Say Hello to Small Business knitter, Natalie, from Hull

I love supporting small, independent businesses, and it’s even better when they’re local too!

In this Maker Spotlight, I’m going to introduce you to Natalie, a mum of 8 from Hull who creates knitted wire words and decorations for the home. Natalie is a lovely customer of ours and I’m sure you will enjoy reading all about her story.

After being made redundant in 2017, Natalie threw herself into being a stay-at-home mum, enjoying every minute spent with her wonderful family. During the first lockdown of 2020, Natalie began searching for remote work, and when her search yielded nothing, it was time to think of other options.

The seeds of Pudding & Pickle were planted after a home renovation project. ‘I decorated a room in my house and turned it into a playroom,’ Natalie told me. After filling this room with unique pieces from small business she found on Instagram, Natalie was left wondering whether she too could create bespoke decorations for people’s homes; in February of 2021, Pudding & Pickle opened its doors. I love this name for a small business as it’s so unique and memorable. ‘The name means so much to me,’ Natalie explained. ‘I’m a mum of 8, 6 boys and 2 girls. I’ve always called my little girls my “puddings” and my boys my “pickles”… no other name would do!’

Natalie’s speciality is knitted wire words, a craft she has perfected. ‘After lots of practise and finding a yarn that worked, I found a style that suited me’. It was not long after that Pudding & Pickle’s first order was placed for a boy’s nursery, and it’s been onwards and upwards since then. These creations are personalised and custom made, often with a recipient’s name.

‘My knitted wire words are 100% our most popular product,’ Natalie revealed. ‘I’ve made wire words for little ones’ reading corners, dinosaurs for boys’ rooms and even a watering can for a beautiful girly nursery to match her flower themed room’. As well as these lovely decorations for children’s rooms, Pudding & Pickle also offers a range of other products for your younger ones. Another of Natalie’s bestsellers is teething necklaces. ‘These are made of soft silicone beads for mum to wear and baby to chew, fully customisable in any colours!’

As well as bringing a bit of joy to the homes of other families, Natalie has used her small business to help raise money for charity. Pudding & Pickle recently had its first fundraiser in honour of Tommy’s, a wonderful organisation that helps fund vital research into miscarriage, still birth and premature birth.

The fundraiser was held during Baby Loss Awareness Week, which held a special place in Natalie’s heart. ‘During Lockdown 2020, I suffered a miscarriage. Restrictions meant I was alone and it was without a doubt the hardest thing we have been through’.

To help fundraise for others going through the same experience, 30% of Pudding & Pickle’s sales that week were donated. ‘My customers were amazingly supportive and donations reached £84, which I rounded up to an even £100.’ It’s lovely to see such a successful fundraiser with a maker’s passion for crafting at the heart of it.

With such a busy life going on at home, I wondered how Natalie managed to balance this with her small business. ‘It can be extremely challenging receiving orders whilst running a home and being a mum,’ she told me. ‘But my children know I started Pudding & Pickle for me as a kind of getaway, to be Natalie and not just mum’.

Crafting is definitely an escape for many people, and can provide much needed relaxation time. Still, Natalie finds a way to share her small business experience with her children. ‘My youngest ones love helping me choose my wool, they all have their favourite colours’.

I asked Natalie to share with us which yarns she loves using to make her products.

‘My favourite is Ricorumi 100% cotton yarn. The colours are amazing, lots of choice and it’s perfect for the wire words’.

Some of the most popular shades with Pudding & Pickle’s customers are ‘Smokey Rose’ and ‘Olive’.

Instagram

Instagram is a great place for many of us to connect with more small businesses, and Natalie speaks very highly of the online community she has found. ‘I found so many lovely local shops in Hull and made some lovely friends along the way’.

Finally, I asked Natalie to share her current work-in-progress. ‘I’m currently knee deep in ‘Wine Red’ and ‘Fig Green’ yarn, my Christmas orders are keeping me very busy! Christmassy words are proving popular: Noel, Joy and Yule’. The Pudding & Pickle Christmas collection is full of vibrant and fun decorations that are definitely worth a look if you like having handmade pieces for your home. ‘The candy canes are a favourite of mine,’ Natalie told me. ‘I can’t wait to pop some on my tree too!’

To see more amazing creations from Natalie, make sure you check out her Instagram page (@puddingandpickleuk) and simply send a message to place an order. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading all about this lovely local business, and a huge thank you to Natalie for sharing her story with us!

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