands, whether that’s cooking, tending my plants or crafting. Textile crafts are my passion. As a child my grandma, a tailor, taught me to sew, and Mum taught me basic knitting.University, work life and bringing up three awesome girls kept me busy for many years. Any rare ‘me time’ was spent on creative courses and workshops. I’ve had a go at everything from printmaking to mosaic, handmade books to stained glass.

Redundancy offered an opportunity to follow a new path and I studied a Creative Approach to Textiles with the Open College of Arts. At the same time, I discovered crochet. It didn’t come naturally to this left hander, but being too stubborn to give up, it eventually clicked, I began to design and there was a very exciting moment when Scheepjes put their trust in me and offered me my first commission. During lockdown I stepped up the designing and I have since created over 35 sewing, knitting and crochet projects for Scheepjes. Accessories and homeware are my favourite things to design, and I enjoy combining techniques such as embroidering onto knitting or crochet.

Finding like-minded friends to craft with has been a true blessing. Liverpool, my home city, is famously creative and Yorkshire where I live now, has a rich textile history. My Knit & Natter friends, local textile art group and the Scheepjes Facebook Group have all been wonderful sources of inspiration. Knowledge and resources are generously shared,I’ve picked up countless tips and techniques, and always aim to pay that good spirit forward.