Hi Amy, thanks for joining us! Can you start by telling us about your journey from working as a garment technologist to founding Mamie and Florrie? What sparked that change?
I worked as a garment technologist when I graduated University and more recently I worked as a retail buyer. During this time I was working in larger scale manufacturing and visiting automated factories. In comparison to that I have always been fascinated with what my hands could achieve with the simplicity of some yarn and a crochet hook or knitting needles – no automation and no noise! I worked in business and production but had inherited a creativeness from the women in my family – my Grandma (Mamie) my mum and I, we were always making something!
Since leaving textiles college I had always wanted to start my own business and share my love of yarn and the importance of mindful creativity with others. Like many people, Covid made me address my lifestyle, and I decided it was time to put my business and career experiences into creating my own brand. Mamie and Florrie was founded in May 2022.
You’ve travelled to so many incredible places for your career. How do those experiences influence what you create at Mamie and Florrie?
I think travel educates and inspires so much – the people you meet, their stories, what you see, hear, smell when you visit a new destination is so influential to our creativity. I do think we subconsciously absorb these experiences and the colours and memories are there waiting to be triggered at a later date.
For me colour is how I remember places, whether it’s spice markets in Portugal, the pink paint work of the airport tower in a remote Indian airport, deliciously colourful saris, or the lush underside of the gunnera leaf by the reservoir. Colours create memories which I love to translate into hand dyed yarn for knitting and crochet.
I also want to share these wonderful places, my yarn labels have the ///what3words location of the place that inspired the yarn colourway. It has been so lovely to receive photos from customers of their knitted items from the exact spot that inspired the colourway!
Living in the beautiful Peak District must be so inspiring. How does the natural landscape there shape your designs and creativity?
I decided that I wanted to dye yarn after seeing a sky filled with heavy rain clouds while on my morning dog walk. The sky was so dramatic and it was at that point I decided that I wanted to “knit the sky”. I wanted to record the colours through knitting like a textural photograph. It was those torrential rain clouds that a couple of days later caused the dam where I live in Whaley Bridge to break in 2019 – at the time I had no idea how catastrophic that moody sky would be!
See my Instagram post ….
Every day the sky, clouds and landscape are different and it is so inspiring and provides me with daily inspiration. As the seasons change the colour palette changes too; the colours of the ferns dying back, the grasses dying back into winter darkness and contrast of snow and back again to luminous green fern fronds in the spring. The colours of nature are fascinating and so inspiring, feathery grass colours inspire a range of soft and delicate mohair colours, sunsets inspire bold colourways. The further you explore into Peak District and the geology changes, the clouds cast shadow over the hills and again the colour palette changes from the White Peak to the Dark Peak of the Peak District. There’s beauty in it all.
What are some of your favourite walking trails in the Peak District? Do you have any that you think Julia Bradbury and our Toggers would love?
There are so many fabulous walks in the Peak District, here’s a few of my favourites;
Whaley Bridge, Taxal, Fernilee & Erwood Reservoirs Circular
A long walk with breathtaking views. Starting in Whaley Bridge and climbing to Taxal Edge and then across the moorland to the Goyt Valley. This is a long 12mile walk with views for miles on a good day you will see out to Cheshire, North Wales, Staffordhsire and Derbyshire – even Manchester in the distance.
Fernilee Reservoir – between Whaley Bridge and Buxton
A simple loop perfect for children and little legs! A 3 mile circular route around the reservoir, there’s a small amount of woodland walk – enjoy more so in Autumn when the leaves are golden and russet and the air is fresh. We have walked this every Christmas Eve since my children were tiny to tire them out ready for bed and the big day.
Mam Tor & The Great Ridge Walk
A circular walk which you can adapt to time and ability. The shorter walk is up to the summit of Mam Tor and goes along the ridge before turning back to the National Trust car park. On a clear day paragliders will be flying, the colours of the parachutes against the blue sky is stunning!
To extend the walk further climb to Hollins Cross before turning back to the Broken Road and I like to walk back to Mam Tor through Winnats Pass, it’s a steep one but incredibly rewarding.
Chrome and Parkhouse Hill – The Dragon’s Back
You will see why it’s called the Dragon’s Back if you drive from Buxton to Leek along the A53.
From the ridge of the Dragon you can see miles into the Peak District and Staffordshire, it’s breathtaking.
For a long walk and great day out this walk ticks all the boxes for cardiovascular workout, strength and views! There are rock plateaus with amazing views of the Peak District, Manchester, Cheshire and beyond on a clear day. Perfect for knitting with a view.
From the Monsal Head pub take the footpath down to the Monsal Trail and viaduct, walk along the river, take a dip too. A challenging walk but there is also the option to walk along the Monsal Trail and Tunnels if needing a flatter and less strenuous option.
You’ve mentioned you’re a country girl at heart. How do you balance your love for the outdoors with your passion for knitting and crafting?
I grew up in Northumberland and now live in the Peak District so I am used to being outdoors all year round regardless of the weather.
Knitting and crochet are super portable – just put your project in your rucksack or pocket and go! I always have a project wherever I go. I love to take my knitting on a long walk, find somewhere to sit, eat lunch and knit – this gives you the opportunity to admire your surroundings all the more.
Small projects such as knitting a hat or socks are so easy to pop in the pocket of a rucksack. You’ll always remember where you knit that hat or those socks and you might finish them to wear on the next walk. It is worth knowing that hand knit socks make the most comfortable and lasting socks to walk in! I quite often knit as I walk using a leather yarn carrier called a Cocoon when walking on flat familiar paths.
Can you share a memorable experience from one of your walks that inspired a particular piece or collection at Mamie and Florrie?
This summer I have dyed a range of yarns inspired by my favourite Welsh Beaches and walks.
I love to walk along Llanddona Beach in Anglesey and my colourway Sunset in Llanddona and Grasses in Llanddona are inspired by that stunning landscape. Newborough Beach is inspired by another memorable walk in Anglesey – another moody blue sky with white sands and luminous green grasses.
Another recent colourway was inspired by a stunning poppy field which popped up near Baslow in Derbyshire. I visited just before sundown and the light and the colours were stunning, so inspiring!
You value mindfulness and well-being. How do you incorporate these into your daily routine, especially when it comes to your creative projects?
I start every morning walking my dog early before work. Although during the week we walk the same path, every day is different; the weather changes, the plant growth and the light changes with the seasons. This gives me the ability to inhale the fresh air while planning my day and getting exercise too. I am trying not to wear headphones – just listen to nature and absorb fresh air and colour inspiration.
I love the feeling of cold fresh air on my face in the winter – I love walking and cold water swimming in winter and observing the weather and the wildlife is almost meditative. I practise breathing exercises before entering cold water in winter using the Wim Hof Method, if I can’t get to the reservoir before work I have a cold water ice bath in the garden. It wakes me up and makes me alert for the day ahead!
Many of my yarn colourways are inspired by these morning walks and swims.
In the evening I wind down with my knitting, it relaxes my body and mind – dyeing yarn is a physical and demanding job juggling hot pan and heavy yarn, relaxing with a creative project calms the brain and the body – a brilliant way to switch off and leave the screens too!
For those of us who love being outdoors but also want to pick up a new hobby like knitting, what tips do you have for fitting it into a busy lifestyle?
I always recommend joining a knit group or visiting your local yarn store. This way you will meet like minded people to share tips and techniques with as well as creating great friendships, it may only take a couple of hours a week or month depending on the time you have to spare.
Naturally within a knit group there will be people who also share other similar interests such as a love of the outdoors. Within my knit group there are several of us who love the outdoors and meet to go on “knit walks”. These are great days out where we enjoy a walk and always stop to knit. Memories and friendships are knit in the moment and you’re combining several interests in one day out!
Social media such as Instagram and Tik Tok and Youtube are great for following knitters who share tutorials and posts to help you along your learning to knit journey – there’s a huge and wonderful online community.
Your Instagram @mamieandflorrie is full of beautiful designs. How do you stay motivated and find new inspiration for your projects?
Thank you! I still love to travel and take city breaks and visit new places as often as possible. Art galleries provide so much inspiration, simple items such as the colour combinations used in café chairs, what people are wearing on the streets to the different botanicals to those we see at home. I just love colour watching!
I am seeing new ideas and inspiration all of the time at home too – colours in nature inspire me to dye a new colourway and I’ll have a sense as to what that yarn will look like knit up. I love to visit Anglesey and walk along the coast, the colours are wildly different to the Peak District and inspire wonderful blue shades and yellows, the Peak District gives me deep greens, browns and earthy tones.
What advice would you give fellow outdoor enthusiasts looking to balance their love for nature with their creative pursuits?
Just do it and combine both! Give yourself time to go for a walk and take a creative project. You don’t have to go far, find a green space and take the time to knit, listen to nature, breathe and enjoy the quiet mindful action of relaxing and being creative.
I am a firm believer in anything being achievable with the right kit and a plan. Plan a walk with a great place for a knit stop and enjoy!
And kit, waterproof rucksack with pockets, if you want to knit as you go take a portable bag – I sell Geo-Metry leather bags handmade in Denmark. These are the perfect yarn carrier for on the go.
Project – something small and light, a hat, simple cowl or socks make great outdoor walking projects. I am a firm believer in simplicity, great fibres and colour over complex knitting patterns which need masses of concentration. I am all about enjoying what you do and gaining mindful relaxation not being stressed by complexity, have fun!
Camera – take plenty of photos and have great memories, you may be inspired by the colours of where you are and want to knit something to remind you of that walk you loved and the wonderful conversations you had that day.