My love of colour and texture never fades. You will most likely find me with a pair of knitting needles, or a crochet hook, looping away happily!

In 2009 I started selling hand knit patterns of my designs and currently have four separate collections.

Rocket Clothing London, Little Pickle Knits, Pure Hand Knits & Jessica Rose Hand Knits.

My patterns have very descriptive row-by-row instructions, with all the calculations worked out for you to help you to sit back, relax and enjoy your down-time. I hope my patterns inspire your creativity... and calm your mind :)

My love of arts and crafts began as a child when my mother set up a craft club for myself and two friends. I was totally captivated and the seed was planted! My mother also taught me to knit. I am thankful she had so much patience, as I dropped my stitches more often than I knitted them for quite a while.

I spent 6 amazing years at art school. The first two years on an arts foundation course, experimenting with many arts and crafts, and the final four years on a textile degree course in Brighton (England) studying knitwear design. Inspiring tutors, exciting projects and great friends were made during this time! I left art school with a BA Hons. Degree in Fashion and Textiles.

I worked as a freelance knitwear designer in London design studios for the first 15 years of my career. I designed menswear, womenswear and childrenswear for designer labels, high street stores, and colour & fashion forecasting studios. My design work was knitted on a variety of knitting machines and manufactured in factories in the UK and the Far East. Great times with some fab design teams!

I set up my first hand knit label, Rocket Clothing London back in 1995. This collection of classic baby knits was hand knitted by a team of very talented outworkers in the UK, and stocked in adorable children's boutiques and gift stores across the UK, Europe, and the US. I do remember it was a very exciting day when Harrods Knightsbridge agreed to sell my knits. I also had lots of fun selling the collection at arts markets and craft fairs across the UK. I feel so lucky to have met so many wonderful and interesting people along the way.

Since 2009 I have concentrated on building my hand knit pattern business and making the home-craft industry aware of my work. In 2015 Rowan Yarns asked me to design a collection of baby knits for them. One collection grew into two books, and in 2016 my Rowan baby book 'Cherish' and my Rowan little girls book 'Blossom' were both published.I now live with my young family on the edge of the Cotswolds, in a vibrant Oxfordshire town that is steeped in England's textile history. I have recently moved my studio into Blackberry Cottage. Here's a peek inside.... It's filled with gorgeous colours, inspiring seasonal mood boards and heaps of yarn to keep me busy!
This cosy studio is nestled within a community of Oxfordshire artists, designers and crafts people, who all run their own creative businesses from cottages and workshops within the grounds of Eynsham Hall. It's a little gem!
I really hope you enjoy looking around my new website. Do keep popping back as I have lots of new exciting things bubbling away that will be available over this coming year!

Happy Knitting!

Linda Whaley X