Vanessa Cabban is the lady behind the popular blog ‘Do you mind if I knit?’. She is also a well-known children’s book illustrator, and artist.

Vanessa studied illustration at college and has worked for 12 years, working for Walker Books and Orchard Books. Since becoming interested in knitting about five years ago, and ‘crochet got its little hook into me about a year ago,’ she adds, Vanessa has been sharing her work in her much admired blog spot.

“As I became more confident with my knitting and crochet, I found myself wanting to go my own way with patterns. I started out knitting because I wanted to make jumpers and cardigans, like the fancy designer ones I couldn’t afford to buy in the shops,” explains Vanessa. “I then found out that knitting was relaxing, sometimes challenging and infuriating, but totally enjoyable.”

Vanessa started blogging about a year after looking at other people’s blogs and sees blogging as just another enjoyable hobby to add into the work-life balance. She began to crochet after seeing wonderful creations on other people’s blogs. “Then when I found that crochet is much quicker than knitting, this was very seductive!” she adds. And it’s because of her blog that Vanessa has begun creating patterns.

Vanessa creates patterns for her blog readers because, she says, “they enjoy watching the process, and sometimes knitting or crocheting the results”.

“Part of my reason for blogging is because I work from home, so the interaction with other people is wonderful,” explains Vanessa. “I love to take photos too. The bonus is the comments. People leave fantastic comments and feedback so I feel I’m amongst caring friends.” Sometimes Vanessa opens up a little window into her working life as an illustrator and showcases her work in progress. “Sometimes I ask for opinions on my paintings. The comments are always constructive and encouraging, and I would say that my commentators give me the confidence to grow and carry one.”

Vanessa finds that colours are her greatest inspiration and you can certainly see this from the pictured crochet scarf (free crochet scarf pattern). Currently Vanessa is obsessed with collecting pebbles from the beach, so we look forward to seeing where this new inspiration takes her work...

Click here to read Vanessa’s blog and see more of her work.

Visit Vanessa's website if you would like to see some of her paintings.

Vanessa has designed a two free patterns for us - a knitted rosette and a crochet rosette.