Bellwether Yarns

Sunday evening workshop prep for our Crochet Improver Course to make the Hexagon Cardigan. Booking now open for the first session on 22nd August.

The Hexagon Crochet Cardigan workshop is now available!!

So so many of you have asked and I finally got round to get some dates in the diary.

Over two sessions (three weeks apart) you will learn to make your very own version.

This is an Improvers Course and provided you can do a granny square (as well as chains, slip stitches, double crochet and trebles), you will absolutely be able to make this. Ideal to make your first garment!

Bring your own materials for this one or buy the materials needed for it with a 10% discount at the shop!

It's all about colour choice as I head to the studio for the day.

If there is anything you want to see for autumn, now is the time to let me know! I have a new yarn base in the studio to tempt you with too - watch this space!

Our Crochet workshop next week is now FULLY BOOKED.

But, we have releaaed our next date. You'll have another opportunity to join me in the beautiful on Thursday, 15th August for our next workshop.

This was quite a challenging dye lot!

Having had issues with turquoise dye not absorbing properly in the past, I made the decision to reduce my dye stock ratios by 55% and it was still struggling. So the last two skeins (in light and dark are not as vibrant as I maybe would have liked them to be. Secondly, the starting colour of this base (which is a baby alpaca, cashmere, silk blend) is a light grey so that meant the colours were going to be a little more toned down.

And then you take a photo and that doesn't do the yarn any justice really...

Don't want to take my word for it? It's now available to squish in-store!

Our Learn to Knit Workshops, taught by Rachel from .sock.house, are now live on our website!

Join Rachel for a couple of hours the last Friday of each month to get you started on your knitting journey.

If you start now, she'll soon have you up and running and you'll be making lovely presents for you, your friends and family!

How is it July already and, the question on everyone's mind, just where exactly is summer?!

*Community*

Before I go to bed (I'm exhausted!!), I wanted to leave you with these (long) words:

Running a small business really isn't easy just at the moment and the last few weeks have been particularly challenging.

There have been many days when I was sat scratching my head and asking myself why I do what I do and keep fighting ever increasing costs against an ongoing cost of living crisis, political and social unrest in one way or another and wars still raging in any direction you look at the moment.

And then I reflect on my last two days in the shop and see pictures like these. One by one you turned up:

Lee, who just needed some space to sit and work on some crochet flowers for a graduation bouquet.

Ian, who is a fantastic knitter and all round crafter always with a fascinating project on the go. Glass beads, woodwork, 3D printing, you name it and he probably had a go. He was only popping in for some socks and stayed a couple of hours.

Wendy, who is as fabulous as they come. Always full of colour and just a beautiful soul to have around. Always some knitting project on the go. Currently some lacey number with 100s of beads I reckon.

Eleanor, who doesn't even knit or crochet but stops in on a Saturday after finishing her post rounds. Leather and wood worker extraordinaire!! Always up for coffee and cake and putting the world to rights. Oh, if only we were in charge Eleanor!!

Russ and Julie, who work at the Corn Exchange and often keep me sane and today made sure I'd get fed. I happened to be serving a customer who whispered "Did the security guy just bring you food?". Yes he did. Because that's how we roll. 😂😍

Most of these people had only met once before (if that) but today we sat, shared food, had coffee, talked woodworking, glass work, had an impromptu drop spindle demonstration (thanks Wendy), bit of crochet, bit of knitting and everyone went on their ways with a smile on their face.

And I went home with a full heart reminding myself...THAT is why.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone for popping in!

Saturday Vibes at the shop. Come and see me for your last chance to get your Yarn Crawl stamped as the Great British Yarn Crawl organised by is coming to an end.
There is also a lovely market in the basement of organised by this weekend. Lots to see and do!!

Afraid we will be closed tomorrow (Thursday, 27 June) due to staff illness. Back open from 11am on Friday! Apologies for any inconvenience!

Does anyone else clear out that "forgotten" - read ignored - project bag and find one nearly finished jumper, one newly started jumper (why??), one sock and lots of random unrelated yarn? No? Just me?? I'll carry on then. Hope you are all having a lovely Sunday. Even the sun has made a bit of an appearance in Yorkshire now. It's a tad breezy though!

These super cute seals are stealing the show (and my snacks!!) today!

Thank you to for dropping them off and for the holiday snacks. and I will enjoy sharing them!

Pattern: Cereal (the shy seal) by via his Instagram/Ravelry account
Yarn: Ricorumi Nilli Nilli available in the shop or online

We have published a new date for our next Learn to Crochet session. Taking place Thursday, 11th July from 6pm to 8pm.

Booking essential and spaces limited to 4 attendees to ensure everyone gets plenty of attention!

New shop hours, effective immediately!

Before I drop any more plates, I'm changing the shop opening hours with immediate effect to
Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11am to 5:30pm.

We will be closed on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays for the foreseeable future.

Our Sip and Stitch sessions will be moving to a Friday morning for now.

With apologies for the short notice, we look forward to seeing you!

Happiness on a Friday night is....
..realising you can now crank out a pair of shorty heels tab socks on your in between getting dinner sorted!

I currently still knit the toe by hand though...🤣

You may also spot some other little knitting themed item coming to the shop soon. Leave me a guess in the comments.

Have a fabulous Friday night everyone!

(Yarn my own hand-dyed, one off, self striping sock yarn for )

Afraid we will be closed from 3pm today due to staff illness. Back as normal from 11am on Thursday!

It was a near full house for our Sip and Stitch this morning, including our newest, youngest and cutest member, Tali.

Lovely to see you all!

sorry for chopping you in half. I couldn't get any further back - I was already sitting on the spinning wheel taking this photo!! 😂

Sip and Stitch is back tomorrow. Have you secured your spot yet?

Just a heads up that there will be no Sip and Stitch this Tuesday, 14th May.

Workmen will be in at some point during the morning moving some bulky furniture around.

Sip and Stitch is back Tuesday, 21st May!

PS: the shop will be open as usual but there may be interruptions during the day as a result.

Finishing a pair of socks is still my favourite thing!! Even if they end up on my husband's feet, rather than mine, as I had slightly miscalculated the number of rows needed for my size 8 feet 😕

These socks are made from some cones of sock yarn I imported from Germany and which are currently only available in the shop I'm afraid.

Our May dates for Tuesday Sip and Stitch sessions are now available to book online!

See you tomorrow?!

Please don't forget that our new opening hours have now kicked in, meaning we are closed today. Opening hours over the summer will be Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 5:30pm.

What a lovely surprise visit at the shop today. Some of you will recognise the familiar faces of Christine aka and Lucy from . Emma Varnam was kind enough to take some photos of us. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your afternoon ladies. Fab to see you!

It's not too late to join us round the table this morning from 11am! See you there?

Just a heads up that from May (and over the summer months) our opening hours will be:

Tuesday to Saturdays from 11am to 5:30pm.

Thank you for your understanding.

Sonja

I'm not often left speechless but when Rose messaged me to say she had finished her latest make, that was exactly what happened!! How amazing is this crochet blanket!? It's a whopping single bed size spread. Design is Anubis by
Rose's daughter now wants one too so I reckon Rose will be busy for a while!

Had the lovely Poppy in for a crochet session this evening. Poppy was a natural, and after some chains and making some little bracelets, we moved on to double and even treble crochets!
Next week we're hoping to tackle a granny square to start a little blanket. See you soon Poppy!!

Are you still waiting for that ONE delivery and losing faith that it will arrive?? Fear not!!! We've got your back and are open until Saturday, 5:30pm for any last minute purchases. AND we just had a delivery topping up our Merino 120, Kid Color (Mohair/Silk) and some Crazy Zauberball.

Lots of people have been asking to see the Tiny video again as it disappeared out of my stories. So here it is. Still can't believe I pulled this off!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C0jE_4_NS02/?igshid=YTdmYTgyZDdmNQ==

Is it Santa? Is it a reindeer? No! It’s Tiny in a limited-edition VW Christmas jumper visiting festive streets…