Craft y craze
Ginevra Croft (right), of The Wool Croft in Abergavenny, chats to MCL about the rise in popularity of knitt ing and her passion for the craft ...
Tell us a bit about yourself... Ginevra: I had a varied work background with roles in customer service and software development before setting up my fi rst business to open The Wool Croft. I live just outside Abergavenny with my husband, and we love the town, having moved here fi ve years ago. I’m from all over really – The Midlands, Yorkshire, lived in Swansea for a long time, and we’ve chosen Abergavenny because of the great location, the mountains, the bustling town, and we wanted to settle in Wales.
Why did you decide to open The Wool Croft? G: The idea was bubbling away in my head for about a year before I took on the shop lease. I started getting in touch with groups and researching suppliers, fi guring out what Abergavenny knitters wanted from their wool shop. The response was great. We opened in August 2011 and it’s been a brilliantly busy start. We now have three ‘Crofters’ on the team, working part-time in the shop.
Why do you think knitting is gaining in popularity again after a bit of a lull? G: I think it is a great time to be knitting! The yarns and patterns are inspiring again, as the
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fashion industry gives knitwear some attention. Also, the return to quality materials which last (wool, alpaca, cashmere), is quite a natural movement towards sustainability when the economic climate gets tough. It makes you feel good to make something yourself.
How did you get into knitting? G: I was 11 when I learned to knit, a summer holiday where I asked my mum to teach me, then had a good few years kitting out my dolls and teddy bears with hand knits. I think I did knit myself a pink and white fl uffy jumper too, when I was about 14!
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