YAK, Brighton

What's it all about? A Sussex hub for the stitching community, and an unmissable location if you’re exploring Brighton’s seaside and city. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome at YAK, and it’s a fantastic place to level up your skills. They host regular classes with top tutors, and stock inspiring crochet books as well as an array of indie and British yarns. The shop in three words: “Woolly! And knowledgeable and encouraging.”

What they say: Owner Kate Metherell and her team pride themselves on their yarn knowledge. “To be able to pass that onto our customers is what it’s all about,” says Kate. “We want our customers to feel like they can ask anything and trust they’re getting a well-informed answer. We have visitors from all over the world coming and we love to hear about their yarn shop hopping! But we also love our regulars, who pop into the shop or come to knit to show us what they're working on. Community for us means encouragement and celebrating success.

“A favourite day [for me] would include a customer who has never crocheted before,” says Kate, who loves sharing her passion. “I would set them up with everything they needed and make sure they are full of excitement to get started on their making journey. Next, a more seasoned maker would come in. They’d show off their latest finished project and we’d work out together what could be their next challenge. And then maybe a big box of new yarn could arrive. Opening a box of new yarn never gets old!”

Brighton’s bohemian spirit ensures there’s never a dull moment. Kate’s funniest memory is from an evening at the shop. “It was your average knit night; we’re all sitting around, chatting, crocheting and drinking tea, when a mariachi band comes in the door and serenades us all. It was so fun!”