Inspiring Yarns

Meet the business:

Inspiring Yarns is so much more than a wonderful shop selling hand-dyed yarns, embroidery supplies, craft kits, looms and spinning wheels. The company ethos is to reduce social isolation and improve mental health and well-being through group knitting and crochet projects.

The social enterprise started in February 2021 when Claire noticed the impact of isolation during the lockdowns. She believed knitting with friends could have a huge impact on the lives of people in Northern Ireland. The three directors moved into Ards Business Hub in November 2021 and held their first course in the new shop.

“Arts can bring people together and the simple activity of knitting or crocheting with others while you chat can decrease social isolation and improve mental health. The social enterprise has grown more quickly than any of us could have imagined and we are now running courses right across Northern Ireland,” Claire said.

What they say about Ards Business Hub:

Inspiring Yarns – which employs five people – has just taken a second unit in Strangford Park. In one unit, they have their shop and run workshops while the second unit allows for storage and a work space trying new techniques in fibre production for spinning and weaving. It will also be home to a new, innovative digitally automated knitting machine – possibly the first in Northern Ireland.

“Ards has a great history in the textile industry so we were really keen to be based in this area. In fact, many of our clients used to work in the large factories here so it gives us a chance to hear their stories and to preserve these craft skills. We really like the spirit of Ards Business Hub; it’s very friendly and we’ve got to know the other tenants near us. The free parking appeals to our customers and we’ve recently received a grant to install a disabled toilet into our unit.”

What we say:

Nichola Lockhart, Chief Executive of Ards Business Hub, said: “Ards Business Hub is also a social enterprise so are delighted that Inspiring Yarns chose to locate in Strangford Park. They reinvest all their profits from sales in the shop back into the work they are doing in the community.”

Find out more about Inspiring Yarns at: https://inspiringyarns.co.uk/