Stitched Together: Sheep Shop, Cambridge

What's your shop called?

The Sheep Shop. It was the first name which popped into my head when I was nurturing the idea of opening the shop. Lots more followed it and I put them to a vote with my friends at Knit Ting, the pub knitting group which got me into knitting to start with, and this was the favourite.

Where is your shop and what is the neighbourhood like?

It's a corner shop in a residential area between a main road into Cambridge and the river Cam, about a mile from the town centre.

Who works at your shop?

For the day to day stuff it's just me, with the teaching done by an angelic team of freelancers. Lovely ladies Sue, Suze and Shirley who are knitting group regulars have got themselves trained up to take over in a crisis.

What makes your shop special?

The Sheep Shop stocks yarns which can't be found here, there and everywhere. As a shopper I don't like spending more than I need to so I want the best deal for my customers. I do my best to track down yarns from less well-known brands which deliver the quality of the larger brands at a cheaper price. Also, my teachers are wonderful and we have a very wide variety of classes in knitting, crochet, felting, spinning and weaving.

What are your most popular yarns?

Sparkleduck sock yarns always fly off the shelf. Yarns from West Yorkshire Spinners and James C. Brett are perennially popular and all the other yarns vie for a place in the top 10 each month: usually ones from Juniper Moon Farm, Malabrigo, Hjertegarn or Rico. They change every month which keeps a shopkeeper on her toes!

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

Yes, every Friday morning from 10am - noon and the first Tuesday night of each month, 7-9pm. At the moment we also have extra meet-ups for Flower Power yarnbombers, making clematis for the Rhapsody in Bloom yarnbomb which will raise money for Cambridge Rape Crisis.

What's your favourite piece of knitting advice?

Lucy Neatbys modified conventional bind off. My cast off edges always used to be too tight until I tried it, it works a treat and isn't difficult, now it's my go-to method.

Visit the shop & find out more...Address:

The Sheep Shop, 72 Beche Road, Cambridge, CB5 8HU

Phone number: 01223 311268

Website: www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk

Email address: sarah@sheepshopcambridge.co.uk

Twitter: @thesheepshop

Facebook: sheepshopcambridge

Instagram: thesheepshop

Ravelry: The Sheep Shop

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