Artisan of the Week, Nics knots

If you are anything like me, you will own countless items and materials that you use to craft your wares. As we all know, these threads, paints, fabrics, needles, wires and others need to be stored somewhere and what better somewhere than in a beautiful bag made by Nicola of Nicsknots. These finely crafted holdalls are perfect to help you organise your crafting consumables. However, this crafter also makes bag to order, just get in contact with her and say what you want! We hope you enjoy this week's choice for Artisan of the Week!

Could you please introduce us to who you are and what you do?
I'm Nic, I live in Lincolnshire, UK and I make needle rolls, bags and various other knitting and knot related textiles on Folksy, Etsy and through my friend KraftyKoala

What led you to take up your craft?
I have always sewn and been around sewers. My Mum and Grandma used to make soft toys for a local business when I was growing up and its just carried on from there. I was thinking only last week that it quite a co-incidence that now I am the Mummy sewing while her daughter watches and dreams of the day when I will teach her to use the sewing machine.
At secondary school I remember getting in trouble for not following the patterns to things we were making in textiles lessons and I famously made five patchwork cushions in the third year, finishing my own then being 'commissioned' by the boys to finish theirs for them.

Which part of your work do you most enjoy?
Creating new designs, the design evolving from what I had in my head and then what I end up with after ironing out all of the things that don't work and I don't like to something that people comment on and want to have. And my little girl getting all excited for me when I sell something...my husband and son don't share my excitement when something sells but Lou is my little cheerleader (and namesake for my dinky bags).

Which part do you find hardest?
Lack of time to get everything that I want to get made, made. I have about a years worth of work in my head, ready to be made but where is the time? And even though I studied business and accounting at Uni, the paperwork. It always gets left until tomorrow.

Where do you hope to be in 1 year’s time?
Practically? Still selling my bags and bits, people still loving my things and hopefully earning enough money so that my husband doesn't send me out to do a 'proper' job because my little girl will have started full time school. In a dream world I would love to be in France or Canada, living in the countryside, surrounded by my little family doing something outdoorsy with my sewing machine not far away.

What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Learn to say no. Have I ever followed that advice? Of course not, that's why I am still looking for that extra couple of hours in the day.

Could you name other artisans sites/shops would you recommend are worth a visit?
A couple that I don't get to buy from very often at the moment because I haven't the time to knit and I already have a too large stash but
Gemma at Krafty Koala sells lovely hand dyed yarn
and Sarah at babylonglegs really captures great colours.
In my fav shops list on Folksy, I have Amidesigns, I love her bracelets, they are on my Christmas list.

What is your favourite sandwich filling?
Tuna and cucumber on crusty bread with cheese and onion crisps.



How awesome were they?! The next time I need a bag, I know exactly where I am going to get one from! Thank you so much nicsknots for allowing us to feature you as our Artisan of the week.

Thanks for reading everyone! I'm about to polish off the rest of the mince pies!
Happy new year everyone!

Written by Jon of Hyperloop Hoops