Ethel & Em

10/10/2026

We stand with Stitches Bowness on this. We have been offered a lot of HP merch over the years and refused to be a stockist every time.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Alt text is available.

Special thanks to Ethel and Em for always encouraging me to be visible and stay true to myself

And special shout out to Mermaids and Q***r Cumbria , thank you for all that you do

02/10/2026

Thrilled to be in such good company with passion led businesses. 🤩

02/10/2026

Okie dokie! If you follow us - you know that social media is not our strong point… and when we do post… we have a lot to say… so in short:
1. It’s the last day of tomorrow and there are still spot prizes to be won. was a success on Wednesday in person and Thursday online. Come say hi! 👋🏽
2. & 3. On Saturday Mel and Em are hosting the first Learn to Crochet session at 10am
4. In the afternoon, at 1 there is a Learn Mosaic Crochet session with (WARNING: This technique is addictive)
5. & 6. We have the gorgeous in store to launch her Gala Scarf pattern. She will have two samples with here. This beauty is knit in just one skein of Arroyo
7. & 8. The crochet version is NOT FOR SALE… but you can come and make your own Glow in the Dark - in store only!
9. On Sunday we are launching our first autumn KAL the by more info on the Ethel & Em Knit Knot n Natter page

You can book workshops online or in store. All other events are pop on in. We hope to see you over the weekend! 🤩

And a super big shout out to the fabulous Mitch from for our SECOND crochet DIY Kaweco pen. And yes… this one really glows 🤩

26/09/2026

So pleased to see our own Ben Angus being recognised in this year's BID awards! He has become such a big part of the business and integral part of our community these past 2.5 years. We will give him a dedicated post tomorrow - but you can check out the other fab local businesses shortlisted for their excellence at this year's Love Lancaster BID Awards!

12/09/2026

Our lovely friend Susan Crawford Vintage is featured in the current issue of The Knitter! She has still got space on her December retreat! Check it out! 🥰

Susan Crawford takes us behind the scenes at her knitting retreats in Issue 232, with a fascinating article looking at the special get-togethers she hosts in the Lake District.

Susan and her daughter Charlie hold their retreats in a 17th century cottage in Grasmere, and their guests enjoy workshops, specially designed knitting kits, home-cooked food and a wonderful atmosphere. If you’re tempted to sign up to a retreat in 2027, you’ll find our article very inspiring!

Buy a PDF edition of the mag from our online shop:
https://gatheredshop.com/collections/the-knitter-magazine

Order a print copy:
https://www.ourmediashop.com/the-knitter-magazine

Have a question about the patterns in the mag? Email [email protected]

10/09/2026

We have been so busy getting ready for we’ve only just started getting the press release out and shouting about our latest piece of exciting news…

We are pleased to announce that we will be standing alongside 99 other amazing small businesses in Britain in the Nation’s Favourite Businesses campaign this year. The campaign celebrates small businesses and their wider contributions to their local communities.

This year we were shortlisted for Bricks & Clicks Award, we’ve been covered in and - our Em’s Granny Square was featured on the virtual granny square blanket on

18 months ago we were in the process of closing the physics premises of and we were hugely concerned about the future of the business. We stepped back, took stock, and realigned. Mel has been leveraging the webinars and learning opportunities offered by (and she is about to start study for an MBA to learn how to “bidness better”).

The team are still focussed on serving customers near and far, helping folks with their projects, or just lending an ear, while getting analog back online and preparing to launch

Lancaster is a city of small businesses and we celebrate them every day. will soon have an online directory to help with discovery. is also a great resource for the area. is a county wide resource for independent excellence.

Sometimes it feels a bit hard to share good news, especially when the world around us is a bit challenging at times. But, sometimes, a bit of good news is exactly what we need!

Thanks for taking the time to read another TL;DR post 🤭

23/08/2026

Hello Lovelies 👋🏽

I know a lot of you books from us (and we will be making them much easier to find online this autumn). But people also get books on Amazon and other online sources… ya need to be careful. This video is very helpful.

We source our books from Craft Book suppliers, and established authors.

The same watch out comes when buying individual patterns and ebooks online. We only use Ravelry or designers that we know’s own sites. We know some folks use Etsy. With Ravelry and Etsy, if you’re buying from a designer who is new to you - READ THE REVIEWS/COMMENTS. If there are none, you may be taking a gamble.

We know that AI can provide useful support in a number of ways, and it will be used in moderation. But irresponsible use and slop content that is inaccurate and misleading is a huge concern. This is a bit of a PSA so comments will be off. But this is a great video from Patty Lyons Knitting

15/08/2026

Well Simply Crochet it’s our last team member contribution of the day to

Our Ben has channeled his inner (and outer) gay goth vibes in this black and rainbow stripy treble square. He used Ricorumi dk and some of our remaining Scheepjes Catona Chroma.

Ben also did a bonus “square,” a coloured to show his (and our) solidarity with our trans brothers and sisters. This was made using Rico Design Ricorumi dk

This year we are seeing some amazing squares on the Simply Crochet feed and stories. We are so glad to take part in

crochet is so versatile and a great gateway to crochet. Happy everyone 🫶🏽🧶🤩

15/08/2026

Hello world 👋🏽

The second contribution from Ethel & Em for is from “ever so extra” Mel.

This sparkling, fluffy square uses Louisa Harding Amitola for a touch of luxury, Jeni Hewlett Cumulus for fab fluff, and Filcolana Paia for disco style shimmer throughout 🤩

Simply Crochet

15/08/2026

Simply Crochet this is our first offering of the day. This was created by our Em for

Crocheted in Luca-S Yarns this square is as magical and musical as our Em. Love this bright spark! (The square and our newest team member!)