Sweet success

Known for soft, light-coloured blankets worked in stripes and granny squares, designer Sue Rawlinson shares how her career in crochet has evolved over the last decade

- Lucy Evans

Bobbles, blankets and beautiful pastels – that pretty much sums up the work of Sue Rawlinson, the brains behind Sweetpea Family Crochet. ‘Joyful’ would be another good way to describe her colourful yet classic candy stripes and granny squares. Sue is always at her hook, and her love of crochet is infectious, so it’s all the more heartwarming to hear how it has seen her through some tough times.

PERFECT THERAPY

Sue used to work as a nurse, but around 10-12 years ago she had to leave her job in the NHS due to ill health. “I have a chronic health condition,” she explains. “This was very difficult. My children had flown the nest, and suddenly my days were long and spent at home. I started to crochet a lot and this became my own occupational therapy. I started making blankets freestyle but didn’t really consider this designing.

After a few years, when I was a little stronger, I met three amazing women at a felting class. We bonded over our shared love of all things crafty and are still meeting monthly, ever since our first meeting about seven years ago. They encouraged me to teach crochet, so that really came before designing. I set up a mock workshop as a trial run and taught them how to crochet. I then advertised on a local craft Facebook group and within an hour I had a waiting list.

“It was incredible – I have met some lovely people running workshops and many have become close friends. I eventually had to offer workshops in a larger venue as my house was becoming too small. I hired a local church hall and with the help of my friend Carole, a fellow crocheter, my crochet afternoon teas were born. These were fabulous afternoons, and that was when my pattern writing really took off.”