Lakeside Crafts is a very small business run by John and Frances Fletcher who have both retired from paid employment.

John, now in his 70s, trained to be an engineer and has spent much of his free time over the years working with wood in various ways – he has now turned his skills and his interests to making a range of wooden craft items concerned with spinning, weaving and knitting. This dovetails with Frances’ side of the enterprise. She designs knitting patterns for multi-coloured sock yarns which she sells on their own or in kits with the yarns and hand made to match buttons. These include items for babies and children and some adult garments.

There is a large range of sock yarns, other yarns and accessories. Both sides of the business continue to expand with new wooden items and new patterns being developed.

Until now most of the selling has occurred through craft fairs at the NEC and other venues including the specialist fibre fairs, Wonderwool in Wales and Woolfest in Cumbria among others. Wonderwool 2011 was very successful and enjoyable.

The mail order side of the business has grown and John and Frances would like to expand this through the website.