Tell us about the knitting club, how many members, what do you get up to etc? G: It’s a knitting social really, and we meet up Wednesday nights from 7.30pm at The Angel Hotel (just down from the shop, on Cross Street). There are about 20 of us, and we do occasionally all turn up and fi ll the sitting room, though it’s more usual to have 10 or so as people come along when they can. There’s a lot of chat, not just about crafts, and a fair bit of sharing our projects. I love seeing what everyone is up to and we get inspired by each other, to try new patterns and techniques. There’s help on had for our beginner knitters and crocheters too. Everyone’s welcome.
Anything else we should know. G: Our loyal local customers are wonderful, and we are also getting more knitters saying they are travelling from further afi eld to the shop especially for their wool shopping and knitting inspiration! Abergavenny gets a lot of visitors all year round, and our very special Welsh wool range is always a favourite with knitters-from-afar who want a crafty memento of their visit to Wales.
We also run a variety of workshops including Kids Crafts, Beginners Knitting and Crochet, and advanced knitting techniques, with plenty on offer over spring and summer this year.
15
What is the best thing you have ever knitted? G: My best ‘fun’ project was the knitted Bradley Wiggins I made to display in the shop last year when he won the 2012 Tour de France. It really looked like him! Knitted Bradley was very popular (it went a bit viral on FaceBook) and I still have a soft spot for it! My best ‘serious’ knit might be still to come, as I have almost fi nished a shrug in Rowan Felted Tweed that I love, and it could become a new favourite.
Who is your favourite knitter/knitwear designer? G: It has to be Kim Hargreaves who has been designing for Rowan for years, but always manages to get me saying ‘wow, I want that’ with her new designs. I love her fi tted jackets and cardigans, which often have a vintage look, but are fresh and wearable as well, and such perfectly proportioned garments.
Favourite knitting style? G: It’s hard to choose, as I want to try every new stitch I see, but I do love Fair Isle and colourwork, especially the Scandinavian-style geometric patterns. It’s so absorbing to do, and I love playing around with different colours together.
How important do you think it is to teach youngsters how to knit and keep the craft going? G: It’s essential. Children can get such a lot out of the creativity and skill of knitting and other crafts. It involves colour and shape, and improving dexterity, geometry and construction. There’s science in there as well as the artistic creativity, and there’s evidence of it being a calming activity to help with the stress of busy lives, and children as well as adults benefi t from that.
How would you go about inspiring youngsters to get involved? G: Children are naturally drawn to the beautiful colours and textures of gorgeous yarns (just like we are), and that’s a great start. Then, you need a fun pattern, for a simple toy or a small accessory that children can get fi nished and feel proud of. And lots of encouragement to keep practicing.
What about crochet? Is that equally as popular? G: Crochet is having a revival, defi nitely. Our Learn to Crochet classes seem to book up faster than anything else, as people are seeing crochet design on the high street and the catwalks again, and getting the idea to have a go.
What’s the most popular yarn you sell? Why have you decided to sell the selection you do? G: The best seller is Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, a super-soft washable wool with a bit of cashmere, and the modern baby patterns that go with it are really popular with young mums and dads. Next would be my all-time favourite, Rowan Felted Tweed which has a beautifully co-ordinated range of colours, and lots of colourwork patterns (back to my Fair Isle obsession!). The wools have been chosen because of their beauty and quality and fantastic patterns that go with them. We specialise in mainly natural materials, including a range of gorgeous Welsh wool, which was harder to track down than you would imagine!
What sort of things are people knitting at the moment? G: Anything goes, but we have defi nitely seen busy knitters doing more small projects and accessories, as well as garments and home wares (chunky knit cushions in particular). And it’s great to see people coming back to natural materials, loving and wanting the beautiful wools. There’s nothing like a hand knitted jumper or cardi, but cowls and snoods were popular as quick-knit presents up to Christmas, and the essential fi ngerless gloves are in demand.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88