Emily Lord took over in 2010, in an act of continuing the life of her favourite ‘go to’ when it was about to close down.
From starting in an acknowledged naivety, while also juggling five daughters and home life, her shop successfully provides folk from Chesterfield and beyond with every haberdashery need.
She even has customers like Vivienne Westwood and Jude Law’s movie crew (true). Other things you might not know about Emily, even as a regular customer: she used to be a computer programmer, and has a passion for physics. A passion that feeds into her other passion: crocheting. Mathematics and shapes, equations and problem solving. So there you go. So, next time you picture a lady sat for hours crocheting a snuggle blanket, do not assume her mind is switched off. There’s some serious physics going on there. Anyway, let’s ask Emily some questions, both random and not so.
She even has customers like Vivienne Westwood and Jude Law’s movie crew (true). Other things you might not know about Emily, even as a regular customer: she used to be a computer programmer, and has a passion for physics. A passion that feeds into her other passion: crocheting. Mathematics and shapes, equations and problem solving. So there you go. So, next time you picture a lady sat for hours crocheting a snuggle blanket, do not assume her mind is switched off. There’s some serious physics going on there. Anyway, let’s ask Emily some questions, both random and not so.
![“I certainly think parking ought to be addressed. We get customers that regularly come in, and they’ve come from Nottingham, they’ve come from Sheffield, they’ve come from Derby. There’s nothing like us, where they are anymore. And if they’re spending fuel to get here, and parking can be expensive… that’s something I would perhaps look at. And the market? I don’t know much about the ins and outs of it. But I do remember the market of 2000 when I was here, and how amazing it was. It almost felt like you were diving into one of the markets you’d find in Morocco or somewhere. And it would be nice to return to that somehow… I honestly don’t know what the answer is.”](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjFiNTA1ZTY1LTM3MTEtNDg3ZC1iZGU3LTg5NDk0YzYzOGZmMToyMTVkNzllMS1jYTY5LTRjMGEtYTc2My01MjQ4ODA4YTkxYWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. What would you do to improve the town centre situation?
“I certainly think parking ought to be addressed. We get customers that regularly come in, and they’ve come from Nottingham, they’ve come from Sheffield, they’ve come from Derby. There’s nothing like us, where they are anymore. And if they’re spending fuel to get here, and parking can be expensive… that’s something I would perhaps look at. And the market? I don’t know much about the ins and outs of it. But I do remember the market of 2000 when I was here, and how amazing it was. It almost felt like you were diving into one of the markets you’d find in Morocco or somewhere. And it would be nice to return to that somehow… I honestly don’t know what the answer is.” Photo: Outside Fred's Haberdashery
![“Wow… I’d like to go back to the moment when crochet was actually invented. I want to know who was sat there, and with what sort of hook, or maybe just a finger, and how it happened. Because nobody knows. There’s lots of theories, but nobody knows really. That would be something.”](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE3YmU2OTUyLTAxOWMtNDFmMC04OGY4LTlkY2MyYTA5Y2E5NDpmNGUzNjEzZi1hNDIxLTQwOTItOWEyMS1lNWEzZDIyZjViNjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Okay. You have a time machine. Where do you go, when and why?
“Wow… I’d like to go back to the moment when crochet was actually invented. I want to know who was sat there, and with what sort of hook, or maybe just a finger, and how it happened. Because nobody knows. There’s lots of theories, but nobody knows really. That would be something.” Photo: Inside the shop window at Fred's Haberdashery