Poldark Had Everyone In Stitches
Angela Blay’s unique tribute to her favourite TV series has cast her on to a new career…
The more I knitted, the more strange and wonderful opportunities came up
Putting the finishing touches to my first knitted doll, I held him aloft and smiled. Thorin Oakenshield, one of the characters from TheHobbit, didn’t shape up too badly in knitted form. With his long, black hair and fluffy coat, I was so proud of him I posted a photo on Twitter.
Amazing!Youshouldsell these! people Tweeted me. I’ve always enjoyed knitting but found jumpers and scarves very boring. As a child, I loved cuddly toys so I decided that it would be a lot more fun to try and knit dolls instead. Despite hunting all over the internet, I hadn’t been able to find any Thorin patterns I liked so here I was, making my own. And as my Twitter followers were so enthusiastic, it got me thinking I should design simple patterns that anyone could follow, so that any fan of knitting could make their own doll.
That’s how it all started, back in May 2015. I launched Kwerky Knits, setting up a Facebook page where I sold my dolls and patterns. I knitted the characters of Kili and Fili too, and Bilbo Baggins. But it was only after I designed a pattern for Ross Poldark that Kwerky Knits took off.
I love the BBC drama Poldark. I love the beautiful scenery, the costumes, the storylines and of course, Ross Poldark himself. So I knitted him! When I put a photo of my Poldark doll on social media, he was extremely popular. Many people just wanted to buy the doll, but I tried to encourage them to buy the pattern and enjoy knitting him themselves. I really do want to spread the love of knitting.
I’d soon designed patterns for almost all the cast. I knitted Demelza and Morwenna, Elizabeth, George, Francis… and naturally when Aidan Turner was photographed topless in a meadow, scythe in hand, the setting sun lighting his perfectly defined abs just so – I knew I had to rustle up a knitted, topless Poldark, complete with six-pack and scythe!y Myy knits sold like hot
cakes and were soon considered to be collector’s items. By August 2016 I’d set up an Etsy page to keep up with demand.
Then I made a new friend online, Celia Fox. She’d been given my dolls as a birthday present and she thought they were wonderful. She posted photos on Facebook of my dolls in her gorgeous Georgian doll’s house and wrote witty captions. We got on so well we went into partnership – my dolls in her doll’s houses! The Knitdarks were born.
The more I knitted, the more strange and wonderful opportunities came my way. A few months ago, I was contacted via Facebook by a producer for TheGraham NortonShow. She’d seen my Poldark knits online and explained that they were due to have Aidan Turner on the show soon.
“We wondered if you might like to be in the audience and knit Aidan a doll?”
I could hardly believe what I was reading. My dolls were going primetime!
I was nervous, but the producer was lovely. I got knitting and in June, headed up to London with my sister for the filming day. We arrived in the afternoon in time for the rehearsal, handing over a whole cast of Poldark dolls (and a Graham Norton that I’d knitted too!) to a producer, who promised to look after them.
Sitting in the audience was such fun. When my moment came, Aidan loved his doll – he looked up at me and said thank you. I had to laugh when One Direction singer Liam Payne accidentally stepped on Aidan’s doll. Jo Brand looked up into the audience and said, “Sorry, Angela!”
I honestly thought they’d leave me on the cutting room floor but I was amazed to see
that the dolls got plenty of air time. After the show aired, my phone came alive. I had wonderful comments from friends and so many new customers ordering my dolls and requesting new commissions too.
Things haven’t slowed down since – my dolls are in high demand and I’m busy making limited edition dolls. I’m developing new characters and patterns. I’d like to try Jane Austen characters and maybe an Ed Sheeran.
I feel so grateful that my little dolls and I are on this extraordinary journey. I hope my story inspires everyone to have a little fun with their knitting! Find Angela on Facebook @kwerkyknits or on Etsy WWW.ETSY.COM/UK/SHOP/KWERKYKNITS