Retail Profile

Retail Profile: Castle Handmade

Can you please tell us a bit about your business?

Castle Handmade is a small boutique yarn store devoted to the timeless cra of crochet. I o er crochet classes, a place to collaborate and learn, as well as a wide range of quality crochet supplies including yarns, hooks, patterns, kits and more. Located in the small village of Wingello in the Southern Highlands of NSW.

How did you come to open a yarn store?

I began teaching crochet classes at a local community college and saw a need for quality supplies and wool/yarn. I opened my online store first. Then a er moving to the Southern Highlands I began running 4-5 classes per week from my home studio and slowly it evolved into a full store.

What are the fun parts of your job?

I have lots of fun working with large range of fibres and creating patterns and workshops that help customers learn new skills and use the yarns to the highest potential. I have some new patterns that are coming out in December that use paper yarn (ra ia).

What are some of the benefits of running a local yarn store in regional NSW?

There is a real sense of community here and I have some very loyal encouraging customers. I meet some amazing people from all walks of life and being surrounded by such cra y like-minded people is brilliant.

Tell us a bit about yourself. Do you knit or crochet or both? Who taught you?

I crochet only. My mum had originally shown me how to crochet a granny square when I was about seven-yearsold. I made about four squares and didn't touch the cra again. 20 years later and pregnant with my first child, mum arrived with a bag containing those four squares and suggested I finish the blanket for my son. She couldn't remember how to crochet so I taught myself and haven't stopped crocheting since.

Do you still enjoy knitting / crocheting even though you work around it all day?

Absolutely I still love crochet. I savour the moments of time that I get to sit down and relax and work on my own projects.

What’s your favourite yarn right now?

Cottons and linens are my favourites right now. I am totally smitten by Erica Knight’s Gossypium Cotton. I stock the full range of colours in my store and love working with it. Also BC Garns' Lino is so luxurious. It's 100% linen and is great for light summer projects.

What project are you currently working on?

An ongoing project that I have been slowly working on this year is a crochet blanket made using the technique of Mosaic Crochet. My son turned 10 this year, and my skills have progressed since that first granny square blanket I made him, so this one will be for him. Something I hope he will treasure and use well into his adult years.

Any other comments/suggestions?

Crochet has come such a long way in recent years. While traditional granny squares are lovely and are o en the place many people start this cra , please don't stop there. Delve a little further and discover all the wonderful stitches and techniques that are out there. I encourage my customers to try new stitches, ones that are textured or lacy, learn techniques like broomstick crochet and discover crochet colourwork such as tapestry crochet. Crochet is more than just granny squares, it truly is an art of its own.

Name: Elizabeth Castle Business: Castle Handmade Web: www.castlehandmade.com.au Instagram Handle: @castlehandmade Location: Wingello, NSW (Southern Highlands) Phone Number: 0416307408 Email: info@castlehandmade.com.au