YARN STORE FOCUS
STITCH
Nantwich, Cheshire, UK
Words by Beverley Ozard
Stitch is a knitting, fabric and lifestyle shop set in the heart of
the historic town of Nantwich, Cheshire. I have been trading
now for 18 years and have seen many changes along the way,
adapting the shop as necessary. I was trained in fashion and
textiles, specialising in knitwear, later becoming a teacher when
my children were small.
In the shop I run a range of courses, a knit and natter group
and an evening class called ‘Stitching School’ where we cover
everything from crochet to pattern cutting. Customers want a
shopping experience as such. With the increasing online threat
to high street shops, we have to offer something that cannot be
purchased on a laptop. To compliment the shop I opened the
adjoining tearoom in 2005 called Ginger & Pickles, therefore
helping with the ‘whole’ shopping experience; customers enjoy
a nice piece of cake whilst perusing through knitting patterns.
I grew up in retail, my parents had a lady and gents’ outfitters,
specialising in made to measure suits. As a child I would go to
the factories and see and feel all of the cloth waiting to be made
into wonderful garments. I learned to knit when I was five
and progressed from making dolls clothes to 1980’s dramatic
jumpers, to current more simplistic designs.
Talking to customers and listening to their needs has helped
me to realise that they often require a simple pattern that is
fashionable and easy to follow. I have been designing simple
garments and toys using the lovely Rowan yarns on my shelves.
The reaction to one of the jumpers made in Rowan Felted
Tweed has gone down really well, with yarn sales and customer
orders. My aim is to continue designing and manufacturing
my own range whilst, hopefully, inspiring others to make their
own clothes again. My classes are full of people wanting to
be creative again and I very much want to encourage them
with their creativity. We need to protect our environment too
by making garments in natural yarns and fabrics making them
sustainable and not throw away fashion made with fabrics that
take years to decompose! Also by making and creating again it
has been found that it helps our mental health. Recent research
by J Walter Thompson has found that, ‘taking part in creative
activities has the biggest impact on wellbeing in later life.’ This
confirms we should all keep our hands busy and our minds clear.
Stitch
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Newsletter October 2019 | Autumn Winter
Newsletter October 2019 | Autumn Winter
9