Who we are
We are Frances and Alison. We began working together at Rowan’s first global Flagship store; Rowan at OSPREY HOME in St Albans. When the store closed, we decided to continue the workshops that we and our customers love.
We have a holistic approach to our workshops, sharing our skills and knowledge in a friendly and relaxing environment. It is our aim to support and encourage everyone that wishes to enjoy and improve their knitting. Our classes are well staffed and small enough to ensure everybody increases their knowledge and improves their skills, whilst making new friends.
Frances
Frances has been a passionate knitter since being taught to knit by her grandmother as a child. She was knitting secretly as a teenager, knitting big mohair jumpers in the 1980’s, knitting on the train to work (and buying beautiful wool in Holburn at lunchtime!), knitting in the spectator's gallery at many swimming pools while her children trained or competed. Now they are grown up Frances continues to knit at every opportunity.
In the knitting world Frances enjoys Intarsia and Fairisle knitting, solving knitting pattern challenges and discovering new techniques. A prolific knitter, she always has many projects on the go but if she isn’t knitting you will find Frances in her garden.
Alison
Alison trained in theatre set design at university but was scooped up to work on costume for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Her claim to fame is sewing the patches onto Professor Lupin’s cardigan. She continued to work on many theatre productions over the years including as wardrobe manager in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.
Through her passion for costume, Alison loves exploring shape and fit. Creating cables and textures is also high in favourites list, and when she puts down the needles you will find her amongst the grapevines at her allotment.