About Me
My name is Elaine and I love to knit. As long as I can remember I have been knitting or crocheting or doing some form of craft work. It was just something that my family did, and there is still nothing better than sitting on a Saturday night with my Mum and my sister Lorna chatting and knitting and making things. We started our knitting craft business ECdesigns 30 years ago, knitting lots of the Jean Greenhowe Christmas decorations, we knit so many decorations that we decided we needed an outlet for our work, looking around we found a Christmas Craft Fair in our local area and decided to go to that. The morning of the fair was terrifying as we set out our stall and wondered if anyone would buy anything. It was successful, we sold most of our stock that day and that gave us the Craft Fair bug. Since then we have travelled the length and breadth of Northern Ireland selling our knitted dolls. Sometimes doing really well and other times selling nothing, but whether we sell anything or not we always enjoy ourselves and come home with new ideas and ready to make more dolls. We no longer make just Christmas Decorations; we make a wide variety of character dolls, ECdesign dolls are well knit and individual, each doll has its own personality, some of the character dolls we knit cannot be found anywhere else as we make the patterns for them. Each doll is hand knit and finished off to a very high standard using good quality wool and non-allergenic, washable toy stuffing.
Update 2020 - I am still knitting!! and because of the current situation with the Corona Virus Pandemic, I'm knitting and designing toys more than ever. I was delighted to have one of my knitting patterns featured in Knit Now Magazine - Issue 117 June 2020, The Mermaid. I am also looking forward to Issue 122 of Knit Now Magazine, its a Christmas issue and my Santa & Mrs Claus will be in it :)
Update 2021: - More knitting patterns published Knit Now Magazine - Issue 127 Cupcake Dolls, Knit Now Magazine - Issue 133 Shelf Gnomes, Knit Now Magazine - Issue 134 Plum Pudding Mrs Claus & Your Crochet & Knitting Magazine: The Nutcracker 7" Dolls (4 ply) Christmas Edition #2 December 2021
Update 2022 - I'm still knitting and still designing new Toy Knitting Patterns!! I have now created a YouTube Channel, most of my videos are about my knitted toy designs. Giving the knitter useful tips on how I make up my knitted toys. The videos are not perfect as I tend to talk too much!! But I am told that they are helpful when making up the toys.
I am always very happy to help any knitters who need help and advice, if I can help I will: Email me: elaine.munn@aol.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ecdesignsknittedtoy
Update 2023 - I can't believe we are now at 2023!! In July this year I am entitled to claim my OAP (aged 66) I might be an OAP, but I've no plans to stop doing what I love, designing and knitting toys. I've been busy over the Christmas holiday with a couple of New designs for the Coronation and I'm delighted to be working on a Charles & Camilla that will be going to Charles & Camilla :)
In 2022 I did a couple of shows The Game Fair at Shane's Castle in June and The Spinning Yarns Festival in September. It was lovely to be back and meeting people face to face, with covid its been a difficult few years with no shows. I love hearing from knitters all over the world, so if you knit any of my patterns, or you need any help or advice ... just email me at elaine.munn@aol.com - I try to reply to everyone. Stay safe everyone and have a wonderful 2023 :)
Update 2024 - 2023 was a mixture of good and bad! I designed a King and Queen pattern for the Coronation, it proved really popular, even getting me a mention (with a photo) in The Sunday Life ... and the postbox topper knitters discovered it, with postboxes decorated the length and breadth of the country! Personally its been a difficult year Mum who is now 97 hasn't been very well ... falling out of bed and breaking her arm .. so I made the decision to leave work and stay at home ... not getting out to meet people has been difficult. My ex husband also died, he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron (horrible disease) and from diagnoses he only lived a few months, dying in November ... Its had the result of making me realise, that none of us are here forever :) Hoping that 2024 will be a happier year ... the main thing is I'm still knitting :)
