Meet The Maker Blog Series - Elizabeth

Behind every stitch, skein and handmade creation is a story waiting to be told.

Welcome to the third instalment of our Meet the Maker Series.

Our Yarn Me Calm Meet the Maker series celebrates the talented and creative members of the Yarn Me Calm Community who express themselves through fibre arts. From knitting and crochet to weaving, felting, spinning, dyeing, and beyond, these makers bring unique skills, experiences, and perspectives to our community.

Through a series of questions, we’ll explore their creative journeys, discover what inspires them, learn about their favourite projects and materials, and gain insight into how making fits into their lives. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, curious about different fibre crafts, or simply enjoy hearing the stories behind handmade work, we hope these conversations help you connect with the wonderful people who make our community so special.
Grab your favourite project, settle in, and join us as we get to know the makers behind the stitches.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and where you're based. 

I’m a Baxter House baby, to those of you who don’t get the reference, a Geelong girl born and bred.  I live in Mt Moriac about half an hour west of town on a lovely property with my family and about 60 Saxon Merino sheep. 

2.    How did your fibre arts journey begin, and what first inspired you to pick up a hook, needle, spindle, loom, felting needle or other fibre related tool?

My first creation was a little baby jacket I knitted for my niece when she was born.  I was about 12 and I'm sure it was far from perfect but my sister received it gracefully.  I had always seen mum with needles in her hand and I thought it was just something people did. That opened the floodgates.  The magical feeling of seeing something come to life in your hands never fails to give me a thrill!

3.    What fibre craft do you primarily focus on, and what draws you to it?

I am primarily a knitter.  I knit every day.  Although I also love to spin, felt, dye, weave and sew. I have recently begun designing and am finding so much joy in that aspect of the craft too.

4.    Do you remember the very first project you completed?

As I said it was a little short sleeved baby cardigan in yellow and white.  I think it was a Sirdar pattern and I have always enjoyed the way Sirdar patterns are written.

5.    What is your favourite fibre to work with and why?

My absolute favourite fibre is Australian Merino.  I love the bounce and the handle.  I adore its adaptability. It lends itself to so many textures, blends beautifully with other fibres and dyes like a dream.

6.    Describe your creative process from idea to finished piece.

I am definitely a fibre first crafter.  I acquire the fibre because it speaks to me and then I allow it to tell me what it wants to be.  Sometimes that can take some time, hello stash!! It’s very exciting putting fibre and design together, I often get into my own world and I even find myself dreaming about projects as they are coming together in my mind.

7.    Where do you find inspiration for your designs or projects?

Definitely the natural world.  I try to replicate the beauty of a ripple of a wave or the amazing colours of leaves.  At the moment I am mesmerised by birds.

8.    What role does colour play in your work?

A huge role.  I am often in my dyeing shed trying to create colours for a specific project.  When I make a pattern it is usually with a specific colour way in mind.  I also love seeing other people’s colour interpretations of my patterns too. Colour gives a real mood to everything and it’s exciting to explore.

9.    Do you have a favourite tool, piece of equipment, or "can't-live-without" accessory?

Knitting is great for it’s low requirements tool wise, but I have to say a good swift is great!

10.What project or achievement are you most proud of so far?

My sheep!  I have been breeding Saxon Merinos for about 18 years for the beautiful fleece. I have begun growing my yarn business over the past 18 months and that has been great. Becoming part of a wonderful community, creating patterns, dyeing our fleece, even planning on my own bricks and mortar shop!  But at the end of the day it all comes back to my sheep!

11.Have you ever had a major crafting disaster or mistake that taught you something valuable?

So many,LOL.  But every “disaster” is an opportunity to gain knowledge.  My main valuable lesson is do your swatch! 

12.What does a typical day in your creative life look like?

I am so lucky.  My husband has built me a studio and a dyeing room so I do tend to spend a lot of my time between those.  A typical day sees me really forcing myself to do jobs like housework etc but when I have a creation brewing that is very hard. It is not unusual to see projects in the kitchen, lounge room, studio, bedroom, even outside! Time gets forgotten. 

13.How do you balance creativity with the practical side of making, teaching, selling, or exhibiting your work?

I have always been a big list maker.  My business journal has a new list every week and I really aim to complete that.  I plan what I need to achieve for yarn shows at least a month out and then work towards that. I suppose planning is key for me.

14.Who has been the biggest influence or mentor in your fibre arts journey?

I have always loved designers like Kim Hargreaves, Debbie Biss and Kaffe Fasset.  I am really enjoying Lene Holme Samsoe, Kutavakika and Sari Nordland too.  The idea that creativity has no country, language or age boundaries excites me.   

15.What do you enjoy most about being part of the fibre arts community?

Exactly that!  It is a community.  One which is very welcoming. Whenever we go to a yarn event I feel that I am with MY people.  We are all ages, genders, backgrounds, whatever, yet we all are united by creating, it’s wonderful.

16.If you could learn any new fibre-related skill tomorrow, what would it be?

I have tried with wonderfully patient teachers but I just can’t seem to retain crochet.  I think I have a handle on it and just like that it’s gone!  I would love to really learn to crochet.

17.What advice would you give someone who is just starting out?

Play, enjoy.  Allow yourself to have a go.

18.What are you currently working on, and what excites you most about it?

I have just completed a summer knit. It is my own design and I made it up as I went along.  It was exactly what I had in my head.  Now I have to go back and write it up properly. 

19.What do you hope people feel or experience when they see or use something you've made?

I hope they think it is useful.  I hope they like it but above all I hope it brings them joy!

20.Just for fun: if your creative style had a name, playlist, or theme song, what would it be and why?

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colours.  I love colour, I love the process of creating something from nothing  and there definitely is love in every stitch.

Bonus Rapid-Fire Questions

• Tea or coffee while crafting?
• Both, either, wine?
• Natural fibres or blends?
• Natural all the way
• Early bird maker or night owl creator?
• Night owl
• One colour you can never resist?
• Most greens
• Current work-in-progress count?
• 7
• Favourite fibre festival or event?
• Got to be GABYS.  We had a blast and it’s right here!
• What's always in your project bag?
• A pen to jot down ideas!

One of the things we treasure most at Yarn Me Calm is the wonderful diversity of talents, experiences and creative passions within our community. Every maker has their own story, skills and approach to creating, reminding us that there is no right or wrong way to explore fibre arts, learn something new or simply enjoy the pleasure of making.

We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Elizabeth and that her story has sparked a little inspiration for your own creative journey. Stay tuned for more of our Meet the Maker features, as we continue to shine a light on the talented knitters, crocheters, weavers, feltmakers, spinners, dyers and fibre enthusiasts who bring so much colour, creativity and connection to the Yarn Me Calm community. After all, it’s the people behind the projects who make our community so special!