Rachael Matthews is the director of Cast Off Knitting Club and Prick Your Finger, an ethical yarn shop and textile gallery, both in East London. An artist specializing in knitting and a teacher focusing on Craftivism and craft process, she has curated knitted works at the V&A, Barbican, Tate Modern and the Crafts Council, including a Yan Tan Tethara Mandala. Rachael was a columnist of Simply Knitting Magazine for six years, is regularly featured in the international press and is the author of Knitorama (2005) and Hookarama (2006). She explores mindfulness at the London Buddhist Centre and her favourite yarn is Wensleydale wool.