Once upon a time in a universe far away (actually it was here in Scotland) there was a wee knitwear business called Blackhouse Knitwear  run by myself, Ceci Alderton. Between 1986 and 2001 I designed made and sold around 100,000 bobble hats which appeared in around 150 retail outlets in Britain and were exported all over the world. One was even in the movies – Peter O’Toole wore one in the movie ‘Venus’. More recently, Susan Calman wore a Nessie hat on series 1 of ‘Grand Day Out’ series and a specially-designed ‘Helen’  hat for series 2 & 3.

My bobble hats are made double thickness in pure supersoft wool and feature designs based on the landscapes of Scotland, those inspired by traditional fairisle patterns, Celtic knotwork and Turkish rugs.

I also make a range of hats and accessories which are either hand crocheted or use hand crocheted embellishments onto a machine knitted hat base.  Some of these are made using fabulous shades of an acrylic/wool blend of yarn which combines warmth as well as being very soft to wear. Others are made in an alpaca/wool mix. The hats are made in a variety of original wacky designs and have proved to be very popular at craft fairs and in craft outlets.

As well as exhibiting at Cowal Open Studios, my work is available on my website, from my workshop within Dunoon Men’s Shed, though craft fairs, and at the Conic Craft Collective shop in Drymen (details on www.coniccrafts.co.uk).

I also work as a self-employed Celebrant conducting legal wedding ceremonies, funerals and child namings (more details on www.ecospirit.co.uk).