A CREATIVE woman from Salisbury who loves nothing more than a good yarn, has fashioned her way to the final of the twin Knitting and Stitching Show.

Heather Drage, the owner of Born to Knit, will be making her way to Alexandra Palace for the five-day show hand-in-hand with her giant knitted bear, Willoughby Brown, before taking him to Harrogate for the second part of the show.

Two-year-old Willoughby Brown, who stands at a little over four foot, usually stands outside the shop premises on the first floor of Fisherton Mill.

But after becoming a finalist, the trip to London will be his first jaunt into the big wide world.

Mrs Drage said: “I have always been a knitter. My grandmother taught me when I was four years old. Since growing up I have been a speech therapist and a teacher.

“I also worked as a design consultant at John Lewis before opening up my own shop.”

The Journal asked Mrs Drage what she loves about working with wool in Fisherton Mill.

She said: “I have always loved working in colour and here I work with all the colours under the sun. Fisherton Mill is a very creative environment and it is wonderful to be surrounded by people who are creating things.”

Born to Knit stocks thousands of colourful natural yarns and patterns alongside a variety of hand-knitted accessories, including felted bags, cushion covers, corsages and tea cosies.

The shop boasts a wool wall and runs evening and daytime workshops plus Knit and Knatter sessions. Born to Knit also arrange special one-off events such as children’s parties or girls’ nights out with a difference.

The national Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace takes place between October 8-12 and attracts some 100,000 keen craftsmen through its gates.