Yarn shop owners cockahoop with move from Kent to Leeds

What began as a small haberdashery in rural Kent, Hoop has blossomed into a vibrant fibre shop at the heart of Leeds's creative hub, Sunnybank Mills, in what was a leap of faith for Vanessa Lingwood and husband William...but one that has paid off in "community, creativity and a renewed sense of purpose". Vanessa spoke to the Yorkshire Evening Post's Dennis Morton:

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So, the obvious question: How is it you started in Kent, but now you're running your business right here in Leeds?

"The move north was more than a change of address - it was a leap of faith," said Vanessa. "My journey with yarn began when I set up Hoop Haberdashery in Tenterden, a small town in the heart of Kent."

When was that?

"I started the shop nearly 15 years ago, and I sold predominantly knitting things, but I also sold supplies for embroidery and stitching and general crafting supplies as well."

Sounds like everything was going smoothly, so what changed?

"The arrival of Covid brought big changes. I moved away from the high street, instead running the business from an outbuilding at our rural cottage - and narrowing the focus entirely to yarn."

So, that gave you a sort of 'freedom' to live and work wherever you wanted?