Debbie Abrahams
After studying knitwear design at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England, where she still lives, she became a Rowan Design Consultant for Jessops department store when she was only 25. At the same time she developed the first of her line of beaded cushion kits. Now, a decade later, Debbie divides her time between designing and writing, her knitting kit business, and teaching in knitting shops around the UK and USA.
One of Debbie’s throws was used on the Guild’s paper membership card until we went digital.
Jane Crowfoot
Trained as a constructed textile designer, Jane has worked within the hand knitting craft industry for the last 24 years and is recognised as one of the leading designers within her field, more recently acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the UK crochet revival. She is a designer and maker, author and tutor specialising in contemporary and innovative crochet designs for the home interior.
Kaffe Fassett
Trained as a painter in the USA, Kaffe Fassett moved to the UK in 1968 and discovered knitting on a visit to Scotland. His textiles are in many important collections throughout the world and his designs have been widely commissioned and exhibited. His original and creative use of rich colouring in knitting, patchwork, needlepoint, rugmaking and many other crafts inspire all those who work with yarns and materials.
When Kaffe Fasset became a patron he gave the Guild three special items that he both designed and knitted.
Lorna Hamilton-Brown
Lorna is one of the leading academics writing about the history of Black Knitters. She is currently a member of Vogue Knitting’s Diversity Advisory Council and BIPOC in Fiber.
She calls herself a knitting Evangelist as she wants to spread the word about the beautiful crafts of Knitting and Crochet. She hand knits, crochets and machine knits, and sees each one as a craft in its own right.
