The Craft Cabin

04/04/2025

☀️☀️It must be summer as the sun has been out for a while now! ☀️☀️

So I’ve put the cotton yarns out on display for you to plan out your purchases for summer projects.

I’ve got the new Stylecraft Soft Pastels Aran in and all the new shades of Sirdar Stories.

While you’re here , get your Love Your Yarn Shop card stamped. That’s a quarter of the stamps needed for a full card 🎉

01/04/2025

You are now able to drive through Pontypool. It’s been a long, hard 7 weeks for all traders in the town while this has been going on.

I’m looking forward to welcoming my customers who have not been able to access town when travelling by public transport during this time.

The weathers warming up, why not come and have a browse around town and a nice wander through the park.

Hanbury Road in Pontypool Town Centre will reopen at 4pm today - nearly a week early.

Bus services are due to return from today and schools will be informed. But people are advised to check before they travel.

Hanbury Road toilets have also reopened.

The road was closed to enable work to divert a sewer and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

30/03/2025

💐💐💐HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY 💐💐💐

I hope you have a restful and revitalising day.
I’ve had flowers and chocolates and an hours peace and quiet.
Plus all my girls around for a roast dinner later. Just perfect.

I finished my flowerpot doorstop yesterday. It’s in the shop window making it look pretty.
They are available to order starting at £20.

29/03/2025

I’ve finally managed to get my hands on some of this new Stylecraft Soft Pastels Aran yarn.
The colours are just beautiful. You really need to see them in real life. I’m here until 3 today.
There is a very good selection of pattern for both knitting and crochet.

Today is also the launch by the UK Handknitting Association of Live Your Yarn Shop. Come and get your card, no purchase necessary. Once completed, hand it back to me and it’ll be entered into a prize draw.

28/03/2025

Do you need a last minute gift for Mother’s Day for that special female in your life?

I can do a knitting or crochet yarn bouquet to your request.
Gift certificates are available if you just can’t decide 😁

27/03/2025

STARTS SATURDAY 29th MARCH

Do you love your local yarn shop? Of course you do, and this spring UK Hand Knitting is asking crafters across the country to show their favourite store that love with a new event.

The Love Your Yarn Shop campaign runs from 29th March till 31st May at nearly 400 shops nationwide. It couldn’t be easier to take part. Simply pick up a card at your local shop and get a box filled out each time you visit. When you have collected four stamps, leave your card with the shop and you will be entered into a prize draw to win one of 50 prizes worth £40 each. There are also eight instant win prizes up for grabs worth £25.

To find out if your shop is taking part, visit the UK Hand Knitting website.

No purchase necessary, terms and conditions available on the website.

26/03/2025

Thinking about your summer wardrobe now the weather is turning nicer?
Then look no further than Sirdar Stories cotton and acrylic mix yarn and the accompanying patterns. I’ve all ten new shades in stock plus most of the originals. There’s loads of patterns for this yarn from accessories to full outfits. Also shades to suit everyone.

24/03/2025

Such a great guy

17/03/2025

The shop will be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. It’ll be manned by the lovely Linda for Craft & Chat and any goodies you’d like to buy on Thursday. Plus Saturday from 10am to 3pm.

I’m off on a city break to celebrate my birthday.

17/03/2025

I’m participating in this event. Come and support your local yarn shop!

Get ready to love your yarn shop.

Our Love Your Yarn Shop event starts in under two weeks. You can collect cards from participating shops or in Simply Knitting, Simply Crochet, Knit Now and Crochet Now magazines.

Visit our blog for details on collecting loyalty stamps and entering the prize draw. https://ukhandknitting.wordpress.com/2025/03/17/time-to-love-your-yarn-shop/

12/03/2025

‼️NEW YARN ALERT ‼️

You may have heard of Sirdar Jewelspun Aran and it’s chunky counterpart but this Ombré version of the Aran is on another level.
The shades are just dreamy and the patterns are varied (can’t fit them all in this post).
It comes in whopping 400g balls and sells at £23 You need to come and see them to realise how big they are. All shades are in stock, if you want it you’d best hurry as I’ve been told by my rep that some shades are already out of stock as it’s been very popular.

08/03/2025

Loads to see and do today. I’ve got a table with some readymade items on at the top of the middle aisle of the market.

01/03/2025

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Happy St David’s Day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Craft and chat is in the Hyb at the top of the market.

There’s hot drinks and food available from Warrens next door.

Plus plenty of other stalls to shop at including Dax for all your self care needs including bath bombs, wax melts and air fresheners, Nala’s Delights to keep your pets happy, Donate to Create which is a wonderful treasure box to explore, T-Lighted for gifts or treating yourself to their wonderful hand burned wooden items, Real Quirky Workshop which has amazing upcycled items plus gifts and lovely food supplied by small businesses. There’s also the carpet man, the market jewellers for repairs and watch batteries among other things, Milsies clothing and accessories, Ravens Reiki and wellbeing where you can book a massage or healing as well as purchase products to support Guide Dogs for the Blind and second hand books, Abi’s creation station which makes personalised items, O’Connell’s bakery for fabulous cakes including freshly baked Welsh Cakes today, Individualilty who are suppliers of baby wear and accessories, Food 4 u to go (closed Saturdays but open all week) supplying food and drinks, Jon’s sweet shop has an amazing variety, Jon’s bargains where you can buy pre owned DVDs and computer games along with lots of other things, For The Record is somewhere you could spend a lot of time if you’re into music, Snip’n’stitch do clothing repairs, the Rainbow Mamasaurus for unique grow with me handmade clothing for children.
I think I’ve remembered all the stalls.
I bet you didn’t realise there’s so much in the market.

27/02/2025

I recently finished this as a display item for the shop.

The size I made calls for 3 balls of Sirdar Jewelspun Aran. It’s £12.35 for a 200g ball which makes it expensive for a top.

However I decided not to add the extra length at the back as on the pattern and only used 2 balls with a teeny amount left making it a reasonable cost. If you can make granny squares this is an ideal pattern for you.
There’s currently 15 shades of this in stock.

Pop in the shop, I’m here until 7 tonight, or drop me a message if you’re interested.

20/02/2025

This video makes a really valid point that I try and point out to my customers.
Remember to look at the meterage on the ball band. Not all 100g balls are the same.

20/02/2025

Look who’s come to visit!

She’s busy looking after the sock yarn in the window.

I’ve got a small amount of the perfect yarn for your Saint David’s day project that’s on offer at the moment. See second photo.

18/02/2025

I’ve made one of these scarves. Time to make another, maybe!

Which Stylecraft yarn would you choose?

🌟🌟Today is Make Along Cast on Day!!! 🥳 Who’s joining us??🌟🌟

Here’s the info for in case you missed it…

I'm sure a lot of you will have heard of the Sophie Scarf which has taken the internet (and needles) by storm! This simple and sleek project shouldn't take us too long to cast on and finish together, and, the best thing about it... it’s perfect for stash busting as it only takes a small amount of DK yarn, approx. 20-40g depending on the size you wish to make. There is a small and large version available on the pattern.

We aim to cast on next week, Tuesday 18th Feb, 2025.

This pattern is designed by Petite Knits and can be purchased from here - https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sophie-scarf-2

or here - https://www.petiteknit.com/collections/sophie/products/sophie-scarf

READY, SET, GO! 😃