Knitwear designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne have worked together for many years under the brand Muir & Osborne. Several pieces of their knitwear are in the permanent collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, including their red sheep jumper as worn by Princess Diana. Following on from the success of their Best in Show series, which includes the bestselling Knit Your Own Dog, Sally and Joanna are back with a range of irresistible dog-themed projects in Dogs on Jumpers. We asked them a few questions about their two loves, dogs and knitting.
How did Dogs on Jumpers come about?
We started our business making jumpers for humans and our writing career with books about knitting dogs. We then continued through Cats, Pets, Farm, Zoo and Dinosaurs, so in a sense we have come full circle, combining the two parts of our knitting lives, with Dogs on Jumpers.
What is your favourite dog breed?
Sally: Anything with a long nose, Greyhounds, Galgos, Whippets, Lurchers, Dachshunds.
Jo: Lurchers.
What is your favourite project from the book?
Sally: I particularly love the baby things.
Jo: I love the Dachshund jumper.
What tips would you give anyone new to knitting?
If you need to know anything watch YouTube, or ask someone in a knitting shop, if you are lucky enough to have one nearby.
What was the photo shoot for the book like?
Hilarious – it was chaos, there were dogs, owners and models everywhere, Ursula (of Phodography) managed brilliantly, she was totally calm and focused and got the best out of everyone.
Dogs on Jumpers by Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne is out now!
Photographs by Ursula Aitchison.
