Sock knitter Anne Drew has stitched together a book inspired by her grandson.
Anne has now released her first book Marvin’s Marvellous Day, which tells the story of a knitted rabbit.
Anne revealed: “The inspiration came from my little grandson Parker, who was born in October 2019. It’s great being a grandparent you recognise things that you just didn’t have the headspace for as a parent – always frazzled. But as a grandparent, I appreciated the importance of learning through touch and all the different textures to experience. So I thought I would make something with knitting. Garter stitch and stocking stitch have a very different feel about them one with ridges and the other smooth. And that’s how Marvin started his life.
“Initially, I wanted each part of him to be knitted with a different stitch but I found that would be much too complicated. So settled on garter and stocking stitch. Then a little story just popped in my head. Two things to start with, I wanted him to have a little backpack and it had to have a happy ending.”
The artwork has been produced by artist Tanya McDonald, an illustrator based in Churchdown.
Anne added: “I have always enjoyed making things, whether sticking and pasting washing up bottles, knitting or sewing, and a host of other things. I think especially through COVID I have really appreciated the solace gained from creating. So if you are that way inclined there’s a knitting pattern in the book to create your own Marvin.”
The book will be available at Stroud Farmers’ Market every 2nd and 4th Saturday. It’s also available at www.socksbycymbal.co.uk or From Home in Berkeley, the Museum in the Park, Stroud and Castle Crafts in Thornbury.
