Some knitters start with a pattern. Others start with the sheep. Long before enrolling with SST, Rachel Hewitt was following the thread right back to its source: a childhood fascination with fleece and spinning, a mother who knitted Aran sweaters, and a decade of teaching herself patterns while raising young children. Over time, that curiosity grew into a practice rooted in natural fibres and sustainability, from fleece sourced through a third-generation farmer to spinning demonstrations at the Oxford Real Farming Conference under her own name, oo_knit.
What Rachel wanted next was structure. Supported by a Joan Harrison Bursary award, she set out to understand stitch structure and how design principles could shape her knitwear design. What followed surprised even her: an original stitch structure born from her own design interpretation, a striking neck piece worked out stitch by stitch on grid paper, and a PDF pattern now being test knitted by fellow Guild members ahead of publication. Hers is a powerful reminder that true creative freedom grows from mastering the fundamentals.
Inspired by Rachel’s journey? SST’s City & Guilds accredited Skill Stage 2 Knitting course gives you a thorough grounding in hand knitting techniques, stitch structure and design principles, studied at your own pace with expert tutor support. Whether you are a self-taught knitter or bringing experience from another creative discipline, Knitting Skill Stage 2 is a beginner knitting course and gives you the structured learning and confidence to start developing designs that are truly your own.
“If you want to master a craft, you need to be willing to learn the fundamentals, remain open to guidance and leave no stone unturned.”
Rachel, Knitting, Skill Stage 2 Graduate
A Family Tradition, a Spinning Wheel and a Love of Natural Fibres
I completed Skill Stage 2 Knitting in 2026, but knitting has been part of my life for much longer than that. It is a family tradition, with my mother knitting Aran sweaters until recently, and this heritage has been an important influence on my own journey.
I began teaching myself to knit patterns around ten years ago, when I had children. What began as a childhood interest in sheep fleece and spinning became a practice centred on the benefits of natural fibres and sustainability. This led me to source fleece from a third-generation farmer interested in inheriting her grandmother’s farm and introducing sustainable practices. My son even sheared a sheep at the age of eleven, on a farm dedicated to sustainable land and animal management.
Working with these fleeces, I joined the Association of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers, gaining a wealth of knowledge from experienced spinners. In 2026, I demonstrated spinning at the Oxford Real Farming Conference as an independent spinner under the name oo_knit.
Creatively, I wanted a course that would help me understand the techniques of hand knitting, particularly stitch structure and how design principles could be applied to knitted textiles. City & Guilds accreditation offers a thorough, structured approach to developing textile skills, with opportunities to specialise in specific techniques. The course provided exactly the foundation I was looking for.
I had wanted to undertake this course for several years, and in 2025 I was fortunate enough to receive one of the Joan Harrison Bursary Fund awards. This showed me how valuable support can be, so I would encourage anyone who has a passion or ambition not to let financial barriers prevent them from pursuing their goals.
Reinventing the Wheel: How I Found My Own Stitch Structure Through Knitwear Design
One of my best achievements was creating a stitch structure through my own design interpretation. At first I thought that would be like reinventing the wheel, and I wondered whether it was really possible. But by learning the fundamentals, realising my design and learning stitch structures methodically, I experimented with a stitch and a technique that developed into an inventive result, one with its own source, form and meaning.
It was a significant moment when I realised that a structured learning approach, combined with creative exploration, could achieve real results. I do believe this course builds on the fundamental skills of art and design, while allowing you to learn at your own pace.
One of the most valuable learning experiences was drawing a pattern on grid paper. This analogue approach to recording stitch diagrams allowed me to work out my neck piece in two dimensions and develop a deeper understanding of my pattern. It is a skill I am grateful for, and one I will carry forward into my practice.
Although I have a fine art background, Skill Stage 2 provided essential grounding in hand knitting and stretched me both creatively and technically, helping me transfer my wider creative knowledge into textile design.
For anyone thinking of studying, I would recommend a dedicated workspace and establishing a regular routine. Online tutorials offer additional support, while following the practical guidance in the module instructions, such as taking well-lit photographs, helps you document and present your work clearly.
No Short-Cuts: From Final Piece to Published Pattern
This course has helped me develop a daily creative practice at home: growing dye plants from seed, spinning yarn and designing knitwear. I am now learning to construct jumpers using stitch structures developed through the samples and mood boards I created during the course.
Since completing the course, I have continued developing my work by writing a PDF knitting pattern for my final piece. Knitters at the Guild have offered to test knit the design, which I consider a significant endorsement of my work. Once the pattern is finalised, I would like to publish it on Ravelry.
Drawing inspiration from nature, developing original patterns and publishing new designs have become key goals for me. After completing the course, my tutor advised me to progress to Skill Stage 3 Intarsia, and I believe working through the Skill Stages systematically is excellent advice. If you want to master a craft, you need to be willing to learn the fundamentals, remain open to guidance and leave no stone unturned.
Ultimately, the course has given me technical knitting skills and greater confidence in my creative practice and previous art education, while opening up new possibilities for further study and teaching. My advice, and my mantra for developing your knitting practice, is simple: there are no short-cuts.
Begin your stitch journey
Rachel’s story shows what can happen when a deep-rooted passion meets structured learning. From fleece and spinning wheel to an original stitch structure and a pattern on its way to publication, every step has been built on patience, curiosity and a real commitment to the fundamentals. We are proud to have been part of that journey at SST, and we cannot wait to see where intarsia takes her next. Wherever your own creative story begins, there is room for it to grow here.
