Hospital crochet project grows into thriving Warminster business

A crochet project which began during a hospital stay has grown into a thriving Warminster business attracting customers from both the local community and across the UK.

Yarn for the Soul, in East Street, was founded by Katie Mairis after she discovered the positive effect that knitting and crochet had on her own life and on bringing people together.

The idea for the business came in 2016, when Katie faced major surgery and a lengthy stay in hospital. She crocheted a shawl while she was recovering and soon noticed its effect on other patients.

“Other people on the ward got out of bed and came to see my progress every day (some of these people hadn’t been out of bed for days) and we all chatted,” she said.

“The doctors and nurses came to check in on what I was making too and commented that it was great to see other people walking over and bonding over my work.

“And that was when Yarn for the Soul was born.”

That experience inspired Katie to create craft projects in boxes for people in hospital or recovering at home. The carefully selected parcels included yarn, a project and other treats and were sent to customers across the UK and overseas as gifts, as a project to overcome mental health problems, and a way of helping people through difficult times.

As the business developed, Katie began dyeing her own yarn and Yarn for the Soul eventually outgrew its original home-based operation.

She moved first to premises in Silver Street before relocating to the current shop at 6 East Street, where she has been able to develop another important part of the business.

Katie said, “I knew that I wanted to build more of a community space because there wasn’t the room to hold classes or run groups.

“I didn’t want this shop to simply be somewhere to come and buy from – it needed to be a space where people felt they belonged and had the space to be inspired.”

The shop now runs regular Knit and Natter groups on Mondays and Thursdays, as well as an evening group on the last Friday of each month.

Katie said the community which has developed around the shop was central to what Yarn for the Soul was about.

“The fact that my groups have brought together people of different ages, from different backgrounds, with different abilities and experiences – all with a common passion – is incredibly humbling,” she said.

“If you can excuse the pun, we are a very tight-knit bunch!

“We support each other through life’s ups and downs and show so much respect when one person might need to use the group to open up about something that has happened.”

Alongside the groups, Katie offers individual lessons for people ranging from complete beginners to experienced crafters looking to develop their skills. She said many people were surprised by how quickly they could progress with the right support.

“The joy I see in their faces makes my job so absolutely wonderful,” she said.

“From someone who can’t find the right way to hold the yarn on the first lesson to coming back with a sweater in just over three months is nothing short of incredible.”

Yarn for the Soul specialises in natural fibres, including merino, cashmere, cotton, linen, bamboo, silk and mohair, as part of Katie’s commitment to sustainable crafting. The shop also stocks knitting needles, crochet hooks, stitch markers, leather pouches and other accessories.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand the programme of workshops and events, introduce more people to knitting and crochet and continue developing the community around the Warminster shop.

“Community is the most important thing for me,” she said. “Moving forward I would like to run more workshops and put on more events to showcase different yarns.

“I would like to teach more people to knit and crochet and, of course, to welcome more people into the shop.”

For more information, visit https://yarnforthesoul.co.uk/ or call 01985 219737