Confessions of a Yarn Shop Owner

If Madonna can bare her soul on a dancefloor, I can bare mine behind a yarn counter. As a lifelong Madonna fan — yes, a bloke who knows every word to Like a Prayer and is absolutely buzzing for Confessions II — I've always loved the idea of a good confession. So here's mine: running Over The Hook is the best and most chaotic thing I've ever done, and I wouldn't swap it for anything. Some days I want to pull my hair out - most days! I know Helen thinks I spend all day sat on my arse with a hook in my hand but I don't.

Knit & Natter: My Favourite Part of the Week

Every week, our Knit & Natter groups meets up, and honestly? It's the highlight. There's something genuinely special about a room full of people — all ages, all skill levels — clicking away with their needles and putting the world to rights. We've had some brilliant conversations, a lot of laughs, and more than a few "oops, I dropped a stitch" moments. If you haven't joined us yet, you really should. It's free, it's friendly, and the chat is always good.

And then there's the Friday night session. Honestly? Absolutely wild. It starts off civilised enough — needles out, projects on the go — but give it an hour and someone's opened the gin, someone else has poured the wine, and the whole thing descends into the most joyful, chaotic, brilliant evening you can imagine. Stitches get dropped, stories get told, and the laughter gets louder. Walking home afterwards, I genuinely feel like I could take on the world. It's that feeling Madonna nails on I Feel So Free from Confessions II — that pure, unfiltered joy of just being yourself with your people. Friday nights at Knit & Natter are exactly that.

What I Got Up to on My Day Off

I actually took a day off yesterday— which, if you run your own shop, you'll know is a minor miracle. I won't pretend I didn't check my emails at least twice, but I did manage to do some actual living. A bit of crafting for myself (revolutionary), a long walk, and — naturally — a Madonna playlist on full volume. Sometimes you need to remember why you love what you do, and a day away from the shop usually does the trick.

Myself and David with the boys - as you may know I foster three boys, headed to Great Yarmouth to see our friend Emma from Crafts with Heart we went to a beautiful café in the heart of the waterways for a coffee and a little treat.

It was breezy, it was peaceful, and it was exactly the kind of moment that tricks you into thinking you're living your best slow‑living coastal‑crafting dream… right up until the moment a seagull landed on the table next to us and ate a cinnamon Danish in one bite.

I also managed to steal five whole minutes — an absolute luxury — to work on the border of my current project: Rosina Plane's Flora's Fauna blanket. If you haven't seen this pattern yet, it is absolutely gorgeous. Head over to the news blog for more information on it. Five minutes wasn't nearly enough, but honestly, five minutes of crochet on a day off feels like a small act of rebellion. I'll take it.

Big News: We've Been Sponsored by Stylecraft Yarns!

I've been sitting on this one for a little while and I am so excited to finally share it — Over The Hook  Yarn Retreat has been sponsored by Stylecraft Yarns! If you know your yarn brands, you'll know exactly how huge this is. Stylecraft are one of the most loved names in the UK craft world, and the fact that they want to partner with us means the absolute world.

This sponsorship is going to make some brilliant things possible — including the yarn retreat at Park Hill Hotel I've been planning. Think a proper crafting getaway — workshops, yarn shopping, good food, great company, and plenty of time to work on your WIPs in a beautiful setting, with Stylecraft yarn at the heart of it all. Spaces will go quickly once we open bookings, so keep your eyes peeled.

If you'd like to be the first to hear when details are confirmed, make sure you're signed up to our Website or drop me a message. This one is going to be very special indeed.

The Confession

Running this shop is hard work, but it's also full of moments that make me genuinely happy — a customer sharing a finished project, a new crafter finding their confidence at Knit & Natter, or just the quiet satisfaction of a well-organised yarn wall. Like a certain pop icon once said: express yourself. That's what Over The Hook is all about.

And speaking of confessions — here's a proper one. I spent Sunday evening sat at my laptop, completely unable to relax, waiting for the Bellica Yarns Confessions collection of hand-dyed yarns to drop at 8pm. Not watching telly. Not having a quiet night. Refreshing a webpage like a man with absolutely no chill whatsoever. Laura did not disappoint — the collection was stunning — and I may have also added some Madonna-inspired stitch markers from Yarnistry (also part of the collection) to my basket without a second thought. The order was placed. I regret nothing. The yarn shop owner bought more yarn. Classic.

More updates soon — and yes, I will absolutely be playing Confessions II loudly from my car!