The Wool Clip began as a co-operative of Cumbria-based crafts people back in 2001. We were all enthusiastic designers and makers but many of us were juggling our work with farming, families and other commitments. We enjoyed working with wool but also understood the threat to British wool and local sheep farming and the loss of traditional craft skills.

By creating a co-operative, we were able to raise the profile of our work and create a shop that we could share - each member spends a couple of days per month in the shop and the commission from sales pays for the upkeep.

The approach seems to work:

We now have 15 members covering a huge range of wool crafts and creative arts
We have moved into bigger shop premises (still within the Priest's Mill at Caldbeck)
We won the Northwest Women in Business Social Enterprise of the Year Award in 2009.
And our members also organise the annual Woolfest in Cockermouth, Cumbria - this started in 2005 and now attracts over 100 stallholders and 4000 visitors every year.