My youngest student is 8, and my oldest student is 84. The only requirements for taking a class with me are a love of craft and a desire to learn more. Read on...
Video Tutorials
"I would just like to thank you for your easy to follow granny squares tutorial. I have tried other videos; however, yours reminded me of how my mother taught me when I was a small child and I picked it back up again straight away. You opened a long lost memory, thank you."
-- Diana D, UK.
Video Tutorials
"I just wanted to thank you for your marvellous video I came across on YouTube for making a granny square. I am completely new to crochet and your video was so clear and easy to follow that I am well on my way to completing my first square. I love your blog too. And I wish we had fabulous crafty workshops like the ones you run, up here in the North East."
-- Sara E., UK
Hen Party
"Thank you so much for such a great morning, we all loved it! It was the perfect thing for Helen and in such a lovely setting - you really do have a beautiful studio."
-- Sam, organiser, bunting-making hen party
Hen Party
"I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful hen knitting party! We enjoyed ourselves *so* much and it was tremendous fun. Thank you also for being so kind, patient and funny - you made the afternoon very lovely! We're all looking forward to practicing and having a knit when we manage to get together again. You have a beautiful cosy setting which really made the day. Everybody admired your studio so much and it would have been a very different experience if we hadn't been in such a lovely studio. Thank you for a very special day!"
-- Jenny, bride-to-be, knitting hen party
Hen Party
"Thank you for providing such a wonderful venue and for being so enormously welcoming! Not to mention patient :) Every single girl told me how much fun they had (as did my Mum who was positively glowing with enthusiasm)! In fact Jenny and Liz stayed over at my flat last night and we all sat up in our pyjamas knitting away and practising (although I'm not sure we'd care to have our slightly tipsy efforts scrutinised by your professional eye)! Nevertheless I now have about 5cm of a potential handwarmer on my needles with no dropped stitches as yet.... Jen kept saying how much she enjoyed her day (as did I), and I'd like to thank you again for a really fabulous afternoon!"
-- Angela
Teeny Tiny Crochet
"It was great to bump into you at the [Stitch & Craft] fair yesterday. I cannot enthuse enough about your book. So cute, with great instructions. But most importantly of all, not another dull and outdated crochet book. Modern with a great feel to the book, inspires me to want to make more... I am looking forward to the next which you mentioned briefly, hopefully as contemporary and inspiring as this one. I taught myself to crochet in January of this year, and love that in such a short space of time I can create such beautiful things!"
-- Lara C.
Video Tutorials
"I want to thank you. Your videos are so nicely made. It's so easy to see what your nimble fingers are doing. I feel confident and happy that I made such a nice granny square. I have been able to knit for 12 years. I tried crocheting, I even had my granny try to teach me with no luck. Suddenly it's all clear and more fun than knitting!"
-- Kelly K.
Private Class
"I thoroughly enjoyed my lesson today. Thank you so much. I have come away feeling more confident and more impassioned about my knitting. I'm already half way through a more complex 2-yarn square than I would have dared to try even yesterday."
-- T Bevington, London
A Course of Private Classes
"Four of us decided to learn how to knit. Through a Google search we were lucky enough to discover Catherine. Over the course of eight monthly classes, we learnt more than I ever thought possible! Catherine was patient, entertaining, clearly an expert in her field and passionate about teaching others the crafts that she so loves. I would highly recommend her services to anyone wanting to take up knitting or crocheting - go on, treat yourself and your soul!"
-- Susan M, London
Private Class
"I started a crochet ripple blanket yesterday for a baby girl...as I am whizzing along the rows I was just thinking about how much I've learnt since my last ripple, last summer. I have counted correctly and am not having to add bits in it reduce stitches here and there. I am actually making something that follows the real pattern and it's looking good! So thank you for sharing your wisdom and helping me to learn to do things properly. I haven't felt frustrated at all learning to crochet...the fact that I'm still going is credit to you. My frustration usually gets the better of me and I give up but I haven't thrown down my hook yet and I'm still getting excited about new projects and all the things I still want to be able to do!"
-- Erin M, London
Private Group Class
"My friends and I so enjoyed our morning with you! You are an excellent communicator and I love your "knitting-shouldn't-be-scary" attitude. Everyone is jazzed to start/continue on their projects with new confidence! Your double-pointed needle tutorial makes it look less complicated than I thought (as did your cabling explanation!)."
-- Taina L, Walton-on-Thames
Hen Party
"Thank you so much Catherine, we all had a wonderful time! I was really pleased with how everything went at the hen party. I can’t sing your praises enough!"
-- Laura B. (London)
W.I. Meeting
"Thanks Catherine! We’ve had such great feedback about your meeting already - I think you’ve inspired many an embroiderer amongst our group!! You’re a fantastic speaker, very natural and you make it all seem doable, which is quite a feat for some of our less experienced crafters!"
-- Cathryn S. (London)
Private Class
"Catherine is simply amazing. Her patient and clear way of teaching has helped me enormously, not only by learning a new skill (crochet) but also by helping me to correct bad knitting habits, picked up through my childhood! I get a huge sense of pride when I finish a project, and the first person I show my completed work to is Catherine. And with her natural excitement for craft, she is just as enthusiastic as me! I've never been seduced by the thought of knitting socks or embroidery in anyway, but Catherine has this magical ability to make you just as excited and want to try - so I'm guessing socks and embroidery is next on my list..."
-- Chantelle J. (London)
Craft Club
"Extra special thanks for teaching 15 slightly tipsy women to crochet. As soon as you took over, we all knew we were in safe hands."
-- Fiona at Finishing School (London)
Birthday Party
"Thank you very much for coming along and making my birthday party so unusual and memorable. Everyone has said how much they enjoyed it and they're all going to carry on knitting."
-- Geraldine R. (Bromley)
Private Class
"I immensely enjoy spending time with Catherine. It never feels like a lesson but more like a chat about life and knitting, crocheting or embroidery. She managed to convince me I should stick to crochet, and she was right. I love it now! I have now a few projects on the go, including some for my wedding, all thanks to Catherine."
-- Dr. Nathalie A. (London)
Hen Party
"I met Catherine at my best friend's hen night. Since then, she has taught us all loads. I am making almost all my Christmas presents this year!"
-- J. Bell (Hertfordshire)
Private Class
"Catherine is an inspiring and enthusiastic teacher who adds a modern twist to traditional crafts. She will help you to interpret even the most intricate crochet instructions and unravel the mysteries of complex embroidery stitches. What a find!"
-- Brigitte L. (London)
Private Class
"I had so much fun! You have a very clear teaching style. So many people have tried to teach me to crochet - you are the first to succeed. Thank you!"
-- R. Merrick (London)
Private Class
"Clear, personalised instruction... I was in good hands throughout. Catherine travelled to me and worked around my busy schedule - at a pace that suited me - and we had a lot of fun!"
-- Evelyn G. (Rodez, France)
