YELVERTON weave designer and maker Sophie Zajicek is celebrating, having been awarded £10,500 by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST).

Sophie was presented with her award by the president of the Royal Warrant Holders' Association, Jenifer Emery, at a special awards lunch held at the London Hilton this month.

Sophie has been a freelance weave designer and maker since graduating from University College Falmouth in 2010.  She recently travelled to Peru to learn traditional back-strap weaving and natural dyeing techniques to give her a firm understanding of colour and yarn construction.

She now excels at luxury and unusual yarns with interesting weave structures and finishing processes to produce tactile fabrics that can also be appreciated as works of art. This aspect of her work will be enhanced by attending the Royal College of Art's MA.

QEST was endowed by the Royal Warrant Holders' Association to advance education in modern and traditional crafts and trades in the UK.  Scholarships of up to £18,000 are open to men and women of all ages and are awarded twice a year.  Since 1991, the Trust has awarded £2 million to 296 craftsmen and women aged between 17 and 50+ to develop their skills through study, training and work experience.

Application forms for QEST Scholarships can be downloaded from the QEST websitehttp://www.qest.org.uk">www.qest.org.uk