Interview with The Knitter 2025
THE DESIGNER of our beautiful shawl, Sandra Nesbitt is known for her intricate brioche, lace and colourwork, and has been collaborating with The Knitter for many years. We caught up with Sandra to chat about her design adventures.
How did you come to work as a knitwear designer?
“My journey into knitwear design began after a memorable day spent with three fellow knitters I had met online. We spent the day yarn bombing York, enjoying coffee and cakes, and sharing our love of knitting. It was during this time that one of them, Emma Sadler, encouraged me to start designing. That moment of inspiration set me on the path to creating patterns, and I haven’t looked back since.
My first published designs in a magazine were a proud milestone in my knitting journey. Two of my patterns—the Mustard Seed Shawl and the Sandown Stole—were featured in the same magazine issue, making the moment even more special! I've published around 160 designs since then, each a unique exploration of texture, color, and creativity.”
How would you describe your style?
“My design style is ever-evolving as I continue to learn and improve my skills daily. I enjoy taking other knitters along on this journey by incorporating new techniques into my patterns. I love exploring creative ways to combine multiple techniques within a single project, always striving to present something fresh and interesting.
At the same time, I aim to ensure that my finished designs maintain a distinctly feminine feel. Whether it’s through the choice of stitch patterns, the type of yarns, or the colours I select, I always keep my brand, ‘The Feminine Touch Designs’, at the forefront of my creative process.”
Did you find the act of pattern writing challenging?
“My career in IT—which spanned system analysis, designing systems, programming, and testing code—provided me with a strong foundation for pattern writing. Transitioning this mindset into the world of knitting design felt natural. The most challenging aspect is grading a pattern for multiple sizes. It requires precision and careful calculation to ensure the design works seamlessly across all variations. My analytical background gave me the confidence to approach pattern writing methodically and successfully.”
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
“I find inspiration in Nordic folklore designs, particularly their distinctive two-color symmetry, which has a timeless appeal. I’m also deeply drawn to Asian Mandala artwork—the intricate, captivating patterns truly tug at my heartstrings, and I would love to incorporate more of that style into my work.”
Which design from your portfolio are you most proud of, or is most special to you?
“ ‘Chesil Beach’ from The Knitter issue 205 is probably my favorite. It features an intricate-looking pattern that’s surprisingly simple to knit. I was thrilled to see how the stitch pattern I developed transformed when incorporated into the garment—it turned out even better than I had imagined!"
Have you collaborated with any indie yarn dyers or designers?
Yes, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with some incredibly talented individuals. I worked with Louisa Harding of Yarntelier to create a three-pattern brioche collection using her luxurious cashmere yarns. It was a wonderful opportunity to pair intricate techniques with equally exquisite fibers. I’ve also collaborated with Steph from Perran Yarns. Together, we’ve developed patterns that complement her beautiful yarns, and we both offer these designs in kit form.”
What is your favourite knitting book?
“Probably Nancy Marchant’s book , ‘Fresh Brioche’. Once I fell in love with brioche knitting, I wanted to learn everything I could about the technique. Nancy’s book was a huge inspiration—it’s incredible that she’s taken brioche to new heights with her creativity and expertise.
I’ve drawn on her ideas, simplified them, and focused on making my own brioche patterns as “knitter-friendly” as possible. Her work continues to inspire me as I explore and develop my own approach to this beautiful technique.”
As well as designing knitwear, you also run your own online store, The Feminine Touch Designs.
“My website, The Feminine Touch Designs, is an extension of the Etsy store where I first began selling my creations. It has grown into a hub for knitters and crafters to explore, learn, and create.
Through the site, I teach knitters new techniques with my own videos and links to helpful tutorials and share details of my workshops and events. It’s a place to find my own original knitting patterns & kits that combine my patterns with locally sourced yarns. I also sell a selection of knitting supplies, some designed by other talented UK crafters.”
Do you have any plans for 2025 that you can share with us?
“In 2025, I’m excited to continue expanding my portfolio by incorporating brioche lace into my designs. Brioche enthusiasts will be thrilled to see how easily lace can be integrated into their brioche projects.
I’m also focusing on developing more accessory patterns that feature colorwork techniques, including stranded knitting, mosaic, and, of course, brioche.
Additionally, as one of the Huddersfield branch coordinators for The Knitting & Crochet Guild, I’m thrilled to be part of organising our FIRST Northern Regional Day on June 28th. It will be a fantastic day filled with woolly bliss, featuring inspiring speakers, engaging workshops, and a vibrant woolly marketplace.”
Tell us about your involvement in the Big Rainbow Knit project.
“I was honored to be part of the design team for the Big Rainbow Knit, a community project that was part of the WOVEN in Kirklees festival in June 2021. The project brought together hundreds of knitters from all over the world to create over 15,000 six-inch squares in rainbow colors, which were used to decorate the columns of Huddersfield train station.
My main role as a designer was to design the "Rainbow Rays" panels and to organise the assembling of knitted squares to create those panels. These kaleidoscopic designs showcased the vibrant squares in stunning radial patterns, demonstrating how simple knitted pieces can come together to form something truly striking. It was a joy to see the creativity and effort of so many knitters displayed in such a bold and public way. I compiled the "Rainbow Rays" patterns into an eBook, allowing others to recreate these designs for their own yarn bombing projects or personal use.”