South East
Chang Crafted
27 Station Road, Birchington, Kent CT7 9DJ 01843 210105 www.changcrafted.co.uk
Tues-Sat 9.30am-4pm
Chang Crafted is a creative hub where people come to source craft supplies and exchange ideas and inspiration. Knitters and crocheters can choose from a range of classes and workshops, and loom knitting is a featured attraction. Stocked yarns include Bergère de France, West Yorkshire Spinners and Rowan, as well as owner Fiona Chang’s indie-dyed yarns. With a tea and co ee counter and a seaside feel to the area (near Margate), Chang Crafted is an ideal travel destination for yarn a cionados!
Damaris Crafts
Unit 3, Spire Ridge, Midgham, Berkshire RG7 5XB 0118 971 2151 www.damariscrafts.co.uk
Tues-Sat 10am-5pm
Damaris Crafts features yarns from Debbie Bliss, Ella Rae and Mondial, among other ranges. Visitors can also pick up accessories such as KnitPro needles.
Dotti Di’s
10 High Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 5AT
01303 772870 dianerichardson80@yahoo.com
Travelling to the south coast? Find your way to Hythe in Kent and you can browse the wide range of yarns and felt available or pick up a crafty souvenir at Dotti Di’s.
The Eternal Maker
41 Terminus Road, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 8TX 01243 788174 www.eternalmaker.com
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Knit & Sew Night Thurs 5.30-8.30pm
A short walk from the centre of scenic Chichester, and near to the station, a cinema and a retail park, The Eternal Maker is a welcome haven for knitters and crocheters – and if you’re peckish, the yarn department even has its own on-site café, The Eternal Baker!
Owner Anna Hodgson says the shop aims for a welcoming and social environment, where yarn lovers can sit on a comfy couch, eat some scrummy cake and meet other like-minded folk. A small selection of indepently dyed yarns feature alongside brands like Debbie Bliss, Rowan, Louisa Harding and Adria l.
Handmade Studios
4 The Green, Rowlands Castle, Hampshire PO9 6BN 023 9241 2901 info@handmadestudios.org www.handmadestudios.org
Tues-Sat 10am-5pm
Independent, hand-dyed yarn from the likes of Riverknits, Easy Knits, Unbelieva-wool and Baa Ram Ewe line the shelves of Handmade Studios, along with Erika Knight, Patons, Debbie Bliss, Rowan and others.
Hoop Haberdashery
92 High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6JB 01580 388011 www.hoophaberdashery.co.uk
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Hoop Haberdashery boasts a curated collection of design-led yarns, patterns and notions (or, as owner Vanessa Lingwood cleverly puts it, ‘I only stock what I like!’). Hoop is a full Rowan stockist as well as carrying a wide range of commercial and independent brands, including Lang, Scheepjes, Erika Knight, Fyberspates and Malabrigo.
Tenterden is a small market town eight miles inland from Rye and the Kent coast. Attractions include a museum, steam railway, the Old Dairy Brewery and the Chapeldown Vineyard.
Ida’s House SEE OFFER ON P28!
27 High Street, Caterham on the Hill, Surrey CR3 5UE 01883 345220 www.idashouse.co.uk
Mon-Tues, Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm
Social Club Tues & Thurs 7-9pm
Ida’s House welcomes all levels of knitters and crocheters, with plenty of support on hand in the shop and at their twice-weekly social evenings.
Located near Croydon, the shop supports up-andcoming designers, with patterns and books from the likes of Renee Callaghan and Anna Maltz. Yarns include the ever-popular Stylecraft, Sirdar and Baa Ram Ewe, and speciality brands such as Isager, Fine Fish Yarns and Rooster. Jayne Coleman from Ida’s House also shares her addiction to tools, by o ering customers a wide range of scissors and quirky accessories.
Liss Wools
38-40 Station Road, Liss, Hampshire GU33 7DP 01730 893941 www.lisswools.co.uk
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm
Liss Wools features a spacious, double-fronted shop with a workshop area and two comfy sofas that invite visitors to sit and knit or crochet or browse through their extensive range of patterns and books. Yarn brands feature mainstream King Cole, Sirdar and Stylecraft as well as Adria l, Erika Knight, Rowan, Katia, Rico and Schoppel. Buttons and ribbons galore add nishing touches to projects.
With easy parking and a tasty café nearby, those travelling along the A272/A3 should plan a short (or long!) detour to Liss Wools.
The Old Loom Mill
Ersham Rd, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 2RH 01323 848007 mullsbrookswools@gmail.com www.oldloommill.weebly.com
Summer opening hours: Mon-Sun 10am-5pm
The Old Loom Mill is a set of agricultural buildings converted into a craft centre. The shop supplies yarns from 2ply to super chunky, in a wide range of bres. An on-site tea room o ers views of the South Downs from the conservatory.
Pins & Needles
Headley Road, Grayshott, Surrey GU26 6LG 01428 608817 www.pinsandneedlesgrayshott.co.uk Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-4pm
Just o the A3 at Hindhead Tunnel, Pins & Needles is a modern take on the old village haberdashery. Owner Fiona Bayly stocks yarns to cater for all budgets and, as a former seamstress and accomplished knitter and crocheter, she o ers friendly advice and support for just about any craft project. The walls are stocked oor to ceiling with all the latest yarns from King Cole, Rico, noted British brands West Yorkshire Spinners and Baa Ram Ewe, and indie dyer Irish Artisan Yarns.
The shop is nestled in the heart of Grayshott village high street, close to the scenic Devil’s Punch Bowl and magical Waggoners Wells. Taj Crafts
71 Pyle St, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 1UJ 01983 533377 tajcrafts@outlook.com www.tajcraftsiow.co.uk
Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm, Fri 10am-7.30pm
That wonderful Isle of Wight holiday just got better, knowing you can pop to Taj Crafts for a yarn x! The shop o ers a range of workshops, and available yarns include West Yorkshire Spinners, Noro, Stylecraft and DMC Natura. The shop also stocks a good range of notions and patterns.
Whichcraft Wools
7 Station Way, Sutton, Surrey SM3 8SD
020 8643 3211 angela.macadam@btopenworld.com www.whichcraftwools.co.uk
Mon-Tues, Weds 10am-1pm
Thurs-Sat 10am-4.30pm
Whichcraft o ers King Cole, Patons, Peter Pan, Rico, Robin and Wendy yarns, as well as workshops and a popular ‘Knit & Knatter’ group.
Willow Knits
020 8363 2884 annescahill@aol.com www.willowknits.com
The folk at Willow Knits dye their own ranges of silk yarns for knitters and crocheters, as well as o er nished products, from cushions to scarves. Visit them at St Albans Farmers Markets and festivals, and see their website for upcoming events.
The Yarn Dispensary
6 Market Place, Faversham, Kent ME13 7AG 01795 597 700 gillian@theyarndispensary.co.uk www.theyarndispensary.co.uk
Tues-Weds 10am-5pm
Thurs 7-9pm, Fri 10am-5pm, Sat 9am-5pm
The Yarn Dispensary is situated in a beautiful historic building in the heart of medieval Faversham. You'll nd a wide range of yarns, patterns and more.
YAK
16 Gloucester Road, Brighton BN1 4AD
01273 679 726 www.yarnandknitting.com
Tues-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-5pm
YAK in Brighton stocks independent and small brands, mainly focusing on British and European companies. Visitors can nd mill-dyed and hand-dyed yarns from companies including Dye For Yarn, Hedgehog Fibres, Brooklyn Tweed, Baa Ram Ewe, Moya, Yarn Stories, Blacker Yarns and Eden Cottage Yarns, among other swoon-worthy brands!
So once the family is nished visiting the Brighton Pavilion and the Brighton Palace Pier, or when your friends are relaxing on the beach after the Brighton Festival or Fringe Festival, make sure you pop round to YAK for some quality yarn squishing!
YarnFest SEE OFFER ON P28!
The Old Telephone Exchange, Long Lane, Hermitage, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9QS
01635 201660 www.yarnfest.co.uk
Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am-5.30pm, Weds 10am-8.15pm, Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Sun 10.30am-4pm
Knit & Natter Thurs 2-4pm
Drop-in Craft Club Weds 6.30-8.30pm
With personal service, several craft groups to visit each week, and a co ee area and garden, YarnFest is a haven for knitters and crocheters! In addition to Katia, Adria l, Stylecraft, Lane Mondial, Sirdar, and King Cole, YarnFest also o ers independent yarn brands. Support for local crafts means you can nd unique souvenirs in the form of hand-turned yarn bowls and handmade wooden buttons. The shop is just round the corner from Newbury Showground.