Greenock entrepreneur keeps crafting community knitted together during lockdown

Mairi Coventry, who runs the Wee Crafty Owl shop in Jamaica Street, delivers wool and materials to knitters and crocheters across Inverclyde.

Mairi closed the store for two months at the start of the first coronavirus outbreak last year but kept the crafting community going online.

She started taking orders over the phone and delivering supplies to people across Inverclyde for a few weeks before the store reopened in the autumn.

Since being forced to close again on Boxing Day, she has been at the shop two mornings a week, taking orders over the phone in the morning and delivering in the afternoon.

Mairi said: "People are very grateful and so happy they can still get their wool.

"I've had wine and chocolates from customers and some lovely feedback.

"One of the nicest bits about it is being able to get a wee natter on the phone when they order and a wee chat on the doorstep when I deliver.

"A lot of people are very lonely and on their own.

"Crafting keeps them going through the day."

Mairi, who is in the shop every Tuesday and Thursday between 10am and noon for calls, says customers have told her that crafting has relieved stress.

She added: "Being able to do something that takes their worries away really helps.

"Knitting and crocheting are very mindful activities - they give you something to concentrate on which helps shift the focus from everything else.

"It's been very helpful for people, that feeling of working towards a goal."

Mairi opened the store two years ago in April and ran a programme of informal, in-store activities and classes.

She was forced to shelve the sessions but continued with the community feel in online Facebook groups.

Customers now chat to each other virtually and share pictures of their creations.

Mairi said: "When I set up the shop I wanted to create a wee hub - somewhere people could just come in for a coffee and a chat.

"Covid stopped all that but we've continued to stay connected in our virtual online community.

"A lot of people have been knitting for charity and for new wee babies, so it's great to see pictures of what everyone has created.

"It's such a positive thing for people after a long time sitting in the house.

"I'm doing this because people want their wool and it keeps them ticking over.

"I have lovely customers, they're very loyal and I just want to keep that connection and keep people crafting."