A Life in Stitches: Nanny Marie on Knitting, Style, and the Joy of Colour
In a world that often rushes past the quiet beauty of handmade things, Nanny Marie is a vibrant reminder of the joy found in craft, colour, and connection. Sitting down with her feels like opening a treasure chest of stories – each one threaded with wool, woven with memory, and stitched with love.
A Lifetime of Knitting
Marie’s love of knitting began early. “We knitted at school. So, I guess I’ve been knitting for 78 years.” She’s never considered giving it up. “Take my knitting off me and I would curl up and die. Knitting is everything to me. I love it. The first thing I do when I’m stressed is reach for my knitting needles.”
Her journey truly began in her mother’s haberdashery store. “I made your father those cable knit jumpers,” she tells Wendy. Did she ever imagine her knits would inspire a fashion brand? “No, not at all. It’s the last thing I would have ever thought of.”
So how does she spot a quality knit? “I can see how it’s put together. The stitching is so important. I can tell if someone has put a lot of effort into it and done it properly. They run their edges in. Putting this together (her current project, a cardigan for herself) takes a lot of work. But that’s because I’m a perfectionist.”
Knitting Across Cultures
An avid traveller, Marie has journeyed across the globe – never without her knitting needles and a ball of wool. Wherever she goes, wool shops are a must. “Neville has found wool shops for me in every country around the world,” she smiles.
“The wool shop I went to last year in San Francisco was very good,” she recalls. “But for quantity of wool, I’ve never walked into a place like the one I visited in Cape Town. I couldn’t believe how much wool was in it. Oh my goodness.”
Her travels have brought more than just yarn – they’ve brought connections. “In Greece, everyone knits and crochets,” Marie says, eyes lighting up. “You see them sitting under trees, and I always walk up and have a look.” On a cruise ship, she met a fellow knitter – a woman who spoke no English – yet they bonded over yarn and needles. “She made jumpers all in one piece – front and back together. I haven’t found a pattern like that yet, but I’d love to try.”
Despite the language barrier, the two women shared nods, smiles, and wool. When her new friend ran out of yarn, Marie helped her find more in New Zealand. “She was so excited and kept thanking me. It’s a shame we couldn’t talk more.”
Confessions of a Stylish Shopper
Her personal style? Hard to define, she admits. “I love colour, I love the feel of quality. My mother used to say, ‘Marie never wore a pair of shoes out,’ because I looked after them.”
Her go-to outfit? “Bright colours. I went to buy off-white wool for a jacket and walked out with blue,” she laughs.
Marie’s shopping habits are legendary. The last thing she purchased? “These Puma sneakers I’m wearing – were they necessary? No! And I got a blue pair too.” Wendy laughs, “Mum’s a classic for buying things in multiple colours.”
Has she ever hidden a shopping bag from her husband? “Yes,” she grins. “In the boot. He always sprung me anyway.”
Some pieces are forever. “There are two cardigans I just haven’t been able to throw out.” And her favourite shoes? “My Miu Miu's – I wore them on the Queen Anne. People always comment on them.”
Her most treasured bag? “My first Chanel, the classic 2.55. The whole family put in for it for my 60th birthday.” And on her last trip, she treated herself to a little black Gucci bag.
Style Rules and Generational Wisdom
Marie’s wardrobe is colour-coded, almost instinctively. Her style mantra? “I like to be sophisticated. I like to look elegant.” One fashion faux pas she admits to? “Being too matchy-matchy – as my daughter tells me.”
She reflects on how younger generations don’t always understand knitwear. “How to wash it, how to look after it. I would never hang it!”
Her advice to women everywhere? “Always try to look the best you can. Especially as you get older, don’t lose pride in yourself.”
Quickfire with Nanny Marie
Tea or Coffee? Tea
Cooking or being cooked for? Being cooked for!
Early mornings or late nights? Early mornings
The coast or the countryside? The countryside
Cats or dogs? Dogs
Sweet or savoury? Sweet
Heels or flats? I love heels, I wish I could still wear them.
Vintage or new? I don’t mind either really.
London or New York? London
Knitted or crocheted? Knitted still wins.
