Turning a labour of love into a business

Knitting has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts in recent times but it has been part and parcel of Ann Marie Griffin's life since she was just four. Now, she has turned what is a real labour of love in to a fulltime business. The Mount Temple woman creates exquisite handmade knitwear, everything from dresses and jumpers to shawls, bags and corsages using her skills in crochet and needlework to create and produce unique and complex pieces. For someone who wants something completely different, Ann Marie also makes one-off designer pieces for that special occasion or event. "There was always knitting going on at home, you picked it up that way and it developed from there," the Mount Temple resident enthused recently, modelling a fabulous rust colour dress of her own design embellished with crochet and surrounded by samples of her work. "Right through school I knitted for friends. What I found at that time was there was a lot of Aran knitting. I could never get a pattern that I liked so I was always chopping and changing and doing my own thing!" After getting married she continued her hobby designing and making garments for her children and friends or locals who simply took a fancy to them. Then twelve years ago, with wool shops in decline and the craft falling in popularity, she decided a take a break altogether to concentrate on rearing her family. However, that was all to change when newspaper reports alerted Ann Marie to plans by the Crafts Council of Ireland to establish the Core Craft outlet in Ballinahown two years ago. The impetus to begin knitting again formed in her mind and a business idea for Ann Marie Griffin Knitwear was born. "I made contact and went through the Craft Council quality assurance process and from there, gradually got it up in running into a business. The kickstart was seeing the outlet was opening so close to me so I just got back into it," Ann Marie commented, adding "you couldn't get a nicer place than here to stock your pieces. They really are displayed in the lap of luxury." Things had certainly changed in the knitting world in the interim, the Mount Temple woman later discovered but she embraced the developments. Gone were the chunky, heavy pure wool knits to be replaced with a more high fashion feel and yarn mixtures that gave garments a better shape and style. "Knitting has had a huge revolution because it's gone very contemporary. It's gone from the very heavy yarns to finer yarns and mixed knits. There is a big change in the styles, to finer evening or dressy wear, like dresses, wraps and shawls," she said. "There is a lot of yarn with viscose in them. They hang very well and it gives it drape. It gives it that luxurious feel. You no longer have wool that when you wash it shrinks. It really has evolved." Pieces can take anything from a day to a week to design and knit, according to the designer, who said there is no typical Ann Marie Griffin garment - no two pieces are the same. They can vary from everyday styles to stunning occasion and bridal wear, each with their unique personal stamp. Inspired by her surroundings in Mount Temple, she finds her ideas can come from the simplest places. "You can just go for a walk and a shape through the trees can just start something. It'll begin as a sketch and from there, you go to a tension swatch and then you'd knit your pieces. Then they are all finished with crochet so some pieces you'll do in a day or some take several days depending on detail." Ann Marie feels handmade pieces are coming back in vogue because the public know they will get timeless, quality garments that will last a lifetime and each can be tailored to the client's needs or ideas. "What makes my work unique is my attention to detail - each piece requires its own finish to ensure it sits beautifully. Like a jigsaw, it is the mix of the correct elements, be they stitching, crochet or embellishments, that fit together to make the ideal garment. The reward for me is seeing the piece coming together - and knowing all the elements are balanced and work as one perfect garment," she remarked. Although many would say setting up a business and keeping it going in the current climate will be difficult, Ann Marie is very positive about the experience thus far, and the help she has received along the journey. "It's a hell of a lot of work," she noted chuckling. "Apart from knitting, crochet and the design end of it there is a lot of other work from researching yarns, to book keeping and filling out forms. But what I would say is don't let yourself get blocked at the first hurdle. Pick yourself up and keep going because you do get a lot of setbacks along the way," she observed. "Some people say if you enjoy what you do, you never work a day in your life, now I don't know if I'd go that far," Ann Marie laughed. "But it does help. People are very supportive. The Enterprise Board is great, as is Core and the Crafts Council of Ireland. There are supports out there and other businesses do give you advice as well." What's clear is the recession is certainly not dimming Ann Marie Griffin's vision for her company and she is already putting the finishing touches to her new autumn collection at the end of August or early September, a development she is very excited about. "They say if you come through a climate like this you are ready to roll on when things pick up," she concluded on a positive note. For further information on Ann Marie Griffin Knitwear call Ann Marie at 086 8053467 or email: info@annmariegriffinknitwear.com