by Rebecca Hannant
A Hedon crafter has been featured on the award-winning BBC TV show Make it at Market.
The show, hosted by Dominic Chinea every weekday, pairs up budding entrepreneurs with industry gurus to help turn a hobby into a fully fledged business.
Working alongside her mentor, knitwear designer Jeanette Sloan, Louise Gowans has dedicated herself to perfecting her design skills and sharing her knowledge by teaching crochet classes in our area.
Originally from Hull, Louise has been mastering her craft since the age of just nine and has a wide and varied skill set. She first began making items to sell when her two sons were small.
She said: “I would make things for my own boys and then be asked to make another for their friends, then again by another friend and it just went on.”
As the boys got older, the playground turned into craft fairs, but teaching is where her passion now lies.
Louise applied for the show after seeing an advert in the Knitting and Crochet Guild’s Facebook group. Meanwhile, the craft of crochet was selected to be featured on the show for the first time this year.
She added: “It’s an honour to be among the first to show our love for this versatile craft. So many traditions are being lost but crochet always comes back in fashion. Each time it does, it evolves. There are new techniques, materials and buzzwords, but the fundamental art of creating something original, unique and sustainable that will last forever is always there.
“You don’t need masses of equipment, just a hook, some yarn and a bit of basic knowledge. It’s accessible for everyone and helps to promote good mental health, that’s part of what makes it such a joy. The sense of achievement when you see the idea in your head taking physical shape in your hands is addictive. It encourages you to carry on to the next project and the next and the one after that.
“Taking part in the show has been a dream. It has been an incredible opportunity to share and learn about my craft and the wider aspects of it. My mentor is so generous with her wealth of experience and knowledge, I’ve learned so much! The production team are fantastic, they genuinely care about each person, they want you to succeed and are so supportive every step of the way. The whole experience has been an absolute joy, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
“It’s really helped with my confidence too – I’m more present on social media platforms now and much less shy about being in front of a camera to show my work.”
Make it at Market airs weekdays on BBC One at 3.45pm. Louise has been on the show since March 3 and will feature in the final episode on Monday, March 24.