a creative collaboration between two friends:
Helen
Stitches Studio is about sharing things that I enjoy: creativity, travel, and insights.
I have made a living putting magazines together for over 15 years. But I also love my camera, and my yarn and paints. And I’m fascinated by developing awareness and philosophy.
I learned to knit and crochet as a young girl but put my needles down for many years. I’ve recently rediscovered knitting in a big way and have been challenging myself to try new techniques. I had a serious illness in 2011 and could not work, and I found knitting was one thing I could do when I was resting for long periods. It went deeper than just making a new sweater to wear – I appreciated taking the time to make something useful and beautiful (most of the time!) from scratch. And now that I’m feeling better, when life gets busy it’s a great way for me to switch gears and slow down. There’s quite a bit about knitting here: sometimes it’s just ‘show and tell’ but the creative process is in the mix as well. I’m really excited to have started writing my own knitting patterns and dyeing yarn.
I moved three years ago from the UK to British Columbia in Canada. When I arrived I bought a digital camera, and started to make a visual log of new places and experiences I was sampling in North America for the first time. I’m a writer at heart and I love to share, but I like to include a lot of images – they speak a different language.
Victoria
I have been a knitter (and part-time crocheter) since my mother taught me when I was 
about 6 or 7 years old. I have fond and comforting memories of sitting beside my mother, watching her knit, anxious to create something of my own. One of my proudest moments was wearing my first finished sweater, a mohair-blend fair-isle. I wore it on the first trip to the cinema that I went to with just girl friends when I was about 13; Grease. It was way too hot for comfort! But knitting has been a constant creative, and relaxing past-time through the years. I enjoy textiles arts and love the textures, colours, and the almost limitless possibilities of working with yarns and fabric. I am excited by the current resurgence of knitting, having spent many years as a solitary knitter. (Thank you Internet and great places like Ravelry). It is wonderful that so many people are finding joy in creating and sharing something they have made.
An elementary school teacher by profession, I am also the busy mother of two young children who keep me on my toes and distract me from spending time on the things that I love to do. But we know that goes with the territory.
I moved to Vancouver, from the UK about 18 years ago and fell in love with the city almost instantly. It is not difficult to find inspiration here; surrounded by the beauty of the natural landscape and the coastline. I like to write and tell stories and am looking forward to sharing some of the adventures that we have as we explore different aspects of the creative process. And have some fun on the way!
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