THE ability to knit helped Nessie Dear rebuild her life after a devastating stroke and now she wants to pass on that gift to others.

To help her do that she’s decided to open her own knitting and craft shop in Beaminster.

Former Beaminster School pupil Mrs Dear from Mosterton was a fit and healthy 44-year-old home help when she had the stroke five years ago.

Life as she knew it was over and she had to find a way to make sense of it.

She said: “It was a terrible shock because I was fit and well and busy with a young family and, bang, it was all over.” While she was struggling with her rehabilitation her sister suggested she take up knitting again.

She said: “I learned to knit as a child then, of course, got too busy.

“Years later my mother-in-law was very good and helped me get back into it.

“After my stroke my sister said why don’t you try to knit?”

At first she thought it would be impossible – the stroke meant she had trouble even picking up the needles.

“I find it very difficult to hold things then I got hold of these special needles and that’s what got me going,” she said.

“This is a new beginning for me. After I’d been ill, knitting kept me going and saved me and so that’s what I am offering to other people now. This is my chance at recovery to get on and do something because knitting helped me so much to get on after I had my stroke.

“That’s what I shall be offering other people if they are struggling with arthritis and that sort of thing. I can help them.”

Nessie’s Yarns and Crafts in Lynden Way opened yesterday and as well as selling wool and craft goods Mrs Dear will be running knitting classes for all levels and abilities, for children and adults.

Running a shop is a completely new venture but the shop in Beaminster will give her a measure of independence, she said.

“I’ll never drive again but I can get the bus to Beaminster.

“Knitting gave me back my life,” she said.