Winter Warmers, Woollens and Weather

Autumn will soon be here in all its glory; golden and auburn leaves spreading a rich canopy over every woodland area, berries of scarlet and black bedecking our hedgerows and forgotten wasteland areas, and squirrels ready to fill their hideaways with nuts for the long winter months ahead. There is something so wholesome and warm about autumn that makes us want to hold onto its beauty and abundance as long as we can. However, the nip in the air starts to increase, morning and evening, and as the days themselves start to get cooler, it signals a time to move on. In times gone by, these were industrious weeks where the last of the harvest was brought in, produce was bottled and preserved and houses were filled with the aroma of bubbling chutney or sweet jams. Prior to the advent of electric freezers, meat was hung, smoked and salted to provide for the family throughout the winter. In many a farmhouse kitchen a hunk of bacon was hung from the eves, the more fat the better, as this sustained the labourers through the biting, snowy winds they faced as they tended their animals. Girls and women would forage the last of the nuts and berries and all would be stored away. A careful inventory of clothes would be taken, to ensure there were hats, coats and woollens enough, and that boots were watertight for another winter.  

In our day and age, with supermarkets and twenty-four-hour internet shopping, we fortunately don’t need to prepare for winter in this way. However, might there be something good for our mental well-being in taking some steps to prepare for the colder, wetter and greyer days? This could involve learning one new skill in preserving food…making blackberry jam or perhaps foraging for sloes and turning them into sloe gin for Christmas presents. Or it might entail buying a couple of scented candles to fill your room with a soft glow and comforting fragrance at the beginning and end of each day. We will all need to check our winter wardrobes and most mothers will know the last-minute angst of searching for missing gloves or lost hats before school on that first really cold day of the year.  

For knitters and crotcheters autumn is a season of preparation as you continue to add to your stock of warm winter woollens, blankets and accessories. If this is your first winter of selling your gorgeous products, you will be thinking about how and when you will sell. Do check out previous posts about admin and marketing as ensuring your business foundations are solid will save you time, energy and possibly money in the future. Late autumn/early winter is a good time to consider selling face-to-face as there will be an increase in markets and fairs leading up to Christmas. As well as checking your stock, gathering table decor and enlisting any help you may require, you will also need to look at craft show insurance. Craft show insurance mainly comprises public and product liability insurance and most market and fair organisers will ask that you have the correct insurance in place. If this is your first time dipping your toe into this arena, craft show insurance can sound confusing. However, as a family firm who have worked within crafting insurance for several decades, we really can give you the benefit of our experience and ensure you obtain the insurance you need at a competitive cost. As a small family firm we deal directly with our customers so pick up the phone or drop us a line and either Naomi or Sam will be here to talk you through the craft show insurance you need for your unique business. 

Knitting or crocheting has many advantages for the small craft business owner. Start-up costs are low, you do not require any special workspace (though a rocking chair and set of drawers to keep yarn, needles, hooks and buttons would be good), and it is portable, allowing you to create stock around your daily life. Building up a wonderful array of products may well come fairly naturally, but how and where to sell might be a new experience and outside of your comfort zone. You could begin by taking a look online and seeing how others market their products. If this is your first winter selling, take a look too at what fairs are happening locally in the lead-up to Christmas, decide which would best suit your product range and take the plunge by booking yourself a table!  

For example, if you have a collection of gorgeous baby woollies, you could consider a school Christmas fair or maybe a local antenatal or nursery fundraiser. Baby and children’s jumpers, cardigans and accessories will sell at a lower price bracket than adult products, so they could be a good and encouraging way to start.  

If you sell online, remember to add your environmental credentials to your website. You might want to champion British wool, its durability, warmth and comfort as well as the support each real wool garment provides to British sheep farmers. Make sure your customers know what sheep the wool you use comes from and it’s particular benefits. For example, Aran wool has been used to make jumpers for Scottish fishermen for generations and is known for its durability and warmth. Lambs wool, while more expensive, is super soft. Remind your potential buyers that sheep have been grazing our hills and vales for thousands of years and in the face of a throw-away society, offering garments and blankets made from real wool, while they will be more expensive initially, will be more durable and much warmer than their synthetic counterparts. They are a fantastic investment; maybe your gorgeous garments will be a part of a real wool revival.  

So, as the days become cooler, top up your mug of tea and continue to prepare for winter sales of warm woollens, snuggly blankets and cute hats and mittens. Your creations will not only keep their owners warm during the colder weather but will also bring many a smile on an otherwise grey day.