By Smith

My first attempt at knitting in 12 years! Spot Marie listening intently to Bernadette (out of shot) telling us about her crafty skills!

On Wednesday evening I hopped on a bus to Hackney, excited for my first official knitting lesson in 12 years! I’d signed up for Bernadette’s knitting class through The Amazings, after being inspired by founder Katie Harris following my interview with her for the How-To Home back in January.

I arrived at Brewodes Cornocopia on Broadway Market, the gorgeous cafe-come-shop venue for the evening’s class, and was greeted with smiles, wool and coffee from Bernadette and The Amazings running the class. After tucking into the tastiest cheese and ham toastie I’ve ever eaten, we started to chat knitting and got the needles out!

It took a while for me to feel comfortable holding the needles and yarn correctly and casting off was a little tricky (so much so I had to be shown an alternative method just to get me going!) but Bernadette was so patient with me and offered alternative techniques when I found my fingers and thumbs all in a tizz!

Whilst I was getting to grips with holding the needles and yarn correctly,  Bernadette shared her passion for knitting, sewing and crafting, and told us all about the creations she’s made over her many years of experience. She’s such an inspiring woman, and is up for giving new challenges a go (she’s been learning hat-making recently with the Queen Mum’s miliner!) and is the perfect ‘Amazing’!

I had a lovely evening, and am so pleased that I managed to get a few rows knitted in basic stitch. I think the other girls enjoyed it too, and Bernadette was the perfect teacher – making us all feel like we had her full attention and offering us advice and fixing problems as we came across them.

I’m going to be practising my knitting over the next few weeks and intend on returning for another class to learn some new stitches and techniques.

If you want to learn a new crafty skill, or just advance the skills you already have, please check The Amazings out – and book yourself in for a course! It was only £15 for a 2 hour lesson and you’ll be learning from one the loveliest ladies around!