About Tina Barrett

Taught to knit by her grandmother at an early age, Tina had no idea those shaky first stitches would eventually develop into a career and lifetime obssession.   She had firm plans to become a children's author and during the slow years that followed in which she had highs (like the time she was runner-up for the prestigious WHSmith Raw Talent Award) and also lows (whilst ghost writing for endless children series whilst editors gave her the run around), always, the knitting saw her through and she took comfort in the lack of creative boundaries that the woolly fibres gave her.   She set up 'Knitty Nora' and took her children's knit and crochet designs around the local Farmer's Markets. They were popular and soon knitting to order began to overlap the writing.   However, it wasn't until  a poorly pet greyhound, an embarassed husband and the germ of an idea for a knitting book all combined to create Knits for Cats and Dogs which was published in 2006 by GMC (and with no ghost writers involved!) that her knitting obssession began to take on a whole life of it's own.   From those unexpected beginnings, Tina has gone on to design regularly for popular UK magazines Knit Today, Lets Knit and Knitting magazine as well as publishing 2 more knitting books; Natural Knits for babies and toddlers and Natural Crochet for babies and toddlers in 2008.   2010 sees the launch of brand new baby and childrenswear label Cherub , an exciting womenswear collection designed especially for Cornish Organic Wool and of course more gorgeous designs you'll want to knit featured in all your favourite magazines, Tina's now teaching her own children to knit. Well, who knows what happens to the knowlege we pass on to others...