57 PROFILE over the last couple of years, which was not something I foresaw ever happening! It’s wonderful to see men like Harry Styles, Jason Momoa, and Tom Daly wearing handmade jumpers and cardis. I’ve personally really enjoyed making hexagon cardigans. You make them by creating two granny squares but with six treble (US double) clusters instead of four, then folding them into ‘L’ shapes and joining them at the back, then adding to the sleeves and length at the torso. There were tons of them at Yarndale in Skipton this September and I can imagine their popularity won’t fade away anytime soon. How would you advise a retailer who is interested in stocking your products? We would suggest emailing the team: enquiries@kingcole.com and we’d get them in touch with their King Cole area representative. We have nine reps across the UK who really know their yarn and have great insight into what’s selling well in specific areas as well as knowledge to see where there may be an untapped market for individual stockists. We launch new products roughly every five to six weeks and our reps always have the latest and greatest products. What sets you apart from your competitors? Our aim is always gorgeous soft yarns at affordable prices. We offer a very large selection of yarns, suitable from beginners to advanced crafters, in natural fibres, man-made fibres, and blends. All of our yarn ranges have corresponding patterns that are completely suited to that specific yarn. Having said that, all of our DK yarns will knit to tension with all of our DK patterns, and likewise our chunky yarns will knit to tension with all of our chunky patterns etc. Fibre varies quite a lot in meterage, drape, and weight from yarn to yarn, so bear that in mind when substituting yarn. Our recycled yarns are a slightly different tension due to the stiff nature of the fibres. Do you visit any trade shows? Do you plan to visit any soon? We’ll be attending CHSI Stitches in February at the NEC in Birmingham. We have a large hot pink stand and all sorts of new products to show with a big team of representatives to chat with. We will also be at h+h Cologne in March and h+h Americas in May showing new yarns. What are you looking forward to most over the next year? We have a few absolutely gorgeous new products, including a device that’s a complete game changer for keeping your favourite knits looking fresh and your wardrobe economical. The new yarns for 2024 include a broad selection of weights and lots of different fibres, as well as some new members to existing yarn families. What new products can we expect from you in the future? We’re always on the lookout for new and exciting projects. We introduce roughly 10 to 12 new yarns per year. We have a fantastic product development team that works in several stages to bring new yarns to shops. I get involved in choosing possible yarns, naming the approved yarns, choosing colours, colour names, and designing ballbands and marketing materials for each of our ranges. An enormous amount of work goes into producing a new yarn. We’re looking into even more recycled products in the future, we keep on colour trends so watch this space for ‘peach fuzz’ this year, and of course we’ll continue to provide our staples. KING COLE +44 (0)1756 703 670 www.kingcole.com
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