A boutique wool shop with old-fashioned values has opened in a historic former woollen mill in Farsley.
Ewe Neek owners Laila Ansbergs and Lisa Barnes wanted to create a different and luxurious shopping experience where visitors can enjoy browsing all the wool, yarns and pattern books in the inspirational setting of The Mending Rooms at Sunny Bank Mills.
“In this increasingly virtual world, we wanted to return to the traditional values of the past, with a real shop with the personal touch, where people can see and feel the products, experience the colours and textures first-hand, feel inspired to craft, take part in classes and be able to ask for advice, as well as getting what they want straight away” said Laila.
The best friends have been running Leeds-based UK crafting company Lili of the Valley for the last 18 years, which is now online only.
But with the resurgence of knitting, crochet and soft crafts during lockdown, it was the ideal opportunity to return to having a shop in Farsley. Lisa said:
“It’s a perfect location as Sunny bank Mills is a former 19th century woollen mill which is fast becoming a creative hub, so it felt serendipitous to open Ewe Neek here.
“We’re hoping to buck the trend of many recent shop closures and it’s been great that even though it’s winter and the world isn’t quite back to normal yet, we have had many visitors keen to get out in the world again.”
Ewe Neek stocks all kinds of wool and yarn, including British Wool, spun in Yorkshire by West Yorkshire Spinners, as well as other Yorkshire-based companies such as Rowan, Sirdar, Cygnet and James C Brett, plus other renowned brands known for beautiful cottons and hand-dyed merino wool.
Ewe Neek, which has a Facebook page here, is open daily from 10.30am–1.30pm.