A LOVE of knitting that began when she was a teenager taught by her nan has turned into a business for a young Horndon on the Hill woman.

Lucy Rivers, who celebrates her 25th birthday on Thursday (11 June) is currently furloughed from her work at St Paul's Cathedral where she is part of the visitor experience team and so has used the time at home to build up her creative knitting service, Little Festive Knits.

Lucy is currently studying for a masters degree in museum studies after she gave up a teaching post, having realised it was not the career she craved. However she still has fond memories of the two years she spent at Thameside Primary in Grays but at the end of the day found she was not getting the job satisfaction she wanted and she decided to follow up a long-held ambition to work in a museum, hence the degree studies.

And it was teaching that in some ways helped her develop her knitting skills.

She says: "I had been knitting since I was a teenager when my nan taught me how to knit and I really enjoyed it.

"It became a way to deal with the stress of teaching. To knit well you have to concentrate so I would come home and work on some knitting, which meant everything got shut out and I was able to concentrate on something I really enjoyed doing."

What started as a hobby became a sideline business when Lucy, who lives with her family in Victoria Road, realised that people were willing to pay for her creations.

"It started over an Easter period when I made some 'covers' for cream eggs and it grew from there. People started asking me to knit things for them and now I am happy to make things to order," she says.

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Among the many items she makes are small animals, which have proved very popular as presents for children.

Lucy is one of more than 150 local businesses and traders who have taken advantage of Thurrock Nub news' free listings service to promote her business. You can sign up too via this link).

You can find details of how to contact Lucy here.

If you have got an interesting or unusual hobby, or one that you have turned into a business, please let us know about it. Email [email protected] or contact us via our Facebook page.