GILLIAN WHALLEY-TORCKLER first picked up a pair of knitting needles as a young girl living in Toronto. At university, she was paid to knit designer sweaters and when her lecturers saw her knitting during classes, they asked her to knit for their children. Since then, whatever she is doing, her needles and yarns are never far away. Gillian is also an author, writing children's books and books about diving and sea creatures in collaboration with her husband, wildlife photographer Darryl Torckler. This is her first knitting book. She lives in Warkworth with Darryl and their two boys.