The Knitter - UK (2019-10)

bricks-and-mortar shop. Like so many

high street retailers both inside and

outside of the knitting sector, the

baa ram ewe shop has found it difficult

to remain profitable in the current

retail environment, with the massive

growth of online shopping.

In her announcement about the

shop closure, Verity states: “We know

our shop is a welcoming, safe space

for knitters and non-knitters to come

together, share, learn and be inspired.

Its role in the community has meant

that for a number of years we have

been steadfast in remaining open,

despite adding to our debts. This in

turn has increased pressure on the

business to be profitable, and I know

there have been times where I have felt

we have had no option but to put our

margins before our mission. I do not

want this to continue.”

While its loyal shop customers will

undoubtedly be disappointed, the

good news is that baa ram ewe will

continue to sell its yarns online, and

you’ll be able to browse its products at

yarn shows. “We attend a whole host

of knitting shows up and down the

country across the year, and we’d love

to see you there,” says Verity. You can

find baa ram ewe’s yarns in more than

300 stockists around the world - use

the online store locator to find your

nearest LYS carrying baa ram ewe

products. The team will be moving to

rural offices on the edge of Wetherby,

but will be continuing their weekly

knit nights just around the corner from

the old shop, at the Opposite Café.

Verity and the team have also begun

the process of converting the business

into a not-for-profit Community

Interest Company. “We will continue

to make and sell our Yorkshire yarns

both to trade and via our ecommerce

store and yarn shows, but in addition

to this we hope to fund more events

and experiences aimed at sharing the

beauty and importance of this region’s

wool heritage,” explains Verity.

Sad though it is to hear that we’ll no

longer be able to visit the baa ram ewe

shop, it’s heartening to consider how

much Verity and her team have

achieved in their mission of sharing

Yorkshire’s wool with the whole

world. “I am proud of the contribution

• however small - baa ram ewe has
  made to promoting the quality and
  beauty of Yorkshire spun yarns, as well
  as the increase in popularity of its
  sheep breeds such as the Wensleydale
  and Masham,” says Verity. “There is
  a real resurgence in knitting at the
  moment, and Yorkshire is right at
  the heart of it!”

http://www.baaramewe.co.uk

1 baa ram ewe attends UK yarn

shows throughout the year

2 + 3 Pip Colourwork comes in

a stunning palette, and is sold in

25g balls 4 The brand’s colours

and photography are inspired

by its Yorkshire surroundings

‘Hourglass

Sweater’ from

The Titus Vintage

Collection

‘Brooklime’ by

Rachel Coopey uses

Pip Colourwork

Titus is a blend

of British fibres

that has become

world-famous

1

2

3

4

Ya rn stori es

The Knitter Issue 143