Sharp knitwear, North East style

Sharp knitwear, North East style

Posted: 28 Jan 2010

If you live in Northumberland, you get to know a lot about dressing warm.

But stylish clothing with a sense of fun and colour that also keeps you nice and toasty isn’t always easy to come by.

So Alnwick resident Lizzy Sharp decided to do it for herself, designing and knitting her own distinctive jumpers and cardigans.
And the many compliments that came her way led her to set up her own business, producing bespoke knitwear which now graces the backs not only of North Easterners but people around the UK and overseas.

Set up in 1986, Lizzy Sharp Knitwear (LSK) is a family-run business which makes beautiful, colourful and original designer knitwear. Not only warm and cosy, the jumpers and cardigans Lizzy makes are also unique in their patterns, motifs and textures. Instantly recognisable, they have become a firm favourite in the wardrobes of those ‘in the know’, who value the garments’ warmth, vibrant colours and cheerful patterns.

“It all began as a hobby but I realised I could turn it into a business. Now I’m well on my way to my first quarter-century as Lizzy Sharp Knitwear,” says Lizzy

Each garment in the LSK collection is hand-knitted by one of a team of dedicated outworkers, most of whom have been with Lizzy since the beginning. All Lizzy’s knitters enjoy the process of creating her one-off designer pieces, and living locally this means the product they make is very much Northumbrian in its origins.

However, Lizzy’s knitwear has travelled the globe, with her distinctive designs adorning their wearers in countries across Europe and North America.
“I’ve always had interest in my designs from abroad, and since the launch of my website last year such interest has noticeably increased,” she says.
“Closer to home, it’s always a joy when I’m standing at the supermarket checkout or waiting in the queue at the bank and someone comes over to me asking where I got my lovely jumper. It’s wonderful to get such positive feedback - especially on a cold, wet day!”
  
To see more of Lizzy’s designs visit http://www.lizzysharpknitwear.co.uk/ - and if you fall for one of her colourful jumpers or cardigans, prepare to be admired.