There is something quietly magical about seeing thread come to life. In this episode of Textile Talk, we welcome textile artist and creator of Nudinits Sarah Simi, whose work sits at a fascinating intersection of knitting, storytelling, and stop motion animation.
Many will already know Sarah through her much-loved characters, but this conversation goes deeper. It explores not just what she makes, but how ideas evolve, how humour finds its place in craft, and how a creative practice can grow into a thriving business.
From her earliest experiences learning to knit as a child, through to building a globally recognised creative brand, Sarah shares an honest and inspiring insight into a career shaped by curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to follow unconventional ideas.
Textile Talk with Sarah Simi
Listen to the episode on your favourite podcast platform or click the link below to listen now.
A Childhood Craft That Never Left
Sarah’s journey begins in a familiar place for many textile artists: learning to knit as a child.
Taught by her mother at the age of eight, knitting quickly became a constant companion. Like so many early creative experiences, it was playful and exploratory, from making toys to dressing unlikely subjects.
What stands out is not just the skill itself, but the longevity of that early spark. Knitting was never something Sarah left behind. Instead, it quietly evolved alongside her career, eventually becoming the foundation for something entirely unexpected.
This is something we see time and again in textile practice. The techniques we learn early often resurface later, transformed by experience and imagination.
When Knitting Meets Animation
One of the most fascinating parts of Sarah’s work is the combination of soft textile techniques with the highly precise world of stop motion animation.
At first glance, these two disciplines seem at odds. Knitting is tactile, flexible, and inherently soft. Animation demands control, structure, and consistency. Yet it is exactly this tension that gives her work its unique charm.
Rather than trying to eliminate the natural movement of knitted forms, Sarah chose to embrace it. The slight shifts, the visible touch, the evidence of the maker’s hand all become part of the storytelling. It’s a reminder that technical perfection is not always the goal. Sometimes it is the human element that draws people in most strongly.
Building Characters With Real Personality
What began as a simple idea of a knitted village gradually developed into a cast of distinctive characters with their own personalities and stories.
These characters did not just exist as objects. They became part of a wider narrative world, appearing in films, books, and creative projects that resonated with audiences far beyond the textile community.
Sarah speaks about the importance of writing characters with enough depth and humour that people can connect with them. This is where craft moves into storytelling. The making becomes a vehicle for something larger.
For textile artists, this is a powerful idea. Technique is important, but meaning and narrative are what often create lasting impact.
The Technical Craft Behind the Creativity
Behind the playful surface lies a highly technical process.
Each figure used in animation is carefully constructed with an internal armature, allowing it to be posed and moved incrementally. Achieving the right balance between flexibility and stability takes time, experimentation, and often many failed attempts.
Scale adds another layer of complexity. Many of the knitted elements are incredibly small, sometimes created using improvised tools to achieve the necessary detail.
There is also the challenge of planning. Unlike traditional filming, stop motion requires decisions to be made in advance. Every prop, every set, every movement must be considered before the first frame is captured.
It is a powerful reminder that creativity often sits alongside discipline. The most playful outcomes are often supported by the most rigorous processes.
Turning Craft Into a Sustainable Business
A particularly valuable part of this conversation is Sarah’s insight into building a creative career.
What began as a personal idea gradually grew into a multi-layered business. Income now comes from a combination of books, licensed products, and collaborations. Social media has played a key role in expanding the audience, allowing the work to reach people who may never have considered themselves part of the textile world.
Importantly, Sarah highlights the need to adapt. The way people discover and engage with creative work continues to change, and staying open to that evolution is essential.
She also speaks honestly about persistence. Creative careers are rarely straightforward. Progress often comes from continuing even when there is little external validation.
Creative Inspiration and Looking Forward
Throughout the interview, Sarah returns to the importance of ideas.
Inspiration comes from many places, from childhood influences to everyday observations. What matters is the willingness to explore those ideas and follow them, even when the outcome is uncertain.
Looking ahead, there is a clear sense that her work will continue to evolve. New directions, new formats, and new ways of storytelling are all possibilities.
For anyone building their own creative path, this is perhaps the most valuable takeaway. There is no single route. What matters is staying curious, staying engaged, and continuing to make.
Listen and Be Inspired.
This episode offers a rich and thoughtful look at what happens when traditional craft meets imagination and innovation.
Whether you are interested in technique, storytelling, or building a creative career, there is something here to take away.
Listen to the full Textile Talk episode
Follow Sarah on Instagram
Check out her book
Feeling Inspired?
If you’d like to expand your own creativity, we offer Knitting and Crochet courses that are uniquely accredited by City & Guilds. These are comprehensive courses, lasting between 1-2 years and are designed to enhance skills and nurture creative confidence. Register your interest to be invited to our next enrolment.
