Knitted Creatures... Where Do I Begin?

I've always been a knitter. Jumpers, cardigans, picture knits... if it involved yarn and needles, I was happy. Picture knitting has always been a particular favourite, but I've also had a lifelong soft spot for creatures. And let's be honest, creatures don't have to be cute to be lovable!

While caring for my mother, I began experimenting with my own designs and found myself utterly enchanted by the idea of knitting sparkly hedgehogs. Those little characters quickly became known as Disco Hedgehogs, a name affectionately bestowed upon them by my daughter. The name stuck, and so did the hedgehogs.

Then came the slugs. ........

Originally created as a complete joke and a bit of yarn-fuelled silliness, these quirky creatures somehow captured people's hearts. Now affectionately known by many as Emotional Support Slugs, they've become my best sellers. Who would have thought a knitted slug could achieve such fame?

Of course, every creative adventure eventually runs into rules and regulations. For me, that meant embarking on the world of UKCA compliance. Until fairly recently, I hadn't even realised it was something I needed to consider, which was a little embarrassing to discover!

As I work my way through the testing and certification process for each creature, my range is currently a little smaller than I'd like. The testing itself isn't too daunting; it's the Everest-sized pile of paperwork that comes with it. And if you're anything like me, you'll check everything once, then twice, then a third time, just in case.

The silver lining is that every knitted creature I offer has been carefully made and thoroughly tested with children's safety in mind. So when one of my creatures finds a new home, you can be confident that it's been created with both imagination and care.

And really, that's what makes all that paperwork worth it.