There’s a new buzz in the heart of Nailsworth, and it’s coming from the warm and woolly world of Steffi Stern, owner and creator of The Makerss and self-declared queen of needle felting.
Many will fondly remember Steffi as the creative force behind Mother Goose on Market Street — the treasure trove of natural crafting materials that charmed the town until she sold it in 2016.
But hanging up her needles? Absolutely not! Instead, Steffi turned her focus to her greatest crafting love: needle felting. Since then, she’s built a wool-drenched empire from her fibres up — publishing three books (via Hawthorn Press) with a fourth flocking in this June, growing a baa-rilliant social media community of over 13,000 wool lovers on Facebook and 6,000 on Instagram, and designing licensed kits in collaboration with big names like Aardman Animation, The Original Flower Fairies, and the RSPB.
Nestled quietly at the Nailsworth Mills Estate since 2018, The Makerss has finally trotted back into the limelight with a brand-new shopfront in the centre of Nailsworth. You’ll now find Steffi’s signature kits, ethically sourced wools, tools, accessories, and more at Glenholm, George Street (right at the bottom of the ‘W’ opposite Morrisons).
“I’m absolutely over the moon to be back in Nailsworth,” says Steffi.
“I’ve missed the energy of the high street and being part of this wonderful community of independent traders. It feels right to bring natural crafting and sustainable woolly goodness back to where it all started.”
Committed to plastic-free packaging, organic wools, and crafting with a conscience, Steffi is on a mission to make natural creativity accessible to all. And with hundreds of workshops under her belt, she’s helped complete beginners discover just how relaxing and rewarding needle felting can be.
“Needle felting is like a soft reset for your soul,” she explains. “It takes just minutes to learn, uses minimal tools, and offers a calming break from life’s daily baa-ttles.”
Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned fibre fanatic, pop into The Makerss for your next felting fix — and keep an eye on the shelves… you never know what woolly wonders might pop up next!
