5 yarn shop trends you really need to know
With Olympic diver, Tom Daley, giving knitting the boost it deserves, it’s time for knitters to check out what’s got hotter on the high street!
There’s one thing you can always be sure of at your local yarn shop – a very warm welcome and all the in-person help and advice you need. So we caught up with some of the UK’s yarn shops to find out what’s new and on-trend around the country. If you’re nervous about returning to your local yarn shop, or are vulnerable, rest assured, many customer service teams are still o ering extra services such as Click and Collect and local delivery.
1 Naturals, tweeds and socks
Knitters are loving natural yarns, especially cotton and bamboo. This is partly lead by the season but also the increasing popularity of macramé. Tweedy yarns are still very popular and sock knitting never seems to go out of fashion. Yarn shops have also seen knitters trying out yarn combining, for example, holding a 4ply yarn with a mohair one to create a fluffy haze or halo used for shawls and garments.
2 Pretty purples and pinks
When it comes to colour it’s harder to spot the trends as there’s such a huge spectrum of colours to choose from for every knitter. The summer months saw brighter colours on the rise along with ever-popular purples and pinks hitting the top spots.
3 On-trend slow fashion
The past 18 months has seen a flow of many new customers eager to try out knitting, which has widened the typical age range of knit shoppers from early 20s to the over 80s. Younger crafters are attracted to knitting because they are keen to upcycle their wardrobes. Knitting also fits with the added surge in popularity of slow fashion and living a greener life.
4 Keeping it simple
The new, wider age range has had an impact on the type of projects people are making with simpler knits leading the charge. However, more experienced crafters are pushing their skill levels by trying jumpers knitted in the round or more complicated shawls. Key trends are voluminous sleeves with cinched-in wrists and cropped tops. It goes without saying that items for babies, in soft, practical yarns, are always popular.
5 Wow-factor window dressing
Yarn shops are having great fun making their windows as attractive as possible to returning customers. There have been windows featuring the Euros and giant crocheted ducks in a paddling pool to raise money for a local charity. Yarn shop owners work so hard to come up with something creative using colour and enticing projects to tempt crafters in. They are constantly changing their offerings too, so make sure you check out their latest window display when you’re next in town.
Support your LYS
The nation’s yarn shops are quite simply amazing with all that they are doing to welcome us back and all they did for us during lockdown. So please show how much you appreciate them by visiting yours soon. You can find a comprehensive map of yarn shops around the UK here: www.ukhandknitting.com.