Sally at Little Lamb Wool tells us about some fab new patterns and yarns, plus a lovely unexpected visitor!

I’ve had some interesting visitors into Little Lamb Wool this week, one of them being a robin. The little fella had been hopping about outside all morning obviously looking for food.

It was getting a bit warm (large windows, sun shining directly in) so I’d opened the door a bit to let some cold air in a few minutes later I caught something moving out of the corner of my eye, and he’d hopped into the opposite corner of the shop. It took a bit of whistling and gentle arm moving to usher him back through the door.

Sally Goodwill of Little Lamb Wool gets excited by the prospect of new springtime yarns and patterns.

Is Spring here yet? It seems so as I’ve just taken delivery of the new season’s stock, from Sirdar, Sublime and Debbie Bliss. 

It’s all lovely stuff but now the hard work begins, as I need to get everything on the Little Lamb Wool website! So over the next few days I will be taking lots of photos of balls of wool, including a new line from Sirdar ‘Baby Speckles’ and lots of new shades in other lines. 

Online yarn superstore Deramores has launched an exciting competition via their social media channels.
In celebration of their colourful, comprehensive range of Debbie Bliss yarns and books, Deramores has teamed up with the talented knitwear designer to give away a three signed copies of her books 'Knits to Give: 30 Knitted Gifts Made with Love',  ‘The Knitter’s Year’ and 'Baby Knits for Beginners'.
Staff at the store have also taken the opportunity to interview Debbie, and you can read her illuminating answers on Deramore’s Facebook page.
Debbie Bliss and will have three signed copies of her books to give away on Twitter.

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.

Catriona Williams of Marmalade Yarns lets us know a few of her favourite festive things…

I love this time of year in the shop. it is the perfect excuse to add fairy lights and blankets to enhance the cosiness and warm colours on the shelves. It makes me feel warmer just being surrounded by the yarns. If only we could have a woodburner and rocking chair in the front shop, I would never go home.

 Christmas knitting is so inspiring too: Decorations, such as the perfect knitted baubles by Arne and Carlos, everyone seems to be knitting them this year, as well as the two needle baubles which appeared in last month’s Simply Knitting. 

Sally Goodwill from Little Lamb Wool let’s us know what she’s been up to.

Well it’s nice to be busy but don’t know whether I’m coming or going at the moment!

Business in the shop and online has been brisk and we’ve also been really occupied with preparing for a couple of local Christmas fairs – one at Welburn village from 2pm this weekend (tomorrow in fact!), and one at Slingsby village on Saturday 3rd December from 2pm. We’ve never done them before so we’ve been rushing about right until the last possible minute buying props and things to help display our wares to their best advantage!

We’ve got all sorts of lovely little things to tempt our buyers at the fairs, including masses of knitted goods such as napkin rings, baubles, chunky wrist warmers, toys, booties, and hairbands. Add to that our fancy scarf yarns and our lovely range of knitting kits, and there’s quite a tasty selection on offer!

Online knitting superstore Deramores has teamed up with bestselling craft author Fiona Goble to give away 12 signed copies of her festive knitting book, 'Twas the Knits Before Christmas.’

Amy Last of Deramores says: “We're huge fans of Fiona's books at Deramores and when we contacted her with the idea for a Christmas giveaway she was delighted to help. We love the fact that, in less than two years, Fiona has turned her passion into a successful career. It's inspirational and we wanted to share her story with the thousands of knitters on our Facebook page!”

With this in mind, Deramore’s are carrying out an interview with the talented designer of knitted toys, publishing her answers in installments on the Deramores' Facebook page throughout this week.

Today marks the epicenter of Children in Need 2012 and people across the UK have been fundraising in all kinds of imaginative ways.

Craft retailers The Black Sheep have been embracing the charity mega-event with a challenge to knit a giant scarf!

Lesley of The Black Sheep says: “The idea for a giant scarf came about when we were trying to think of a way we could be involved in a fund raising event for Children In Need and Carol, the founder of the Black Sheep, suggested a really long scarf. We thought that this was a great idea as everyone could get involved and helping to raise the profile of knitting.”

As well as the retailer’s staff and customers of their Craft Barn in Warrington helping to knit the mammoth project, they have spread the word via social networking sites, leading to  knitters from all over the UK contributing pieces to be added onto the scarf. “Customers visiting the Craft Barn have been knitting a few rows whilst they have been shopping and then made a donation in store,” Lesley says. “In the Craft Barn we are also raffling a large Pudsey Bear soft toy and a Plush soft toy to help raise even more money.”

Sally Goodwill from Little Lamb Wool talks us through her passion ofr Artesano yarns, for both ethical and aesthetical reasons.

We’ve just taken delivery of the scrumptious 100% alpaca DK & 4ply from Artesano. It’s a truly eco yarn produced in small co-operatives in Peru and Bolivia supporting local communities and shipped rather than flown to the UK. It feels really soft, so there’s absolutely no itchy scratchiness when you wear this one! They are beautiful yarns in their own right even without considering the eco value of them. 

Sally Goodwill at Little Lamb Wool is already knee-deep in knittery noel treasures. “Christmas is coming so the Little lamb Wool shop is filling up with patterns for toys and Christmas characters, Christmas jumpers, Christmas stockings and lots of ideas for gifts, including the new book from Debbie Bliss – ‘Knits to Give,’” she exclaims.

There’s also plenty to keep grown up shoppers happy, with as two news lines in store, Big Bamboo and Click chunky from Sirdar, making a total of 13 lines that can be used for grown up patterns. “These include Debbie Bliss Angel, Andes, Cashmerino Aran. Twilleys Freedom Purity, Spirit Chunky & Wool, Sirdar Squiggle and Wendy 100% Merino DK,” Sally says.