Focus on... ETHEL & EM
The Knitter|Issue 177
This welcoming shop in the heart of Lancaster is filled with colourful artisan yarns and knitting inspiration
HELEN SPEDDING
Focus on... ETHEL & EM

FOR THE knitters of Lancaster and beyond, the yarn store Ethel & Em is a must-visit destination for beautiful yarns, inspirational books, essential tools, and a community of like-minded crafters. It's run by Melanie McKay and her friendly team, whose business is going from strength to strength. We chatted with Melanie about the story of Ethel & Em.

How did you come to run a yarn store?

"Goodness knows how this happened. Despite learning to knit as a child in New York City, I was never more than a knitter of rectangles (scarves) for more than three decades. In my early 40s, after a decades-long career in e-commerce for retailers across the UK, I had a bit of a mid-life crisis and thought that opening a wool shoppe was a great idea. And here I am now!

"There are not a lot of BIPOC yarn shop owners in the US where I am from, nor the UK where I live, so it felt a bit weird opening a shop when I did - not necessarily bad weird, but still weird - as a lot of very difficult conversations around race in the knittisphere were being had then.

"Even though it had opened after I had relocated to the UK, I was really lucky to have the super diverse, Chinese-owned Knitty City on the upper west side of Manhattan as my LYS when I visited. KC's founder, Pearl Chin, was welcoming and kindly took me for a coffee and a encouraging chat on my last visit there pre-pandemic, and she was a real role model for creating a truly inclusive environment for fibre crafters."

What can visitors expect when they pop into your shop?

Denne historien er fra Issue 177-utgaven av The Knitter.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 177-utgaven av The Knitter.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA THE KNITTERSe alt
Yarn choice
The Knitter

Yarn choice

Create gorgeous knits for your winter wardrobe with our pick of six colourful wool, alpaca and silk blends

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 182
Great reads
The Knitter

Great reads

KNITTED GIFTS FOR ALL SEASONS | Create charming gifts for friends and family with this collection of accessories, garments and homewares

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 182
The setting of fleece
The Knitter

The setting of fleece

Graeme Bethune explains how the health of his sheep at this time of year is critical for the growth of good wool

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 182
From sheep to sweater
The Knitter

From sheep to sweater

Shepherd and designer Katie Allen produces beautiful knitwear using wool from her own flock, as Janine Sterland discovers

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 182
Soldian Scarf
The Knitter

Soldian Scarf

This classic textured scarf is knitted using undyed shades of organic Shetland wool

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 182
CAROLINE BIRKETT Hollyhock
The Knitter

CAROLINE BIRKETT Hollyhock

This soft cotton top has a pretty floral colourwork pattern around its yoke

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 180
Meet Chloé Elizabeth Birch
The Knitter

Meet Chloé Elizabeth Birch

This talented designer loves to play with stitches and shapes to create fresh, contemporary knitwear

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 180
ON WITH THE SHOW!
The Knitter

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Caroline Bawn offers her top tips on getting the most out of your visit to one of the autumn yarn festivals

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 180
Focus on...INSPIRING YARNS
The Knitter

Focus on...INSPIRING YARNS

Claire Anketell tells Penny Batchelor how the social enterprise business Inspiring Yarns uses yarn skills to promote mental health and well-being

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 180
Great reads
The Knitter

Great reads

Explore the endless possibilities of lace knitting with this fabulous collection of shawls, accessories and garments

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 180