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Megan Crook , Crooked Knitwear, UK
Knitwear Designer
Megan Crook, 21, grew up in Philadelphia, USA, but now lives in Derby, where she has set up her own knitwear label Crooked Knitwear.
To launch her business, Megan has had help from the Prince’s Trust and she’s just found her first Derby outlet – Kezia in Green Lane. She’s also continuing to sell them at craft fairs, trade shows, through knitwear parties and – and constantly to friends who see her wearing her own creations and beg her to make one for them too!
“I began knitting as a hobby back in Philadelphia,” she explains, ”Initially I just knitted simple scarves for myself, but there are so many amazing yarns around these days that I started making other garments like ponchos and shrugs. People began to ask if I could knit things for them too and if finally got to the point where I felt I could make a living out of my knitwear.”
She models her knitwear for promotional literature and looks fabulous wearing the designs in daily life. Her ponchos, shrugs and wrap tops in cotton and silk have been very popular this summer and she’s constantly experimenting with new designs.
I’m making shrugs that are elegantly slouchy and drapey at the back, as well as cross-over cardigans and a body tube that you can wear as a scarf, or open it up, pull it over your head and wear as a hood,” she explains.
She is also working on a new convertible stole which can be worn either as a shrug tied across the back or as a regular stole. Crooked knitwear is priced from £20 for scarves, gloves and handbags and from £40 for a shrug or convertible stole. Children’s wear starts from £20 for a pair of hand-crafted slippers. Megan also produces matching knitted handbags trimmed with beautiful beaded ribbon from America. “I knit my handbags in 100 per cent wool, then felt them. The joy of felting is that the bag won’t stretch no matter how much weight you put in it. You won’t have to worry about the bag ending up somewhere round your knees because the felting will make it stay in shape.”
One of the hallmarks of Crooked Knitwear is the exquisitely hand-painted yarn she uses in fabulous colours.