September 21, 2003

Slow Train

...to Caterham. It's not every day, that a fellow Rowanette opens a real live yarn shop. Of course, I had to visit it for myself and do a bit of nosing around. Sheelagh's shop, The Yarn House is located within Craft Works



Click to see more

The Yarn House is fairly innovative by UK standards in that it is an independent yarn store, selling high end yarns (Rowan and Debbie Bliss for now). There really aren't that many left in the UK and most people buy their yarns from department stored like Binns, Liberty or the John Lewis Partnership. Sheelagh runs the Yarnhouse, and I know her from the Rowan International Knitting Circle, which has spawned the Liberty's knitting nights (every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month in the Art Bar Cafe from 5:00 until closing).

What's innovative about this shop? Well, it has many things that people in American yarnstores take for granted.
(1) Sheelagh puts out the yarns and needles and encourages you to try the yarn before buying.


Biggy Print

(2) Knitted display garments. You can get a much better sense of the yarn and try it on before buying the yarns. The number of garments is growing, as quickly as she knits them.
Rowan Scamp from Pipsqueaks and Debbie Bliss Matinee Jacket from Baby Cashmerino Book

2003 Plaid Design


(3) Swatches. There were swatches for the different yarns out on display

Rowan Handknit Cotton


(4) Sunday workshops. These are currently being planned and several of the workshops are focused on getting children to knit. There just aren't very many workshops for children, so this is a big bonus, since the parent can shop while the child is learning in the 'workshop studio'. There are also workshops for adults as well.
(5) No bargain buster acrylics (you know, the nasty stuff in 1kg skeins) in sight.
(6) Sheelagh knits and can offer helpful advice. If you want something that's not in stock, she will order it and post to you.

The shop is roomy and well lit. I took lots of pictures so that if you were thinking to visit and wondered if it would be worth it, you can see, it is. Just click on the image. Anyway, how can you not like a shop that has a pig in the display cabinet?

Fair Trade Pig

Posted by atu at September 21, 2003 08:05 PM
Comments

thanks for sharing these photos of your trip to sheelagh's store. it is quite pretty and inviting!

Posted by: Lis at September 23, 2003 04:42 PM

What a delicious, adorable shop. Thanks for the virtual tour! I know Sheelagh will have a great time.

0x Ann

Posted by: Ann at September 23, 2003 01:04 AM

You do keep busy, Polly!

Sheelagh's shop looks wonderful. I hope she has great success!

love, Kay

Posted by: Kay at September 22, 2003 02:02 PM

You had such a fun day ,by the look of things.
It's a lovely looking shop - well done Sheelagh.
Hope she does really,really well.
Also hope you kept some pennies for next Saturday.Sissel tells me she likes to shop in company :0] I've warned Allan !

Hope you got my e-mail.

x

Posted by: Emma at September 22, 2003 01:12 AM