Stitched Together: Crates of Wool

What's your shop called? Is there a story behind the name?

We are called Crates of Wool because we love real wool with its feelings of opulence and practicality, especially when it is stacked high in beautiful wooden crates.  

Where is your shop and what is the neighbourhood like?

The shop is in Ware, Hertfordshire. Ware is a pretty old market town which is actually one of the oldest towns in Europe. It's within an easy train ride of London and, back in the day, it had dozens of inns because it was a day's ride from London by stagecoach. It has managed to keep a small town/village, feel to it so it's a delightful place to be. Our shop looks Victorian but we suspect it is much older.

Who works at your shop?

Brigid and Deb, the owners, are here most days, with Yvonne working alternate Saturdays. We're all avid crafters, Brigid and Yvonne are keen crocheters, while Deb and Brigid both knit. Deb is also our resident dyer, weaver and spinner, actually between us we can tackle almost any fibre craft.  

What makes your shop special?

We have a wonderful, friendly atmosphere, a fabulous range of yarns, some unique kits and many interesting workshops. We love to stock natural fibres so you'll find Wensleydale, Corriedale, Alpaca and Cotton yarns alongside the more usual Merinos. We have our own range of hand-dyed yarns and we also stock yarn by our talented local dyer, Mint Bee. As well as these we have a good range of baby yarns and yarns from Sirdar and Stylecraft, among many others.  

What are your most popular yarns?

Stylecraft and Sirdar standard yarns for their practicality.

Rowan Felted Tweed for colourwork. Our local hand-dyed yarns are also very popular for their unique colours and range of fibres.

Do you have a knitting group? When do they meet?

We have several. We have three Craft and Chatter groups on Fridays, a Something for Somebody Else group on Wednesday afternoons where people make items for friends or charity, a crochet club on Saturday afternoons and a group on Wednesday evening which does all sorts of crafts including embroidery. Deb hosts Wednesday evenings and challenges people to bring her their languishing projects or those they are stuck with. Shes not been stumped yet!  

What's your favourite piece of knitting advice?

Everything is fixable.  

Address: 8A East Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9HJ

Phone number: 01920 463436

Website: www.cratesofwool.co.uk

Email address: info@cratesofwool.co.uk

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