Author: Rebecca Willis

If you’re a yarn enthusiast, like I am, you’ll know that there’s so much more to yarn buying than just finding the right gauge and choosing a colour.

For me, finding the right supplier is key – someone who can confidently answer any questions I have about the yarn and its usage. I want to know that the yarn I choose will be perfect for my projects, but that it’s also ethically sourced, skin-friendly, durable and affordable. These elements matter to me, not just for my own projects, but also for the customers who attend my knitting and crocheting workshops, or buy yarn from me, whether online or in-person.

The benefits of buying from a local yarn retailer

• See and feel the quality of the yarn
• Look at the colours available
• Discuss alternatives
• Find new patterns
• Engage in craft-related conversations
• Get advice
• Choose and buy without waiting for delivery
• Shop screen-free, reducing the feeling of overwhelm

The benefits of buying yarn online

• Choose from the comfort of your own home
• Have the yarn delivered to you
• A wide choice of yarn options
• Easy to compare prices

What to look for in a yarn retailer

Good yarn retailers will have excellent product knowledge and also experience of the best yarn options to use for a wide range of purposes. They will be approachable and offer a wide range of good quality yarns at affordable prices. Many may be enthusiastic yarn crafters themselves.

Supporting small businesses

It’s hard to rival the commitment, interest and dedication of small business owners, who will often be there on the shop floor (customer facing) as well as dealing with admin, finances, stock orders and marketing. Often, craft businesses grow from their owner’s interest in and passion for crafting and their wish to share their knowledge, skills and experience.

By supporting local businesses, we are supporting uniqueness, variety and innovation.

“When you support small businesses, you’re supporting a dream.” – Jerry Greenfield, Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s

“When we shop locally, we’re investing in the people and the places that make our communities unique.” – Ashton Kutcher, Actor and Entrepreneur

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and the cornerstone of our communities.” – Barack Obama, former US President

Why buy your yarn from Yarny Bees?

Those of you who know me, will know that I love shopping for and choosing yarn – it’s part of the excitement of starting a new project. Picking up those brand new, soft balls of wool and squeezing them in my hands, imagining knitting or crocheting with them and then picturing the finished item, is a big part of the whole crafting experience. Providing that kind of customer experience for the people who buy from Yarny Bees is very important to me.

For those of you visiting my premises in Lichfield, you can feel the quality of yarn that you are purchasing and I’m around in-person, to offer advice, share ideas, recommend yarn and answer any questions that you may have. I love chatting about anything to do with knitting or crocheting and that’s often what you’ll find me doing, when you pop in.

If you are buying online, I want you to have that same feeling of excitement when you open your yarn delivery, safe in the knowledge that it will meet your yarncraft needs. There is still the personal element, as I’m happy to answer any questions via the online space too.

‘Excellent communication, great suggestions and an amazing product in the end! I definitely recommend it and I will be buying more in the future’ (K.E.)

As a small business owner, customer satisfaction is a large part of what I offer, I listen to my customers and use their views to inform future decisions in my business, so you can be assured that your feedback matters.

At Yarny Bees, I have chosen to stock yarn from Drops, as they have a reputation for being sustainable and fair, as well as being accessible price-wise for most people. Their yarn is made from natural fibres, they use skin-friendly dyes and respect human and animal rights. I stock a wide range for you to choose from, whether buying in-person or online.  

If you would like more information about choosing yarn, yarn made from natural fibres vs plastic, yarn substitution and ethical considerations, I have a range of other blog posts on my website that delve further into these topics.

Blog – Yarny Bees

To find out more about my workshops, groups, patterns and yarns, see my website: https://yarnybees.co.uk/

If you live in or around Lichfield, pop in and check out the available yarn for yourself here at Yarny Bees and maybe stop for a chat about what you are working on – Unit 2, 69 Upper St John Street, Lichfield, WS14 9DT. Call on 07738159757 to arrange a time to make sure I’m there – as I’m still working towards regular hours!

References

‘Sustainability’ Drops Design

https://www.garnstudio.com/sustainability.php?cid=19

‘101 Inspirational Support Small Business Quotes’ Storeplum, July 2023

https://www.storeplum.com/blogs/support-small-business-quotes

Life can get pretty hectic, often leaving us with little time to process our thoughts during the day. This can then lead to overthinking in the evening, or at night, resulting in disturbed sleep, low mood and low energy. I’ve definitely experienced this. As a small business owner and the mum of two young boys, when the boys have gone to bed, I know how easy it could be for me to slip into unhelpful thinking habits. Instead, I’ve found that crafting helps to calm my busy brain, allowing me to unwind and giving me the space I need to subconsciously process the events of my day, before I go to bed. It helps me to get a better quality of sleep, so that I have more energy for my busy days. It’s a tactic I learned when I was a teacher in a special school and it has also helped me to deal with life’s daily challenges.

How can crafting help us to process our emotions?

As a mathematician, I love an explanation of how and why things work. I also love any excuse for spending as much time as possible knitting and crocheting! Knowing that it’s good for my mental health and gives me more energy to function better as a parent, is a perfect reason for surrounding myself with yarn and working on my latest project!

‘Engaging in creative crafts induces the flow state, allowing you to experience reduced stress, improved mood, increased resilience, mindfulness, and a greater sense of life satisfaction.’ (The Wellness Society)

Crafts like knitting require concentration and engage both sides of the brain, as well as occupying both hands. While we are focusing on what we are creating, our brain is able to subconsciously process any thoughts and feelings.

Knitting has been proven to be beneficial for the mental health of people of all ages. Children can benefit from increased cognitive function and problem-solving skills. For working adults, knitting can be a source of stress release and it can set them up for less risk of cognitive decline in later years, due to exercising and strengthening the neural pathways in midlife.  It can also trigger a release of serotonin, which is a natural anti-depressant that helps to lift mood.

More about emotional processing and the subconscious mind

For years, psychologists and neuroscientists have been studying the impact of the subconscious mind on our mental and emotional well-being. It is now considered that the subconscious plays an important part in our development.

‘far from playing second fiddle to the conscious mind, subconscious thought processes may play a crucial role in many of the mental facilities we prize as uniquely human, including creativity, memory, learning and language.’ (New Scientist)

It’s important to give our minds the opportunity to subconsciously process thoughts, feelings and emotions, for our overall mental health.

‘Whether we like it or not, our ability to control thoughts, synchronize movements, or experience emotions depends on the depth of information processing… experiments demonstrated that the subconscious mind could process information—such as emotional words—faster than the conscious mind, providing insights into how subconscious processing influences our perceptions and reactions ‘(Imotions)

Imagine all of this going on while we are knitting!

At Yarny Bees, there are groups, workshops and classes for everyone, whether you are a beginner, an improver or very experienced in knitting or crochet. See my website for more information about what we offer.

References

‘The Art of Flow: Crafting your way to a calmer mind’ (The Wellness Society)

The Art of Flow: Crafting Your Way to a Calmer Mind

‘The subconscious mind: Your unsung hero’ Kate Douglas, Nov 2007

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19626321-400-the-subconscious-mind-your-unsung-hero

‘What is the subconscious mind?’ Bryan Farnsworth, Imotions

https://imotions.com/blog/learning/research-fundamentals/what-is-the-subconscious-mind

How many times have you spotted a pattern and thought “that yarn I’ve got at home would be perfect for this,” only to find that it turned out not to be?

There’s a lot of science involved in yarn substitution and taking the time to make the right choice is important for the success of your projects. 

This post will help, if, like me, you like to put your own spin on knitting and crocheting and deviate from the yarn mentioned in the pattern.

Being able to substitute one yarn for another is also important for when yarns get discontinued, but you want to re-use the pattern.

What is yarn substitution?

Designers create patterns with a certain type of yarn in mind and this will be mentioned on the pattern itself. This is because yarns can vary greatly in terms of thickness, weight, tension or fibre. Wool from different animals will behave differently when you knit or crochet with it, for example, wool from a sheep has a different drape, stretch and bounce to alpaca wool. There are also many other differences between natural yarn and acrylic and polyester blends, which are made from harmful plastics, bad for the environment and can negatively impact skin conditions, such as eczma or dermatitis. I always choose natural fibres, for my shop and for my personal yarncraft projects.

What do I need to know if I want to substitute yarn?

Certain elements are key in yarn substitution. It’s important to check the weight and yardage and also the gauge, before getting started on a project.

‘To figure out how much yarn you’ll need for your project, find out the total amount of yardage needed (it should say on your pattern) and divide this by the amount of yardage in the ball of the yarn you are wishing to use as a substitute, which will tell you how many balls you will need to substitute the original.’ (lovecrafts.com)

If the label is missing from the wool you want to use, or you are knitting or crocheting with previously used wool, then measuring the wraps per inch can help you to identify the weight of the yarn. Wrap the yarn around a pencil for a few inches, with no overlaps or gaps. Keep the wrapping with an even tension. Next, use a ruler to measure the number of wraps in an inch. You can then use this chart, from Craft Yarn Council to work out the weight and which knitting needle or crochet hook size to use. 

CYC weight	WPI
0 Lace	30-40+
1 Super Fine	14-30
2 Fine	12-18
3 Light	11-15
4 Medium	9-12
5 Bulky	6-9
6 Super Bulky	5-6
7 Jumbo	1-4

This chart is based on WPI information shared by industry experts and the two WPI lists noted below.

http://woolery.com/yarns/help-withyarn-sizes/wraps-per-inch.html

http://www.ravelry.com/help/yarn/weights’

As wraps per inch can easily be influenced by how tightly the wrapping has been done, it’s also advisable to knit or crochet a swatch first. Although this takes time, it’s time well-spent, rather than finding out much later down the line that the yarn isn’t a good match for your pattern, or you run out of yarn before the end and find it’s been discontinued!

If this has spurred you on to use up more of the wool from your wool stash, you might also find my blog post from May helpful:

https://yarnybees.co.uk/2024/04/25/have-you-got-a-yarn-stash-how-can-you-make-the-most-of-it

If you live in or around Lichfield and you’d like more advice around choosing the right yarn for a project, why not pop into my new premises at Unit 2, 69 Upper St John Street, WS14 9DT, where I’d be happy to help.

References

‘Yarn substitution’ 27/11/2023

Yarn Substitution

‘How to figure out yarn substitutions’ Love crafts, Bagwell, E. 1/8/2016

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/how-to-figure-out-yarn-substitutions

‘How to Measure Wraps Per Inch’ Craft Yarn Council

https://www.craftyarncouncil.com/standards/how-measure-wraps-inch-wpi

I love yarn!  (No surprises there!) When I’m in a room with all those squishy bundles of colour, I find it hard to resist making spontaneous purchases, certain that I’ll put it to good use at some point. However, when the wool left over from projects gets added to the stash too, as well as wool from knitted garments that I’ve decided to recycle, it’s easy to find that my spare yarn starts to take over my living space and with two young sons, space is important to me too! Full disclosure – the pic below was part of my stash before I started Yarny Bees!

I know from chatting to other yarn crafters that I’m not alone with this.

Now that I have my own premises in Lichfield, stocking yarn for sale and teaching knitting and crocheting, I’m in my element! I get to be surrounded by yarn every day and I have what I need for all of my projects, without it taking over my home (or at least that’s the theory!). But what if you haven’t got that luxury? Saving space, is just one of the reasons for finding creative ways to use up your stash.

How can you save money, while still being able to knit and crochet?

Look for patterns that use a multitude of colours. When money is tighter, finding patterns to use up excess yarn can feel like a godsend. It’s extremely satisfying to create an item from left over bits, that you wouldn’t otherwise have used. It’s thrifty, good for the environment and a great space saver (leaving more living space – or space for more yarn purchases of course!)

I’ve created a range of patterns that are great for using up leftover wool and creating something totally original, with the combinations of colours that you’ve got left in your yarn stash. The bunting, in particular, is a beautiful way of showcasing the beautiful leftovers you couldn’t bear to part with. These items can then be given away to friends and family, giving them something that’s been created with love, that is also useful and durable. It saves you from having to spend more money on buying gifts and the time you would have spent trawling the internet or the shops to choose something, can be spent at home knitting or crocheting. It’s a win all round! In fact, any of my patterns can be adapted to use multiple colours.

How can using up old wool stores help the environment?

Whenever we use wool that we already have, whether that is using leftover balls of yarn from previous projects, or recycling wool from old or ill-fitting clothing, we are helping to protect the environment. While wool is a durable fibre, great for recycling and biodegradable, wool production is also harmful for the environment. So, making the best use of what we already have, is bound to be better environmentally. 

‘The longer a garment or product is used, the more value is gained from the raw materials that went into making it. The same applies to recycling wool items. When the same wool fibres are put to further use, the environmental impact from those fibres is lessened.’ (IWTO)

Also, when we do eventually run out of our stored wool and buy new, we can choose brands such as Drops (which I use and stock) who have a reputation for being sustainable and fair and their yarn is made from natural fibres.

You can buy patterns and yarn from me online, at https://yarnybees.co.uk, from The Fabric Vault in Lichfield, or from my new premises at 69 Upper St John Street, Lichfield, where I also teach classes in knitting and crocheting for children and adults and I host sessions for like-minded crafters to get together. For the latest classes and groups available, see my website, or subscribe to my monthly newsletter at the bottom of the page.

References

‘Recycled Wool’ IWTO International Wool Textile Organisation

RECYCLED WOOL

There’s no doubt that sharing similar interests and values can help us to connect with each other, regardless of our age, gender or class. These connections are so important, allowing us to learn from each other and to develop mutual understanding, which is beneficial for our family relationships, our work relationships and for society as a whole.

Global Intergenerational Week is being celebrated between 24^th and 30^th of April this year and it seems a great time to think about how crafts can play an important part in connecting people from different generations.

What are the benefits of mixed generations crafting together?

While the older generations bring wisdom, well-honed crafting skills and life-experience, the younger generations bring energy, enthusiasm, a capacity to learn quickly and new ideas. With crafting in common, doors are opened to new friendships, that can extend beyond the realms of knitting and crocheting, with a new-found empathy and understanding of each other and a more open-minded approach to others in general. I feel like age is just a number, when I’m surrounded by like-minded people who love yarn as much as I do.

What is Global Intergenerational Week?

It’s an annual campaign, celebrating all things intergenerational.

‘The campaign aims to inspire individuals, groups, organizations, local and national governments, and NGOs to fully embrace intergenerational practice. It encourages connecting people of different generations in intentional, mutually beneficial activities. During this week, we celebrate good practices, ideas, moments, and opportunities where different age groups come together, forming intergenerational friendships!’  (generationsworkingtogether.org)

How does Yarny Bees support intergenerational relationships?

I’ve experienced first-hand, the value of learning from members of older generations, who have passed down skills they’ve learnt from their parents and grandparents. This is something very close to my heart, as my grandma not only taught me to knit, but we grew closer through our shared passion for yarn craft. She inspired me to start my Yarny Bees business, to help encourage others to knit and crochet, through my workshops and groups, both in-person and online.

I offer in-person craft workshops and craft and chat sessions, for people of all ages. Due to the increasing demand for my classes and groups, I’ve needed a bigger space. I’ve recently moved from The Fabric Vault in Lichfield, to Unit 2, 69 Upper St John Street, just a seven minute walk away. My new, permanent location, means that larger numbers of people can attend now and I can run more sessions too.

As well as the many children’s sessions and adult sessions listed on my website, to celebrate Global Intergenerational Week, I’m also offering a family Craft Hive session on 27^th April, from 12:30-1:30pm and I have plans for more sessions moving forwards. I have two young children of my own and I believe you’re never too young or too old to take up a new skill and yarn craft can appeal to people of all ages. Knitting and crocheting come with added physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages and it’s good to get the family away from screens, learning and having fun together.

If you’d like to find out more about my workshops and Craft Hive sessions, in-person and online, click here: https://yarnybees.co.uk

You can also hear more about what is happening in the Yarny Bees’ community in my regular email newsletters: (link)

Reference

https://generationsworkingtogether.org/global-intergenerational-week

With the cost of living rising, it’s natural for us to be more cautious about what we are spending our money on. In spite of this, however, many of us still want to look stylish and fashionable and so we may be instinctively drawn to the fast fashion stores on the high street, or to the cheap clothing available to us online. But are we aware of where our clothes come from, or the pay and conditions experienced by the workers who create them?

‘In order to manufacture things quickly and inexpensively, sweatshop workers – often women and children – suffer grueling workdays and meager pay that does not cover basic expenses, while offering them cruel working and living circumstances…Working conditions are poor, unhygienic and unsafe since a large number of sweatshops are located in poor nations with weak labour laws and little government control.’ Earth.org

So, is mass producing clothing a recent development, or has it been going on for centuries?

Knitting machines and sewing machines

The history of the knitting machine actually began in 1589, although sewing machines were invented much later, in the late 1700s. Mass producing clothing, meant that items could be created more cheaply than before, but workers were forced to work long hours in oppressive and often dangerous conditions, with low pay. Most of the mills in the 19^th century were known for their poor working conditions and unsafe practises, with many people maimed or killed. While working conditions in the UK have changed, due to more stringent laws, companies get around this by exploiting overseas workers (adults and children) and then shipping in the clothing instead. Fashionable clothing is often viewed as disposable and with the speed at which fashions change, relatively new clothes can often end up in landfill.

While knitting still continues to be a hobby enjoyed throughout the world, mass-produced, machine knitted garments, now dominate the high street.

Do you know that crocheted items are exclusively handmade?

In stark contrast to knitted garments, crocheted items are exclusively handmade. There is no way of mass-producing crocheted clothes, due to the intricacy of the stitches, so every piece involves a skilled craftsperson working on it by hand. Such work involves a great deal of time and effort and overseas workers are grossly underpaid for the quality craftmanship involved in making crocheted garments.

So, should we avoid buying crocheted clothes? Not at all! They are beautiful and durable and I’ve loved seeing them become more popular. However, it’s also important to recognise the skill involved in making them and to buy ethically sourced clothing or to make our own. 

What are the benefits of making our own clothes?

I love crocheting and knitting – the texture of the yarn, the versatility and durability and the feeling I get when I have created something new to wear. I enjoy creating patterns myself, knowing that I’m making my own, unique garment to use and enjoy for years.

Yarn craft is great for our mental health too, helping us to truly be present in the moment, to relax and to unwind.  

How will I know if the yarn I use, or the clothes that I buy, are ethically produced?

• Look out for words like ‘Fairtrade,’ ‘ethically sourced’ and ‘organic’
• Ask the company about their sources and processes – if they are an ethical and sustainable brand, they will want to share that information
• Do your research on the internet and on social media
• Buy 2^nd hand clothing, do clothes swaps, or upcycle old clothes or yarn

I stock yarn from Drops Design, as they have a great reputation for being sustainable, fair and affordable, as well as producing high quality, natural yarn, that I love to use when knitting or crocheting items for myself, or for my online shop.

If you are looking for inspiration, please see my website for yarn, patterns, knitted and crocheted items and for my online and in-person workshops: https://yarnybees.co.uk

References

‘History of machine knitting,’ Knitting and Crochet Guild

History of machine knitting

‘Fast Fashion: The Danger of Sweatshops,’ Earth.org

Fast Fashion: The Danger of Sweatshops

Fairtrade Foundation

https://www.fairtrade.org.uk

Since lockdown began, there’s been an increase in the number of adults and children taking up knitting and crocheting. Having learnt to knit as a teenager, I love the fact that an ever-growing amount of people are enjoying yarn crafts and passing their skills down to the younger generations too.

One of the big benefits of knitting and crocheting, is the positive impact they can have on mental health, both in the short term and longer term. By teaching children crafting skills, we are setting them up with a healthy hobby that they can enjoy and come back to throughout their lives.

‘We all make mistakes in knitting. When you learn from an early age that it’s about the journey not the destination, you become a happier adult. Kids need to be taught that it’s okay to NOT be perfect. When kids can create an imperfect product and still love it because they made it, their confidence level goes through the roof.’ (pattylyons.com, 2019)

Knitting can lead to increased serotonin production

Modern life, the impact of social media and having access to more screen time in general, has led to an increase in mental health issues among pre-teens and teenagers. Even where parents are diligent in applying parental controls and limiting screen time, children can often pick up information from their peers, or experience peer pressure that can be unsettling or distressing for them.

The repetitive nature of knitting has been shown to release serotonin, a natural anti-depressant that helps to lift mood. As well as the therapeutic benefits experienced while knitting, creating something tangible at the end is great for children’s confidence and self-esteem. 

Needlecraft for young children doesn’t have to be complicated, knitting a scarf for a favourite doll or teddy, or even one for themselves if they have the patience, can be extremely rewarding. As their skills and interest develop, more intricate and challenging patterns can be introduced.

Once the basic skills are mastered, the repetitive movements can help anxious children to self-soothe too, an important skill for their wellbeing.

Brain development, coordination and problem solving

As knitting and crocheting involve using both the right and the left hand, this helps to develop coordination. Both sides of the brain are engaged and more neural pathways are built up. Knitting helps with cognitive function, memory retention, concentration, problem solving and mental agility, which can lead to greater success, confidence, achievement and self-esteem in school too.

‘knitting requires following instructions, reading, and troubleshooting, all components of problem-solving. For any child, these are great traits for them to develop. Of course, mistakes happen in knitting, and these mishaps provide a great learning opportunity for your child to discover how the mistake occurred and how to fix it.’ (pattylyons.com, 2019)

Children can take onboard new skills quickly and easily, compared to older adults, so teaching them needlecraft skills when they are young is a great idea. It sets them up with a healthy hobby for life.

Family bonding

When skills are handed down from one generation to the next, it helps with family bonding. This, in turn, has positive benefits for mental health, as it can result in more mutual respect, understanding and tolerance.

My family has always been full of skilful knitters and I used to watch with awe, as they turned colourful balls of wool into beautiful garments, with the rhythmic click of their needles. After many attempts and lots of loving patience, my grandma finally taught me to knit and my skills and confidence grew from there. I have fond memories of our time spent together and though I lost her a few years ago, the skills she taught me and her love of yarn continue to inspire my creations and my growing Yarny Bees business.

Transferring skills from the older to the younger generations is vital, so that those key skills don’t get lost over time.

Children’s Mental Health Week (5^th – 11^th February)

This time of year, is a great time to encourage your children or grandchildren to take up knitting or crocheting. It’s still a little chilly to be outdoors for long and helping them to have fun, learn new skills and spend time away from the screen while indoors, ticks lots of boxes around mental health.

‘Place2Be launched the mental health awareness week in 2015 to empower, equip and give a voice to every child in the UK.’

For the many ways in which you and your family can engage in activities and/or fundraising, as part of ‘Children’s Mental Health Week 2024’ click this link:

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

Ideas and inspiration for needlecraft with children

As a mum and a former teacher, I love creating patterns and workshops for children, knowing that I’m helping to give them a great start with needlecraft.

Here are some of my upcoming workshops for children and families, in the Lichfield area:

https://yarnybees.co.uk/product-category/learn-with-me/childrens-workshops/

Simple patterns for children who are learning to knit or crochet:

https://yarnybees.co.uk/product-category/learn-with-me/childrens-workshops/

For information about future workshops and events, plus patterns and yarn, you can visit my website at https://yarnybees.co.uk

References

‘6 Benefits That Children Experience from Knitting’ Patty Lyons, 25^th September 2019

6 Benefits That Children Experience from Knitting

‘Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week’

https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk