The Handi Tape is comfortable enough to wear all day, keeps both hands free and retracts quickly so you can get back to your craft! It even has Bluetooth enabled so the accurate measurements are recorded on a device nearby for future reference.
Be among the first to discover this innovative product saving crafters time and money. Whether you're interested in buying a Handi Tape for your own every day use, helping with development, investing in the company, or just staying in the loop - you're in the right place.
Twelve months ago, I filmed a brand-new TV show for BBC One called ‘The Big Idea Works.’ Hosted by Sara Davies from Dragons’ Den and Strictly Come Dancing, this programme joins engineers and inventors together to bring innovative product ideas to life.
It’s been a whirlwind experience, and I can’t wait for you to see it. My episode (4) airs on Tuesday 6th February at 2pm, but all episodes will be available to stream on iPlayer from Monday 3rd February. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came about, the journey to the screen, and my exciting new product idea, the Handi Tape.
Being a crafty entrepreneur myself, I've always looked up to Sara and the business she built in her 20s, Crafters Companion. At the end of 2023 when I spotted her Instagram announcement for the show (then called ‘Making It’) I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
I heard back a couple of weeks later and Zoom interviews and phone calls followed until finally I was invited to head up to Newcastle for filming at Hoults Yard in February/March 2024. I was nervous but thrilled to take part (and also to have some time to myself away from children, work and busy home life to be honest!)
I went shopping for clothes I didn’t need and obsessed over what I was going to say. What would Sara be like? Who else would be on the show? Was it a competition?
I worked hard to qualify and practice as a solicitor for 8 years until I was on maternity leave with my first child in 2014. I always felt the urge to work for myself and build something of my own in the creative space. My mum asked me to find her a birth sampler cross stitch kit I'd like her to stitch for my new baby's nursery however I just couldn't find anything I liked. After an online course in e-commerce and many months teaching myself everything about digital marketing and design, I launched Caterpillar Cross Stitch at the end of 2015 www.caterpillarcrossstitch.com.
In 2020 when I was working alone due to the pandemic and staff not being allowed in our warehouse, I knew that measuring tapes getting lost or in the way, hindered my speed at cutting thousands of pieces of fabric for our cross stitch kits. Over those hours daydreaming, I tried to solve my own problem - needing both hands free but being able to measure anything quickly and accurately, always having a tape measure to hand for ease. I knew this product would make my life so much easier (and I also hoped it could help others too!)
Filming for the show took place over two weeks in Newcastle, and it was one of the most exciting and nerve-wracking experiences of my life. I remember the first day on set feeling hyped up (which may or may not be related to the copious amounts of coffee I’d consumed that morning combined with a flurry of adrenaline running through my veins).
I met a few other inventors and we were ushered into a ‘holding room.’ In reality, this was much more comfortable than it sounds! We had unlimited drinks, snacks and food deliveries throughout the day and in between filming, we hung out on the sofas and watched Peaky Blinders or read.
It was eventually my turn as each of my peers was whisked away one by one. We had, earlier in the day, filmed our big introductory walk from the cobbled streets and into the studio which was packed with equipment, tools and quirky props. Having worked on live TV shopping, speaking to large groups at events and filming over 200 cross stitch-related YouTube videos in my time, I thought this would be a walk in the park however once I was sat next to Sara, silence fell and I just couldn't get my words out. It eventually all came together and once Sara started asking about my former career as a solicitor and what it was like working with my husband, Tim, I instantly relaxed (holding tight onto my third cup of sugary tea that day) and the conversation flowed like two old friends!
Working with Sara Davies was an absolute highlight. She was endearing, encouraging and lots of fun! She spoke about working with her husband, Simon and how she developed her product, the Enveloper early on in her career.
On the show, I presented my new product idea, Handi Tape. It’s a lightweight, comfortable, wrist-mounted, retractable tape measure that has Bluetooth enabled so that accurate measurements are instantly recorded on a tablet or other device. I tried to solve my own problem of losing tape measures, hanging them around my neck or large rigid rules getting in the way. I knew if I was getting frustrated, others must be too! I love being efficient with time so any issue that gets in the way of productivity and speed, really needs to be solved.
I foresee fashion designers, seamstresses, crafters, interior designers, quilters, tailors and people working in haberdashery using this product. It rests gently on the back of the hand/wrist and is always accessible, allowing the user to have both hands free and measure anything at the touch of a button!
My episode of The Big Idea Works airs on Thursday 6th February, on BBC One. But if you can’t wait that long, you can watch all the episodes on iPlayer from Monday, 3rd February.
This experience has opened up so many exciting possibilities for the future. I successfully registered the product name for a UK Trademark and have more information on our general company website www.caterpillarcrafts.com. My goals for The Handi Tape are to either license the design to a larger company who can develop it across the world or to raise capital through investors or crowdfunding to finalise the design and begin manufacturing.
Above all, I hope viewers of The Big Idea Works feel inspired to have big dreams and encouraged to make things happen, even if it's just something small each day! Thank you so much for your support over the years - it means the world to me. Whether you’ve been part of the www.caterpillarcrossstitch.com community or you’re just joining the journey now through The Handi Tape, I’m so grateful to have you along for the ride.
This is the first series of an exciting and uplifting brand-new show (think Dragons Den meets the Repair Shop). Creative thinkers pitch their ideas and share the inspiration behind them while the team of expert engineers have just days to turn this into a reality and show off the one-of-a-kind prototype to the budding entrepreneur!
The brainchild of producers Duncan Gray (Jimmy Kimmel Live and Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway) and Antonia Hurford-Jones, this show is just what we need, a feel-good tonic to inspire and delight.
I’ve always been one to jump at a challenge and push the boundaries of what I feel comfortable doing. I’m a big believer that, like lobsters, you only grow when you crack that restrictive shell a little. I hoped that the product could be manufactured and launched into retail stores. If nothing else, I would have a wonderful and thrilling experience meeting new people, in a new place and growing in confidence.