Designer honoured by King 'fortunate' to do job

A knitwear designer who is mentoring others trying to break into the industry said she is "very fortunate" to do her job.

Jeanette Sloan, who lives in Bristol, starred in the latest series of BBC One's Make It at Market as a knitting and crochet mentor after the craft was introduced to the show.

After being taught how to knit by her Windrush generation mother as a child, Ms Sloan was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2023 for services to knitwear design and diversity in the fibre arts.

"I had no idea that, years later, I would be still doing this and still loving it," she told BBC Radio Bristol.

Crafts such as pyrography, stone carving, and cake making also feature on Make It at Market.

The show follows amateur crafters being mentored as they attempt to turn their passion into a career.

Ms Sloan's interest in the craft began aged seven, when she was "fascinated" by her mother knitting

"I think I was probably quite an annoying kid, so I was like 'I just really want to do this' and she taught me how to do it," Ms Sloan said.

"If I'm watching television, I'm knitting, if there's any kind of quiet time, I'll always take my knitting.

"My sisters have always said, 'she's brought her knitting again, what is she knitting now?'"

Ms Sloan said being part of Make It at Market was "lovely".

"What you see on set is exactly as it is," she said.

"Everybody is rooting for the people involved and they're all invested in making sure they do the best they can."

Ms Sloan said it was "surreal" to receive a BEM for her services to the craft, especially as her sister has an MBE for her services to Bristol and her part in the city's Covid-19 response.

"We were at a memorial a couple of months ago wearing our gongs thinking, 'this is bizarre'," she said.

"Sadly, [our parents] passed away but mum would have absolutely loved it."

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