Designed & Knitted In The High Peak By

Andycrafts is Ann Baker

knitting at andycrafts.co.uk

E6000 Machine baby cardigan and hat pattern can be found here

WEBSITE UPDATED November 23.

Welcome to the website of Andycrafts, which is non-profit making and has three objectives:

To give garments and materials free to good causes.

To promote the knitting craft.

To donate any money made to selected charities.

Prior to closure of Fairfield Methodist Church in August 20 they were the main beneficiaries. A brief history of Methodism in Fairfield can be downloaded from [HERE]


A little about us.

The founder of Andycrafts Ann Baker holds The City and Guilds of London Institute Certificate in Creative Studies Machine Knitting which she studied at Sheffield and Rotherham College of Technology in South Yorkshire. She was a member of the Guild of Machine Knitters, and now is a member of the Knitting & Crochet Guild. Ann is a retired teacher.

Ann and her knitting

Ann creates her garments in a wide variety of yarns and techniques . While she keeps a small stock of children’s garments she normally designs and supplies to order. Her garments have been supplied to people in many countries including U.S.A, France, Italy, Portugal, India, Belgium, Russia, Belarus & Afghanistan.

From 1999 to 2022 Ann was involved with the Chernobyl Children's Project and/or Chernobyl Aid UK supplying aid to Belarus. The political situation between Russia and Ukraine has changed that and Ann continues to support other charities.

Knitting Machines.

Ann who has always been interested in the Knitting Craft developed her skills from traditional hand knitting through to computer aided electronic knitting machines.

She has worked for many years with computer aided machines specializing on the Pfaff/Passap knitting machines. Ann has developed her own designs some of which can be seen on this site.
While the machines and the technology they use are “ancient” they still produce high quality knitwear.
In 2020 these machines were joined by a Silver Reed LK150 knitting machine.

Ann's Designs.

Ann likes a challenge and on her "My Designs" page you can see a few examples including:

• the "worst" Christmas Jumper competition (as seen on TV),
• a jumper designed and knitted for Nick of Uppingham Yarns as part of the Metropolitan "Knitters Dream Week" competition.
• a jumper for a young person mad on "bikes".
• to design and produce a pattern and then knit a garment based on the Baptistry at Pisa.
• to help a local theatre company to dress the "Vicar of Dibley”.
• to produce something innovative and non-wearable from a challenging yarn.
• to knit a garment using techniques used by Australia based knitwear designer Tony Bennett.

The finished products and others can be found on the "My Designs" page link above.

Lockdown and the Covid restrictions

Like everybody else Covid made an enormous difference to everyday life but knitting continued and was an important part of getting through this. You will get some idea of what that was by looking at our “Archive” page link above.

Après Covid

The knitting has continued, although the garments have generally been knitted for friends or “in the box” for future sale to raise money for worthwhile causes.
One of the knitting surprises has been the number of requests to knit a “Vicar of Dibley” (like) garment(s). The program must have worldwide appeal with requests from a variety of countries.
Ann is still keen to support other knitters where it is feasible. If you have a knitting challenge, talk to Ann, she might just be able to help.

As you can see if you look below, the knitting goes on, even if the website can't keep up!!!!!


Annoctober 23

        and on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ann December 23