Yarn sales have spiked dramatically as masses of Australians find new ways to get creative during the coronavirus crisis.
Crafts supplier Robyn Hicks, who owns Yummy Yarn and Co, in Dubbo, has noted an increase in orders both in-store and online.
"My phone's been running hot for the last three weeks," Ms Hicks said.
"I've had a lot of brand-new online customers and I can only attribute that to the lockdown."
Demand for yarn is usually high in autumn, but Ms Hicks attributes the upswing to the social distancing measures enforced to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
She said many of her customers were using their time to resume old hobbies or learn new ones.
Some were even taking the opportunity to teach children how to crochet or knit.
"I was talking to someone yesterday and she's got older kids," Ms Hicks said.
"They were making cards and doing things that maybe would have happened decades ago when kids didn't spend so much time online."
Mill working overtime
The Australian Yarn Company, which has mills in Bendigo and Wangaratta in Victoria, has been working to meet the increased demand.
The company, which supplies about 700 stores across Australia and New Zealand, has reported a 200 per cent increase in sales in recent weeks.
National sales manager Wayne McMahon said staff had been working overtime to fill orders.
"Our staff have been fantastic and working additional hours and even working on Easter Monday," he said.
Mr McMahon said Australian wools had been popular among customers.
He hoped the success would flow on to woolgrowers who had been impacted by years of drought.
