We’re back with another Spotlight! This month, Alex caught up with the duo behind Yarn Food – let’s see what they had a chat about! ⤵️🩷

Hi guys, thanks for chatting with us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourselves?

We are Helene and Oliver, a husband-and-wife team based in Devon. Yarn Food grew out of a love for natural fibres and the yarn/craft community. Helene is an avid knitter and fibre quality is important to her when it comes to knitting, because nothing feels better in your hands and against your body than naturally grown fibres. We had another business in knitting and crochet before, but had to give it up due to health issues. Yarn Food is a new beginning for us and we are so happy to be back and mingling with the lovely yarn/craft community again.

Yarn Food launched from a desire to give handmade knits a second chance; can you tell us about when you realised there was a gap in the market?

Helene has always felt that there is not enough specific fibre care out there that really looks after your natural fibre knits. Using regular detergents strips the oils out that nature put into them and applies unnecessary strain on the fibres during the rinsing process. We wanted to go the other way: Putting natural oils back in whilst being as gentle as possible on the fibre structure. This is why we decided to create a no-rinse formula, which is a formula where the finished garment soaks for 20 minutes while the grime gets drawn out and the lanolin or cotton seed oil fed back into the animal- or plant-fibre fabric. This way, you clean AND nourish your garment at the same time without agitating its fibre structure through rinsing. As a result, your knits stay soft, in shape and supple for longer.

Was there a particular inspiration behind the brand name?

Yarn Food is inspired by the idea that we are feeding the fibres, instead of starving them by stripping their natural oils out with harsh chemicals. Our formulas are non-enzyme and naturally-derived, which means they are very gentle on natural fibres.

If you had to describe Yarn Food in three words, what would they be?

Gentle Natural Nourishing

Developing a fibre specific wash sounds difficult. What was the biggest challenge in getting the formula just right for each of the ranges? (Cotton, Sock, Wool and Sensitive)

The biggest challenge was getting the balance right. Because we decided against harsh chemicals in our products, we used plant-derived cleaning agents instead which can be temperamental. It took us more than a year and several rounds of testing until we got the formulas right and our testers were satisfied. We are really proud of the outcome and the beautiful softness Yarn Food creates naturally.

How long was the process from the first idea to the first finished bottle?

The process from inception of the idea to finalised formula took about 18 months. But it wasn’t until about 2 years in that we had it produced and sold the first bottle. It’s been a long journey!

Were there any ingredients that were absolute non negotiables for you?

Yes, we knew we wanted to treat natural fibres right, which definitely meant a non-enzyme formula, because enzymes used in detergents break down oils and protein, the very thing wool consists of! Instead, we wanted to use ingredients that are closest to the fibres themselves – natural ones. We don’t use sulphates, dyes, bleaches or any other harsh chemicals, but keep it as pure and natural as possible, with no more than is necessary to achieve a good cleaning and nourishing result.

Why was it important to you that Yarn Food became a no rinse wash?

Repeated rinsing puts unnecessary strain on natural fibres, which can lead to damage such as felting, or losing bounce and softness over time. Our no-rinse formulas take the rinsing out of the equation so that your knits stay soft, supple and in shape for longer. All you need to do is lift the garment out of its bath after 20 minutes, roll it up in a towel and press the water out. The moist garment can then be blocked or laid flat to dry. It’s very easy to use.

Many crafters admit they’re often nervous about washing handmade garments. What’s the biggest misconception people have do you think?

A lot of people report that they’ve had horrible experiences with shrinking and felting which leads them to the conclusion that they can’t wash their woollens. Admittedly, this can sometimes happen in the washing machine when the wash cycle uses warm or hot water, combined with the constant agitation of the drum and spin cycle. It can be just too much agitation overall. Having said that, the same can happen in a hand wash if the rinsing water is too warm or significantly different from the washing water, or vice versa, plus, again, the agitation of repeated rinsing. On the other hand, a simple soak in cold or tepid water with Yarn Food takes all the risk out and will give better results over time.

What’s your top tip for helping handmade knits last for years?

Proper care and storage. Using a gentle, nourishing no-rinse wash like Yarn Food is a must, but then it’s also about appropriate storage. First of all, folding and laying flat rather than hanging is the preferred option to prevent stretching. Moths are another problem to look out for. Their larvae feed on the protein and keratin found in natural fibres, and are particularly attracted to garments with residue such as skin flakes or body oils. The best way to protect against moths is to use a combination of spray that contains moth-repellent fragrances such as our Wool Blocking Spray and lavender sachets or cedarwood balls. For seasonal storage, we would highly recommend washing before storage to remove the above mentioned residues and store it in breathable cotton bags with added lavender sachets or cedar balls. It keeps your garments naturally fresh and ready for the next season.

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in the crafting community. How does Yarn Food fit into that conversation?

First of all, it’s important for us to be as sustainable as we possibly can. We produce Yarn Food locally here in Devon to reduce our carbon footprint and have a new, waste-reducing product in the pipeline as well. Also, we are currently trialling a closed-loop refill scheme with some of our stockists to reduce waste overall.

Helene, we know that you knit. Can you tell us a project you are working on at the moment? And Oliver, have you ever tried crafting?

I can absolutely tell you about my current project, because it’s haunting me! I’ve been knitting an Aran jumper for Oliver since the end of last year and it’s driving me mad. Not for its complexity, but because it is so big and made from multiple pieces and I keep losing my mojo a bit to be honest. The yarn is a beautiful Shetland wool from a local sheep farmer, and it’s undyed, so keeps its naturally grey hues, which in itself is nice, but I am a colour person! As a result, my past months of knitting have been quite dull and I started avoiding it. But I’ve picked the project back up again recently to get it over the finishing line so that I can get back to my enormous stash of colourful yarns and projects lined up. Because unfortunately I’m a one-project-at-a-time knitter. Oliver has been eyeing crochet for a while, maybe he’ll finally pick up a hook for Christmas this year… Father Christmas has been briefed 😉

Since launching in 2025, what’s been the most rewarding aspect of the business?

Hands down the community! We’ve been touring the country to exhibit at various yarn shows and met so many wonderful people ranging from sheep and alpaca farmers, spinners and mill owners, to indie dyers and crafters. It’s simply wonderful. We can’t think of a better community to be part of. It feels a bit like family.

Without giving too much away, is there anything exciting happening on the horizon for Yarn Food?

Oh yes, as I’ve hinted at before, we are currently working on a new formula which will help reduce waste in the long run, but that’s all I can say right now 😉

Thank you SO much to both Helene and Oliver from Yarn Food, we’ve really loved getting to know you a little better. You can follow Yarn Food on Instagram HERE, and shop their range on our website HERE.