Exciting news!

I'm opening my very own yarn shop! Yippee!

After a career path training sesison at work I had a serious conversation with my husband - you know, one of those about the purpose of life, about what we would really do if we could follow our heart's path etc... and I told him what I would work/play on if money was no object.

Then recently we had a different conversation, again about work/time etc and we decided to explore this 'wool shop' idea. To cut the proverbial long story short: I took the reins, sketched a business plan, looked at finances and we decided on a few places where the yarn shops were a bit thin on the ground... then walking through one of these locations we found a very nice premises, got in touch with the estate agents, put in an offer that was accepted (that was lucky!) and it's now going through solicitors' searches and other official activity ready for the contract to be signed/exchanged shortly.

Now the exciting bit: I've been looking at possible suppliers colour charts and samples - as usual Noro has fantastic colour combinations and is one of the definite ones, as well as the super popular Debbie Bliss, and the very versatile Katia (I'm meeting their rep tomorrow morning), amongst others...

I have also sourced a EU based supplier of qiviut yarn - it's important for me that they're EU based as that way I can keep prices down (very relatively speaking - it's qiviut after all!) but there's no import duty to pay. She only has 5 colour choices but they're absolutely 'lush' colours: natural brown, autumn deep lime green, intense dark turquoise/teal blue, a totally sexy and luxurious purple, and a deep wine red you can almost drink. (I think you can guess I'm excited about this particular yarn...)

Other brands I'm looking into are Manos del Uruguay and Mirasol, not only because the yarns are really nice but also for their ethics. Manos del Uruguay is a trade, not charity organisation; and Mirasol assists women who had been abused and mistreated.

Also featuring will be the all time popular Sirdar/Pattons, and I'm waiting to hear from Colinette.

I have already got some lovely Namaste glass knitting needles and will be stocking Britanny beech needles and crochet hooks.

I want to include something for the spinners (after all I'm one of them), so I'm planning to sell my own hand-painted tops/roving, not only the merino, but also some silks, BFL and others, and some raw fleece (washed!) now and then.

An important part of the plan is the 'enabling': I will be running sessions on different techniques. The programme will be published on the shop's website and will include workshops on intarsia, entrelac, cables, lace, colour work, design your own, etc as well as pop-in and skill share groups.

The premises we've chosen are ideal in many ways: good parking facilities in front and behind the shop, a special semi-enclosed space for toddlers and young children (will be bringing some toys to keep the wee ones entertained), and it's close to other shops with specialist markets (international and farmer's days) nearby on a regular basis. It's also a short drive from Bedford, Milton Keynes, Northampton, and Wellingborough - can you guess where it is yet? ;-)

Well, that's it for now - I'm looking forward to lots of work, fun, meeting new people, making new friends, being very creative and helping people to make really nice things :-)

More news on progress and opening date will appear on Ravelry and in this blog shortly.