78 The joy of sustainable crafting Rachel Owen, owner of Tangled Yarn in Poynton talks to Craft Focus about her one-stop destination for natural fibres and sustainable knitting yarns Tell us a bit about Tangled Yarn, when did it open and by who? Tangled Yarn was founded by me, Rachel, in 2011. It began as an online business run from home, offering knitters and crocheters beautiful, high-quality yarns from smaller, independent brands. In 2023, my daughter Niamh joined the business, and her involvement allowed us to grow. This led to us moving into our new physical shop in Poynton in 2024, allowing us to create a welcoming, inspiring space for fibre enthusiasts. Tell us a bit about your location! We’re based in Poynton, a lovely village just south of Manchester, in Stockport. We moved to our new shop in 2024, which has been an exciting change for the business. Poynton is a vibrant, community-focused area, and having more space has allowed us to showcase our yarns beautifully while creating a cosy atmosphere for our customers. You also run an e-commerce business. When did this start, and what made you take the business online? Tangled Yarn began as an online business in 2011. I launched the website to meet the growing demand for highquality, independent yarns that weren’t widely available in the UK. Running the business from home gave me the flexibility to build it gradually. The success of the online shop, combined with Niamh joining in 2023, made it possible to open our bricks-and-mortar shop in 2024. How has business been over the last 12 months? The last year has been a period of growth and exciting changes! Moving to our new shop in Poynton in 2024 had been a significant milestone, giving us more room to connect with customers faceto-face and provide a better shopping experience. Business has been strong, with steady growth both in-store and online, and we’ve also seen continued interest in crafting, especially during the colder months. Have you seen a boom in the craft industry recently or a new type of customer? Yes, absolutely! The craft industry continues to grow, and we’re seeing a wider variety of customers. We’re seeing many more younger people taking up knitting and crochet, often focusing on sustainability and handmade gifts. It’s wonderful to see so many people discovering the joy and mindfulness that crafting can bring. Tell us a bit about what you stock! We specialise in natural fibre yarns, with a strong focus on small, independent producers. In addition to yarn, we carry carefully curated patterns, knitting needles, crochet hooks, accessories, and inspiring books. Everything we stock is chosen with care to inspire and delight our customers, whether they’re beginners or seasoned crafters. What brands do you currently stock? Are you looking for any new products, licenses, or styles? We stock a fantastic range of brands, including Hey Mama Wolf, Tukuwool, Kaos Yarn, Sandnes Garn, and Camarose. We’re always looking for new products, especially those that align with our commitment to sustainability and supporting small-scale producers. I’d also like to expand our range of tools and accessories. What’s selling particularly well at present? Cosy yarns like Camarose Snefnug are popular, as are sock yarns like Tukuwool Sock. Customers are also gravitating towards books and patterns for larger projects such as shawls and sweaters, especially in warm, seasonal hues.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTA0NTE=