About Us

Inspiring Yarns

We are a Social Enterprise, this means we operate like any other business but any profits we make in shop sales or running events go towards supporting a social purpose.

Our social purpose is to:

  • Improve mental health and wellbeing.
  • Reduce social isolation.
  • Promote and maintain heritage yarn and textile-based skills.
  • Promote, develop and support training and employment opportunities in yarn and textile disciplines.

     

    The Team

    Day to day we are a team of four...Claire, Janice, Åsa and Aimée.  You can read more about us as individuals and our roles in Inspiring Yarns here.

    Together we manage the shop, hold workshops and our Yarn Together social groups, attend events and run our retreats.  We have just released our own hand dyed yarn range and we are developing our own textile products.  It's busy, but we all love what we do and wouldn't have it any other way!

     

    Hand Dyed Yarn & Fibres

    We have recently set up our own dye studio and will be increasing our range of hand dyed yarns and spinning fibres over the coming months.  Janice and Claire used to run their own hand dyed yarn business as Giddy Aunt Yarns so if you are familiar with their yarns you will know to expect a full range of colourways from subtle neutrals to dark and moody jewel tones all on luxurious, ethically sourced yarns.  Åsa and Aimée are currently learning the ropes and developing their own dyeing styles and we can't wait to see what they come up with!

     

    Sewcially Responsible Project Bags

    Coming to the website soon!!  Our Sewcially Responsible project bags are made from fabric sourced from a local upholstery fabric business, these off cuts and test prints would have been destined for landfill until we rescued them!.  Åsa has designed a couple of sizes of project bags and as the fabrics we are using are often smaller pieces each bag is unique.  We have been selling these in our shop and at local events where they have been really popular so we are excited to share them with you soon!  

     

    Shop Stock

    We are building up our range of yarn brands and will continue to add these to the online shop as we go.  As with our own hand dyed range the yarns we stock are sourced with the same consideration to ethical practices and always mulesing free fibres.   

    We will also be adding a range of other textile craft tools, materials and kits.  The kits will be ones we have all enjoyed using ourselves and from other small businesses where possible.

     

    Retreats

    We currently run four retreats each year, two at Lusty Beg Island Resort and two at The Causeway Hotel at the Giant's Causeway.

    The focus is on relaxing and taking time to enjoy your favourite textile crafts while getting to know new people, enjoying delicious food and taking in the beauty of the natural surroundings.  Full details and current dates are available here.