Maybe it’s just me, but my social media has recently been inundated with crafty content. Knitting, crochet, embroidery, sewing; it’s all been flooding my feed. Among this, I came across the wholesome ‘Day in the Life’ videos of newly opened Edinburgh yarn shop Blue Yarn Studio. Owner Lucy Alexander’s videos consisted of her stocking shelves, receiving shipments, and decorating her gorgeous Morningside shop which is filled to the brim with a myriad of yarn and crafty supplies, not to mention her iconic skinny striped scarves.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Lucy to chat about all things crafty and the process of opening Blue Yarn Studio.
“Opening the shop was always a dream I had,” said Lucy, “but it kind of felt like a far-fetched dream.” This seems to be a sentiment shared by many who longingly think of quitting their office job and owning a quaint shop, whether that be bookshop, café, or in Lucy’s case, a yarn shop. But this pipe dream became a reality for Lucy when she took the leap and left her job, beginning the process of setting up Blue Yarn Studio.
Before the physical shop, Lucy’s journey began with selling knitted striped scarves. It was these scarves that first made their mark on TikTok and established Lucy among the community of online knitters and crocheters. So when she eventually started posting ‘Day in the Life’ content of the preparations to open her shop, there was a dedicated audience excited to see what she did next. Since opening, Lucy said that “almost every second person who comes to the shop says they’ve seen me on social media,” proving just how much this online community has helped to spread the word.
“I’m Gen Z,” she readily admits, “and I know the power of social media. I know what it can do and it is free, which is amazing!” Certainly, social media has been a powerful tool for Lucy in establishing a customer base
While Lucy exuded an air of joyful positivity about her shop, she admitted that it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. As you’d expect from opening a business in Edinburgh, she faced her fair share of leaks and other bumps in the road, but she always managed to put a positive spin on it. “It could have been a lot worse.” While managing to film through these more difficult moments was “one of the hardest parts,” Lucy also said that “it definitely did help posting it online and people supporting it.”
Studies have found that knitting can profoundly benefit your mental health due to its calming and creative nature, not to mention the glowing pride you feel when someone compliments your jumper that you made yourself. Lucy started crocheting in her teens and only started knitting in recent years. “I’ve self-taught myself everything from YouTube” she said, highlighting the accessibility of this hobby and yet another testament to the power of social media in the crafting community.
“Just do it” seems to be Lucy’s motto. Whether it’s in regards to getting into knitting and crochet, or starting up a business, Lucy stressed that the only way to get things done was to just go for it. Establishing a new shop as a young woman can seem like a daunting task, and Lucy admitted that “It felt like saying I wanted to go to the moon.” While such a task may have initially seemed far out of reach, by taking things day by day Lucy has managed to accomplish her dream. “If I can do it, I think anybody can do it.”
My chat with Lucy culminated in a positive reflection on the past, present, and future of her Blue Yarn Studio. “The shop I’ve got is honestly my dream shop,” she said, “everything has turned out exactly how I would’ve wanted it to.” Throughout the highs and lows, Lucy highlighted the incredible support from her family and the community, including those online.
Whether you’re an avid knitter, or you’ve never touched a ball of wool in your life, this is your sign to take the leap and try something new, whether that be a new hobby, or taking the plunge on a new business venture; as Lucy said, if she can do it, so can you.
Image provided by Lucy Alexander.
