What 8 of our top shops are doing for YSD

We’ve got some brilliant stores taking part in this year’s Yarn Shop Day! Click here to find out more about the campaign and read on to see what’s happening at these fabulous yarn shops!

Get Knitting

If you’re around the East Midlands, pop down to Kingsley Park, which has a nice selection of shops including florists and vintage shops. Get Knitting sells a range of yarns, patterns and basic haberdashery, including Sirdar, Wendy, Robin, Woolcraft, James C. Brett, Debbie Bliss, Herriot, Lotus Yarns and many more that cater for all price ranges and tastes. On Yarn Shop Day, you can find free patterns, a goodie bag, knitting & crochet demonstrations, a raffle in aid of local charities, name the rabbit, handknits sale, knit hats for local premature unit and refreshments. There will also be 10% off yarn (except bonus and sale wool). 01604 716 768, www.yarnshopnorthampton.co.uk

Needles and Pins

Leicestershire-based yarn store Needles and Pins in Broughton Astley, is a small independent shop offering help and advice to their customers. The shop stocks various yarns from Stylecraft, King Cole, Patons, SMC, Peter Pan and Bergere de France. Join them on Yarn Shop Day -  bring along your knitting or crochet and join the knitting group, get inspiration from the items on display, have a cup of tea or coffee with a piece of cake or a biscuit and chat to others about you’re your latest make or work in progress. Plus, take advantage of a 10% discount on the day on all yarns (excluding already reduced yarns). If the YSD celebrations aren’t enough, look out for the new updated website where you can browse stock and buy online at www.needles-pins.co.uk

The Artful Buttoner

Hit The Artful Buttoner in Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire for fun Yarn Shop Day celebrations. Customers will find discounts on all yarns, patterns and knitting accessories. There are goodie bags for the first ten customers (spending over £10), free cake and coffee, free selected patterns, demonstrations and much more. There will be friendly experts will be on hand throughout the day to provide advice and you can join in a free make and take sessions where you’ll learn to knit or crochet.
The store is a preferred stockist for King Cole and Sirdar, but also stock Woolcraft, Katia, DMC, Alize and hand spun yarns. You can also enjoy a showcase of handmade crafts from local and national artisans, a wide range of haberdashery items and a large stock of buttons including Czech glass, antique and vintage. 01623 758684, www.facebook.com/theartfulbuttoner

Skeins & Bobbins

Get down to Skeins & Bobbins in Kinross, where the store will be celebrating its first birthday on Yarn Shop Day this year. Find fabulous bargains on yarn, free raffle, free patterns, free tea and coffee and a birthday cake! During the course of the day, there will be ongoing demonstrations of knitting and crochet to try. You’ll be hooked! If you like classes then details will also be available of future classes. The shop has blossomed in the past year and now carries a large range of yarn such as Sirdar, King Cole, Hayfield, Sublime, Artesano, Rico, Stylecraft, Adriafil and much more, with a wide spectrum of natural and acrylic fibres to suit all budgets and needs. In addition, there is haberdashery, patterns, knitted goods, craft items, handcrafted gifts, cards and, of course, lots of free advice. 01577 208107, www.facebook.com/skeinsandbobbins

The Wool Cabin

If you’re an Essex-based knitter then visit The Wool Cabin in Clacton and Frinton. Both stores specialise in yarns from Sylecraft, King Cole, Sirdar, Wendy and Rico, and also stock a huge range of patterns and knitting accessories including exclusive handmade craft bags. Leading up to Yarn Shop Day, they are asking generous knitters and crocheters to make bunting to decorate both shops on the day. They will be offering free pattern vouchers to be spent during May, with exclusive discounts on the day too. You can also be part of something special when they fill the shop with as many knitters as possible, all with their needles/hooks and yarn between 2pm and 3pm! There will be cakes for sale and a raffle. All proceeds go to Clacton Relay for Life for Cancer Research. 01255 428 352 or 01255 674 456, www.woolcabin.co.uk

Warwick Wools

Pop into Warwick Wools, located in the heart of the historic town of Warwick. Bring a copy of this along to receive a 10% discount off all full priced stock (excludes any other offers, ends 30/4/2016). Take advantage of special offers on selected books and kits and 5% discount when you sign up to learn to knit and learn to crochet courses. They will also be hosting a knitting and crochet clinic which will guide you through better button holes, sewing up tips, how to improve your tension and how to use double pointed needles and circular needles. You can also take part in a survey to go into a prize draw and shoppers who spend over £20 get a lucky dip goodie bag. 01926 492853, www.warwickwools.co.uk

Franklins

Franklins in Colchester is celebrating its big 60th Anniversary this year and are also taking part in Yarn Shop Day. As part of the celebrations, they have had a new bag designed in a retro style which is stylish and great to carry your yarn in. On the day, you can find King Cole’s Spike, a giant tinsel hedgehog who has embarked on a national campaign to ‘visit a yarn shop near you’ and will, of course, be available for selfies. You can also meet Let’s Knit editor, Sarah Neal, who will be visiting the shop on the day. You will get the chance to try circular needles, double pointed needles and much more. For younger knitters and crafters, tehre will be pom pom makers and knitting for them to try. There will also be yummy tea, coffee and cakes for sale in aid of the Mayors charities, who will be opening the event. The event is also being supported at our Chelmsford, Ipswish, Dovercourt and Salisbury branches. So why not go along, have a go at a make and takes, get one of the new bags, which have been turned into amazing goodie bags for the day, enter the free raffle, and take advantage of the many offers and discounts throughout the store. www.franklinsgroup.com

The Craft Hive

The Craft Hive is an independent retailer based in Bedlington, Northumberland. Inside the shop you’ll find a treasure trove of crafts, with beautiful yarns for knitting and crochet as well as fabrics for home sewing and quilting and the wonderful eco-friendly Frenchic Chalk paint for upcycling furniture. On Yarn Shop Day 2015, the ladies were able to offer 30 prizes to customers as well as a raffle ticket for which prizes were drawn on the day.This year, the shop will be running crocheting workshops as well as the popular raffle for customers.  All yarns will have at least 10% off on the day, so there will be some great bargains available. www.crafthive.co.uk

Check out our interactive Yarn Shop Day map to find a participating store near you!

It’s not too late for your local store to sign up for Yarn Shop Day, simply ask them to contact Leigh on 01206 505913 or email leigh.johnson@aceville.co.uk