Bronwen Owens, the woman behind wool shop the Wool Garden let’s us know what drove her to follow her knitting dreams.

Who’d have thought knitting would become so trendy? Ask my fifty-year-old teddy Brownie (pictured left) who still proudly sports his handmade blue trousers knitted with many tears and tantrums, by me, when I was seven.

Many years later here I am in the lovely market  town of Newent, Gloucestershire, with my very own warm and woolly shop selling loads of lovely yarn to the fantastic knitters out there who have been desperate for somewhere to  go to complete their projects.

When voluntary redundancy was offered from my real job as a full time English teacher in a large comprehensive I jumped at it. I wandered into town wondering what I could do and if I was bonkers having ditched a career so foolishly in such precarious times, when I came upon a little shop which had a great feel.

I knew it would be perfect for what I wanted  it even had room for classes in the back, as well as a really light and airy atmosphere. 

Without a single business plan or any sense of trepidation I ploughed my entire pay off into the shop. Ah, but what fun? I bought wool. Lots of it and it was all lovely – I bought patterns, I bought books on techniques and I bought beautiful ceramic buttons to complete gorgeous creations made from all sorts of lovely yarn. I just couldn’t stop myself.

Then there’s The Wool Gatherers. Our lively knitting club (which is more like a Chippendale’s audience than a sedate gathering  of serious minded crafts people). But they are experts – on knitting, crochet and life in general and their ages range from 28 to 84!!!

There’s never enough time to browse the patterns; visit other wool shops; go to craft fairs; visit shows or attend a class of my own (I am seriously trying out what to do with a Brother knitting machine I got given when the shop opened) but what great things to plan for and aim at.

I have at least eight projects on the go, which include socks for a customer, a sample garment for the shop, a cushion cover, and presents for the grown up kids who now have enough taste to want something unique (they include my daughter Alice, shown here, who I've passed my love of knitting on to!). My biggest joy over the Christmas holidays was to settle down with my two cats, two dogs and the telly (husband cooking in the kitchen, of course) and make myself a top down jumper on a circular needle!

Everyone warned me opening a business at this economic downturn was a tad foolhardy but to be honest, it has been the best thing ever.  Fabulous wool to buy (well I have to, don’t I?) and really interesting and accomplished customers. I have not been bored for a moment, there just simply aren’t enough hours in the day and who knows when I get a moment my old teddy might even get a new pair of trousers!

Everyone warned me how difficult setting up a business would be but I did  it and three months later am alive to blog and tell the tale. 

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