Stockport Express

Knitting mum is internet sensation

- ANDREW BARDSLEY andrew.bardsley@men-news.co.uk @ABardsleyM­EN

AMUM’S handcrafte­d knitwear is fast becoming a global fashion business after she turned to her Twitter-savvy son for help.

Figen Murray, from Heaton Moor, decided to take her hobby of making hand-crafted items a step further, by selling them at craft fairs and online to raise funds for charity.

But when Figen failed to sell any items, the dishearten­ed mum asked her family for help.

Her son, Martyn Hett, 28, stepped in and took to social media, tweeting a picture of her work, with the message: ‘My mum has set up her own stall at a craft fair and has messaged me to say she hasn’t sold anything yet and my heart is breaking’.

Within minutes, one of Martyn’s friends got in touch to say he wanted to buy one of his mum’s ‘monster gloves’.

Three more purchases soon followed, which soon became nine.

Martyn posted a text message from his mum on Twitter, which read: ‘Martyn, I’ve sold nine items in the past hour. I was ready to give up knitting altogether but this has made my week!

‘Thank you, my darling, you’ve made your mother very happy’.

A fortnight since Martyn’s original plea on Twitter, Figen is now being inundated with requests and messages from would-be customers.

She has sold out of her current stock – about 60 knitted items – and spent all last weekend knitting more, which have also already sold out.

She has also been contacted by people from as far away as America and Australia.

All of the items on her website, priced from £1 to £12, are currently sold out. She posted a message to her fans: “I have been inundated with lovely messages and many requests for items. I am struggling to answer everyone’s questions personally.

“The only stock I have available is what goes up on my page and it sells out quick. Everything is handmade and takes quite a long time to make.”

Figen, who works as a counsellor, is also donating proceeds from the products after the cost of materials to Stockportb­ased charity Beacon Counsellin­g.

Martyn, who works in PR, said: “It has just gone crazy since I tweeted it.

“She knitted because she thinks knitting is good for mental health, it’s good it is also raising money for charity.” Go to depop.com/imperfecth­earts to see more.

 ??  ?? ●●Martyn Hett with his mum Figen and some of her knitting products
●●Martyn Hett with his mum Figen and some of her knitting products

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