From Britain with Love

I’ve been a textile designer for almost 20 years and have always loved making things. After the birth of my daughter five years ago, I started making clothes for her, at first from crochet, and then from recycled wool embellished with crochet. I became aware of the enormous amount of ‘disposable’ clothes that babies and children get through, and wanted to make something that would last, and hopefully get handed on.

I have the ideal set up for combining motherhood and working as my studio is in the converted garage at the end of the garden.

I boil wash all the second hand jumpers that I get, in order to felt them and to make the end garment machine washable on a wool cycle. I then use crochet to add pockets and trimmings, as well as vintage fabrics to make bias bindings. I do all the crochet myself, which I love.

Each piece is unique, and all of them are popular! Parents love the fact that the clothes are practical as well as beautiful, while children love the softness of the wool and the crocheted pockets. Parents of boys are always particularly pleased to discover robust tops that aren’t covered with pirates or camouflage.

I love the fact that I’m making something lasting out of something that had been thrown away, and I love that each piece is different. I get to play around with colour all day long!

Each of my tops is completely made by hand, one by one, by me and my assistant, Stephanie. I couldn’t work any other way.

Exhibiting at Origin and meeting so many interesting and interested people. The feedback that I got was fantastic.

I sell through my website, www.smithandcoates.com, and through fairs such as Origin. I’m also starting to put my work into a few carefully selected shops, such as the pop up shop Content.

I’m part of a group of like-minded designer makers called Homeworks, all of whom I admire hugely. They include children’s accessories by Mrs Booth, salvaged and customised vintage homewares by Lou Rota, knitting kits by Fiona Bailey, and crocheted animals by Huggermuggers.

We have a very good local farmer’s market in Queen’s Park which I use every week, particularly for meat and fish.

Ringstead Bay in Dorset, and Whitstable in Kent. I love being by the sea, especially in the winter, and the food is fresh and locally sourced. The Sportsman Pub and Wheelers are particular favourites. Also the shop Frank, which sells work by various artists and designers.

Cooking, catching up with friends and collapsing in a heap with my family.

 (Photography of Sarah Coates by Simon Brown)