CATHERINE HIRST's grandmother taught her to knit, crochet, and embroider when she was a little girl, and she's been hand-making clothing, accessories, and gifts ever since. She studied English and art at the University of Pennsylvania and began teaching crafts in the US over a decade ago; now she teaches at craft studios and colleges across London, and in her own home studio. She can be found at www.catherinehirst.com, and often on the London Underground knitting a sock. Catherine is the author of Teeny Tiny Crochet and Granny Square Crochet (both published by CICO Books, 2012). ERSSIE MAJOR has been knitting and crocheting since she was four years old, and now works as a designer, project manager, knitting tutor, and a knitter for other well-known designers. She has had around 200 patterns published in books and magazines including Anticraft: Knitting Beading & Stitching for the Slightly Sinister (F&W, 2007), 60 Quick Baby Knits (Sixth&Spring, 2011), and Knit Simple, HobbyCraft, and Inside Crochet magazines.

She also self-publishes a variety of patterns on her website, www.erssieknits.comm, which includes her blog, Skeinspotting, featuring knitting news as well as reviews of yarns, books and films. When Erssie is not knitting or crocheting (which is hardly ever) she enjoys looking after, and occasionally knitting for, her two rescued greyhounds. She lives in London.