I do not know how Christmas has sneaked up on me, but it has, and now there are a number of people asking me for advice on presents for mothers and grandmothers, and, occasionally children. I have to confess that I find getting gifts together as Christmas presents in my shop really quite difficult. I think it might be because I am a garment knitter and buying a garment’s worth of yarn for someone is a bit of a gamble – they might not like the colour or the pattern for example. Lots of people have suggested that we put together kits for easy purchase, but when Mandy and I thought about it, we became a bit overwhelmed at the possibilities. What to go for? Socks? Shawls? Jumpers? And then what colours should we choose? We know from experience that people are very definite about the colours that they like. We had to have a whole meeting about it, and in the end we concluded that the best thing to do would be to make suggestions for kits, allow customers to choose the wool and/or the needles and/or the pattern and then to provide some nice packaging at a little extra cost to go with it if people want.
The result of our deliberations is that we now stock some (I think) very elegant boxes in different sizes, and we are offering them to our customers, along with tissue paper at the bargain price of £5.75 on top of the cost of the goods purchased. Apart from anything else, it is so much easier to wrap a square or rectangular box than a ball of wool! Please just ask in the shop if this is what you want. I am afraid I cannot extend this to the website for the time being, which is super annoying, but I am working on it.
We did come up with some excellent suggestions for kits, however. From a sock kit (Signature 4ply or Zauberball Crazy for example plus 2.5mm double pointed needles and a pattern), all the way up to a merino and mohair vest in Knitting for Olive’s gorgeously luxurious yarn. We found some wonderful single patterns in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Aran or DK and their Retreat Twist, and thought that one ball of Cloud or Cloud Tweed would look amazing in a box all on its own. The Shift Cowl by Andrea Mowry is very popular and only requires three balls of Edition 3 Merino wool. And of course there is our very own exclusive sock yarn dyed by Blue Fern Yarns, together with a pattern for the wonderful Pincha shawl. Or you could buy a range of yarns and put them in a box just because they look beautiful. So many options! Please contact me if you want to ask advice or want me to put together something special for you. As you know, we are always very happy to help.
I should also remind you that we do not only sell yarn for knitting here. We have tapestry kits from Appletons and wonderful accessories – some exclusively made for us by Josie Rose. My favourite are the the leather goods from Thread & Maple. If you want any of these and they are not in stock, you need to let me know as a matter of urgency as I have to order them in from Canada and I think we are getting a bit close to Christmas for delivery!
And of course, last but not least, if you cannot think what to get, we also offer gift vouchers, both online and in the shop.
So, come to us to create a wonderful gift for the festive season, or ask your loved ones to come in on your behalf!