Parasols, 40K, and Why ALDI Can Do One

First Things First — I Went on Holiday

Right. I've been away. Two whole weeks in Fuerteventura — all inclusive, sun loungers, the works. And before you ask: yes, I took crochet with me. Obviously.

I've been working on a parasol from a pattern by ByTheBeachCrochet, using yarn from Crochet UK. It felt very on-theme to be crocheting a parasol whilst sitting under one. I'm still working on it now, back home, in considerably less sunshine. The parasol is not yet providing shade. Progress is being made.

The Holiday Itself

We stayed at a resort close to Caleta de Fuste, ate our body weight in buffet food, and the boys went swimming and snorkelling. We did a catamaran trip which was brilliant. We also did a boat trip to Lanzarote which was... less brilliant. Choppy doesn't quite cover it. I will say no more.

Back to Reality (After Three Hours Sleep)

We got back, I had three hours sleep, and then I was straight into the shop. Running groups. Serving customers. Smiling through it. This is the life I have chosen.

Visitors, Cake, and Inspiration

Fiona and Becca from Crafty Bee Yarn Shop in Dereham, Norfolk came to visit us, which was an absolute treat. They brought cake. Proper cake. They are welcome back any time, with or without baked goods (but preferably with).

If you don't already know them, give them a follow on Facebook — they're a brilliant independent yarn shop and very much our kind of people. Find Crafty Bee Yarn Shop on Facebook here.

Nikki brought in the most incredible stash-busting granny square blanket. The kind that makes you want to immediately dig out every odd ball you own and get going. Truly inspiring stuff.

 

New In — Dream Cloud Chunky by Stylecraft

We've just launched a brand new yarn line: Dream Cloud Chunky by Stylecraft. It is exactly as dreamy as it sounds. David will be getting it up on the website very soon, so keep an eye out.

Coming Soon — The Autumn Make Along

I'm also getting ready for the new Make Along with Stylecraft — an autumn blanket by MadebyAnita. Cosy season is coming, and I am ready. More details to follow shortly.

The yarn for the make along is available right here in the shop — just pop in and pick it up. The pattern will be available in the Stylecraft Make Along Facebook Group as part of the make along, so all you need to do is grab your yarn and join the fun!

40,000 Followers — How Did That Happen?!

Whilst I was away, something rather wonderful happened. Over The Hook hit 40,000 followers on Facebook. Forty thousand. I had to read it twice.

It got me thinking about how it all started. When we first opened the shop, it was one of our foster boys who suggested we get on Facebook. Not a marketing consultant, not a business advisor — a teenager who looked at what we were doing and said, essentially, "you should put that online." So we did. And here we are.

In the early days, it was just us posting about yarn, sharing what had come in, showing what we were making. Nothing fancy. No strategy. Just genuine love for the craft and a hope that a few people might find it interesting. A few people did. Then a few more. Then somehow, without us really noticing, it became a community.

And that's the thing — it was never really about the numbers. It was about the people. Customers who became regulars, regulars who became friends. Family and friends who shared our posts in those early days when every like felt like a victory. People who've cheered us on through the hard bits and celebrated the good ones.

Running a small independent yarn shop is not always glamorous. There are early mornings, late nights, spreadsheets, and the occasional existential crisis over whether to order more DK or go big on chunky. But then something like this happens and you remember why you started.

So thank you. Genuinely. To every single one of you who has followed, liked, shared, commented, or just quietly scrolled through our posts at 11pm when you should have been asleep. You are the reason Over The Hook exists, and we are so glad you're here. 🧶❤️

My Big Confession — The ALDI Yarn Event

Right. Deep breath. It's that time of year again.

For those who don't know, ALDI — the budget supermarket — periodically runs a yarn event. Cheap yarn, middle aisle, gone in 48 hours. And every single time, independent yarn shops across the country collectively sigh into their tea.

It's not just the lost sales, though yes, that stings. It's what comes after. For weeks following the ALDI yarn event, we get customers coming in with mystery balls of acrylic asking if we can colour match it. Asking if we can order them another ball. Sometimes — and this is the one that really gets me — telling us they bought it from us.

Reader, they did not buy it from us.

We love our customers dearly. We really do. But there is a special kind of helplessness that comes with holding a ball of yarn that has no dye lot, no brand, no hope, and being asked to find its twin.

So here it is, my official confession: ALDI yarn event — no thank you. Support your independent yarn shops. We have cake (sometimes). We know what we're talking about. And we will never, ever sell you something we can't help you finish. 🧶