A fledgling Abergavenny business is celebrating after being nominated for Best New Business in the Women’s Business Awards.
Cosy Throws is a quality homemade knitwear business that creates a range of throws and blankets.
The business was launched this year by Govilon resident Harriet Jenkins. Harriet only started taking knitting up as a hobby during the Covid lockdown but has now successfully created a business that supplies a range of customers including local businesses including Cwtch Café in Abergavenny.
All throws are individually created in any size and colour, using soft and pure merino wool meaning it is hypoallergenic, designed to contain warmth and naturally flame resistant.
As well as throws Harriet also does seasonal knitwear, knitting pumpkins for Halloween as well as chunky knit Poppys with all the proceeds from Poppys sold going to Veteran charities across the UK.
Harriet’s knitwear has proven so popular that department store John Lewis asked to showcase her products in store, with Harriet now supplying their store in Cardiff with a range of her knitted throws and other knitwear.
From this a customer nominated Harriet and Cosy Throws for the Women’s Business awards with Harriet’s business now making it through to the final for “Best New Business”.
Public voting started on Monday November 1 with the final taking place in London In December.
Speaking about the nomination, Harriet said: “We were overwhelmed just to be nominated let alone make it this far and really appreciate everyone’s support.”
“We are very excited to say we are back in John Lewis for the week of 8th November with all our Christmas stock and after that we will be holding workshops with local businesses and appearing in different Christmas Markets, including the one we are hosting in Govilon on 4th Decemeber.”
Harriet hosts a number of workshops for those interested in knitting where visitors have the chance to knit medium-sized and large throws along with seasonal products including pumpkins and Christmas puddings.
She recently held a workshop at Rosie and Izzy’s Coffee shop in Abergavenny and has also held a workshop with Barnados Charity.
Harriet is now busy producing Christmas-themed throws and knit products including Christmas Puddings, Wreaths and Snowmen to go with her traditional throws. Harriet also has her own flock of sheep, and hopes by next year to move away from buying in her wool to using the fleeces from her own sheep, so that all products will come from their own animals. She added: “We really appreciate everyone who has supported us in our business and getting and looking after our own sheep and we will be holding a lambing school once they are born in the spring so local children can come and meet them and see a bit behind the scenes of farming life.”
Voting for the Women’s Business Awards are now open, to vote for Harriet and Cosy Throws please visit https://awards.womensbusiness.club/awards and follow the instructions to vote for Harriet in the category of Best New Business.
For more information about Harriet’s business, attending workshops or buying some of her knitwear products please visit her website https://www.cosythrows.co.uk/