When non essential (I’m still puzzling over how yarn is ‘non essential’) shops were closed down, one of the biggest things facing us at Norfolk Yarn were the many workshops currently running or due to start up. Workshops are the lifeblood of the shop. They run every week of the year, introducing people to the magic of crochet, knitting, felt making and spinning as well as extending the skills of those who’ve been creating for years. If we failed to run our workshops, we felt we would just be another online stockist.

In addition to that, if you search the headlines beyond daily death tolls, you find gems such as “Knitting Has Become the Cool Activity During The Coronavirus Crisis” (Forbes) and “Coronavirus: Sewing and Knitting Sales Booming as Britain Gets Crafty At Home” (inews). We couldn’t let down our customers, who now have the time to spend on something that is widely seen as therapeutic as well as creative.

So we investigated various ways in which we could run virtual workshops . After a trial run with an existing crochet group by Sue of The Mercerie, and Becky hosting the first Norfolk Yarn Virtual Knit and Natter, it became clear that Zoom was the way forward. It has a ‘make yourself look better’ button for starters! And for those who haven’t yet embraced non stop quarantine house cleaning, you can select a virtual background so others in the group can’t question your lack of dusting skills.

Staying connected - our Knit and Natter group now meets virtually every Tuesday morning

It also worked well for those who don’t have social media, and therefore couldn’t participate in a Facebook group, and because numbers aren’t limited, bypassed Facetime and What’s App restrictions. You can choose to see all participants as a gallery - so you see everyone at the same time. Whoever is speaking, their ‘box outline’ turns green. Or you can choose to focus on one person, for example Becky as she’s explaining something, and that person will then take up your entire screen. Really useful when demonstrating a particular stitch.

Our feedback from both the trial crochet group and the Knit and Natter gang, was positive. No one had issues accessing the ‘meeting’ and no one had arrived in their pyjamas. So they all clearly felt it was something worth getting up and dressed for.

Sue has been having entire Zoom days lately - as all her workshops, existing courses as well as new ones just starting - have all moved online. She’s really embraced it, turning one room in her house into a purpose made TV studio and ordering fancy lights!

Sue - The Mercerie - taking her course online via Zoom

Becky’s first REAL workshop went ahead on Saturday for an existing course, the Mystery Blanket. Her next NEW workshop goes ahead at the end of May - delayed due to lockdown. It’s a 3 parter over 3 months for more experienced knitters, on knitting a lace shawl. We are hoping to be back in the shop for the commencement of this course and there are still places available, please contact us if you’d like to participate.

The Lace Shawl knitting course is one of my favourites. It’s hard to imagine how 800m of the finest silk and wool yarn can transform into a beautiful shawl. And that once you’ve done one, you’ll go on to do several more! I always thought this level of knitting was beyond me - but after the first, and learning techniques that make the process very straight forward, I went on to do quite a few more. My friend Laura who lives in the Dordogne, recently put one I’d given her on Instagram, as an example of something she was wearing now to feel a bit special when she too is in a strict lockdown in her French neighbourhood.

Whether you have a new baby coming to join the family, a wedding to go to (once we’ve beaten the pandemic), just want to treat yourself, or learn how to knit an intricate piece - this workshop is for you! You do need to know how to knit - it’s definitely not for the complete novice.

You’ll be able to choose from any of the delicious Fyberspates Gleem Lace we currently have in stock, OR Becky is busy dyeing away in her Dragonfly Dyes home studio, a base yarn of such scrumptiousness my bank account is not going to survive, in colours that will make your heart sing. I’ve already seen a purple come out that reminds you why historically, purple was the colour set aside for royalty.

Do Stay At Home, but do ‘come along’ to any of our crochet or knitting workshops currently available via Zoom.

See you there!

Boo