Knit, natter...and tuck in

We’ve heard of yarn shops tempting knitters in through their doors by setting up knitting clubs, but a café which has arts and crafts as well as tasty cherry cupcakes at its heart is a new one on us. Walk past the glass-fronted Vintage Fair in Yeovil, Somerset and you’ll do a double-take because, inside, you’ll see a throng of knitters chatting, laughing and click-clacking away with their needles.

Vintage Fair is proof that, in terms of art and craft, you can have your cake and eat it!

“Knit and Natter currently has nine ladies, most of them are prolific knitters and seem to produce a jumper a week; a couple of them haven’t knitted for 30 years and decided to return to it and one lady is very creative and inspires others,” says Alison Garnett, co-founder. “The other day three young mums came into the shop, heard about the group and said they’d like to learn how to knit too.”

Friends Alison and Angela have created a hub for good local food and the arts

Alison and her friend Angela set up Vintage Fair in October 2010, and it’s been a resounding success. “Since Yeovil Arts Centre closed because of cut-backs the town needed a central nucleus for arts, in terms of exhibition space and workshop-style leisure classes.”

Locally-made products at Vintage Fair are selling like hot cakes

Vintage Fair has more than filled that gap. As well as being home to a Knit and Natter club, the café holds Stitch & Bitch sessions, Teenage Textiles Club and a Craft Table where tots of two upwards are taught a craft while mums do lunch at the next table. The multi-talented café also houses art exhibitions, sells products made by local people and reading groups for adults and children.