Moving to London

[piratekittie]

Hi,
I'm going to be moving to London for 6 months to attend school in January. I was wondering if there were any good craft groups or really great craft stores in the area. I'll be attending the University of Westminster, not sure if that's North or South or what really. Any advice at all would be much appreciated! (ie. things I should bring with me from America, good cheap yarn stores, etc.)

Thanks!!

--Karen

[squirrellypoo]

You should have a look through the Londoners, Let's Share Suppliers thread and also do a search of this forum, there's about 30 threads with London craft stores!

Though I don't know of any crafting groups, per say, you may find others with similar interests in your halls. Westminster is technically north of the river, but it's pretty much bang on center - do you know where you'll be living yet?

[piratekittie]

Not yet... I'm trying to get into University housing, so probably one of those buildings.

[sarahdotcom]

I'm moving to London (from New Zealand) in May!  So excited (and terrified).  I have some great friends there already but I'm hoping to meet up with some crafty types too.  Is there a stitch n bitch or something? (that's assuming I can afford yarn - I think finding a job and a place to live will probably be first on the order of business)

[Littleclouds]

I'm moving to London (from New Zealand) in May!  So excited (and terrified).  I have some great friends there already but I'm hoping to meet up with some crafty types too.  Is there a stitch n bitch or something? (that's assuming I can afford yarn - I think finding a job and a place to live will probably be first on the order of business)

Yeh just google it but they have quite a few free social meetings where you meet at say a pub & then knit together, theres one near me but I've never gone. I'm soo lazy

[Sinte]

I'm moving to London (from New Zealand) in May!  So excited (and terrified).  I have some great friends there already but I'm hoping to meet up with some crafty types too.  Is there a stitch n bitch or something? (that's assuming I can afford yarn - I think finding a job and a place to live will probably be first on the order of business)

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=230078.0

What exactly is a S&B, anyway? XD

[Littleclouds]

I think its just a social gathering with a common interest of knitting & other crafty likes!

[r_o_rourke]

I Knit London: a yarn store, place to chill out and knit and social event organiser based near Waterloo Station. http://www.iknit.org.uk/ They have a mailing list, which is quite a good way of finding out what is going on in the city as far as knitting and crochet goes. I've only ever been to their big annual event rather than one of the many smaller nights, but they seem to organise a lot. The shop itself is a bit expensive for my liking (but I am stingy), though they do have some cheaper, standard quality yarns alongside some very gorgeous (pricier) things. I think I might develop a sock fetish thanks to this place.

If you don't mind big stores, John Lewis in Oxford Street sells the big brand stuff (a wide range of Debbie Bliss etc.), if you need that kind of thing; (FYI it's a national chain of department stores that is collectively owned by all its employees).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy London. Having moved here a couple of years ago, I know it's easy to feel lost and alone in the city - but going out to meet people with the same interests is the best way to make it feel like home