Fun
The Village of Makers
Dear Kay,
Gah, got another email about a knitting-related business shutting down, and I just can’t even. What is going on?
We all need to rally around the makers and shops and websites and designers who are creating the things we love, every day, all day, all over the world.
If we love them, we gotta support them.
Everybody has their favorite makers—go show them some love.
Love their posts, share a link, give one of their products to your best friend.
For me, gifts are the best way to buy something I wouldn’t need myself but would be a small delight for somebody in my life.
This is a huge shift in my thinking. I used to pass a craft booth, admire some handmade thing, and think: “I just don’t need a bit of that.”
These days, I think: We all need a bit of that. This needs to happen. This person is creating something unique and delightful.
Just scrolling through the list of vendors coming to Nash Yarn Fest gave me such a thrill. What I hope is that this one-weekend village of makers is a place where these folks will draw inspiration from each other, and meet the knitters and crocheters who will love what they do.
And (I guess this is obvious) that page of links constitutes a village of another sort—a virtual village that’s here every day, all day long.
Who’s doing beautiful work that we need to know about? Please leave a comment and let us know!
Love,
Ann
PS: My pincushion is my constant companion. Sally Mitchell made it. A few years ago, I met her at a crafts fair I came across at the Islesboro Historical Society. (Islesboro is one of the kajillion small islands in Maine, a quick ferry ride from Lincolnville.) Whenever I need a straight pin, this pincushion reminds me of that breezy summer ferry ride and my conversation with Sally. She gives a tour of her studio here.
Do you all know about the gorgeous yarn from The Fleece Artist, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada?
https://www.fleeceartist.com/
Fleece Artist is lovely yarn….for sure!
Being from Halifax myself, I am totally in love with Fleece artist yarns and use them all the time. Very proud to use a local product!
Ooo!Ooo! I’m going to be in Halifax in June. So glad you listed this! I will be sure to stop by — their yarn looks wonderful.
I believe Lookbook 9: Nova Scotia is still available as a digital version. Google By Hand Serial. Any lucky crafter traveling to that magnificent area won’t go wrong having that with them. Features yarn shops, etc.
Love this posting! Go artisan fiber artits the world over!
As my morning news is overflowing with dire news of an utterly unnecessary trade war, I’m giving a shout-out to a Canadian small business, Wave Fibre Mill, that is not only sourcing, creating and selling locally here in Ontario, they are also mentoring other small businesses and makers!
Wave has taken her love of natural fibres and the growing Ontario Fibreshed and is building a one-stop shop that processes raw wool from small regional farms, spins yarns which they then, sell, knit, and/or weave into fabulous fabrics which again, they sell (for clothing, upholstery and more) and/or sew into fabulous long-lasting investment garments themselves.
YEs, the prices are steep. Take a deep breath & rethink, because Wave Fibre Mill is creating fibre products intended to LAST. These are investment vestments! You can buy a classic wool coat that can AND WILL become an heirloom. You can reupholster Grandma’s favourite chair in 100% natural wool fabric & padded with 100% natural wool batting that will last far longer than plastic infused fabrics padded with chemical factory fabricated foams that off gas toxins into your home & will kill you in the event you have a house fire. Clara tells you all of the benefits of this natural wonder, but yes, reupholstering Grandma’s chair (they just do NOT build them like they used to so reuse the best for longer lasting heirloom furnishings!) can and will help to clean your indoor air quality and moderate your fluccuating indoor air humidity! Quality that lasts for generations does not come cheaply, but buying the best only 1 time can and will save you & your family $$ over the life of that product. Shop thrift shops & flea with an eye for what is worth reupholstering. There are gems there begging to be reimagined!
You can shop Wave’s delightful creations here:
https://wavefibremill.com/retail/
They’re located just outside of Parry Sound on the beautiful Georgian Bay. It’s a gorgeous part of the world to visit any time of year with outdoor activities to enjoy in both Winter and Summer!
J Diane, thanks for this wonderful, inspiring post! With my former source of wool fabric (Joann) closing everywhere, I need to start checking out local (even if not local to me) shops. Yarn shops are not impossible to find here, but good wool fabric sources are!
There’s also a woolen mill that has opened in Stafford Springs CT:
https://americanwoolen.com/
One place to start is Burnley & Trowbridge, a family-run business in Williamsburg, VA. They specialize in wools, linens, silks, and cottons appropriate for historical garments, but great fabric is great fabric. Their “worsted wool “stuff” ” s a wonderful weight for all seasons.
Thank you, I needed that! I believe that families of makers will provide us with the will and determination to survive what ever comes!
From an annual celebrated craft fair, I still have – at least 30 years later – two soft quality leather pouches on a long thin strap worn crossbody. Still perfect for carrying keys and a few bucks when out on long walks when you might run into a coffee shop. Cost about ten bucks then. Who knows now. Also, recently at a local really small farmer’s market I ran across a small wine concession which also had a few balls of rustic hand-processed wool they were selling for a friend. Not cheap – this time – but worth the money for their color and character. So you never know where you will find yarn or something else that is “just the thing.” Get out there! And I try to buy – something! – at every yarn store I run into. It might not be much but is always useful for small gifts. I think crafts, like collecting, tends to run in cycles. Lets hope there will be an upswing soon!
Good point, about gifts. I’m about to be near a lovely yarn shop. I really don’t need any yarn, or tools, or lovely project bags, in fact my cupboards are very stuffed.
But I can definitely buy a gift for my niece who has recently taken up knitting!
This is wonderful! Great to see what others are doing and the support we can give them.
This is so true. I am a knitter and stitcher (EGA, ANG , Danish). We have lost a lot of designers, journals, juried craft fairs ( still have the American Craft Council.)Not only do we need to support our current designers and stores we need to get our young involved in these arenas to carry on traditions and get new creative ideas. I miss the Bouton dor, Penqoin, Anny Blatt Silver, publications and more ( may not have all the names correct.
Aaaaa, Maine! “Down East” magazine recently carried a story about the women behind the Isleboro Fair!
And let’s not forget the wisdom they bring to the table. Last week, one of my co-workers was looking for something that he had no idea where to source. He asked me if I knew how to get it and I didn’t but then I thought about it for a minute and thought of someone–a fellow maker who I didn’t know–might. So I sent an email, got an almost immediate reply and a potential solution. It turned out to be to expensive (small non-profit) but we went down a bit of a rabbit hole which led to more makers, and more conversations, with more people, and I haven’t felt that connected to the world for a long time. It’s been wonderful. And now we have a plan for my co-worker that, by golly, just might work!
P.S. I also recently received space age cat themed notions bag as a gift and it hasn’t left my side.
Thanks for sharing the list of vendors for those of us who cannot attend but would like to support small crafty businesses!!
https://arcanefibreworks.ca/collections/unlimited-stock
Another shout for Canada!
Lovely, squishy yarn and the best photos and yarn color matching (to the photos) ever!
Great customer service.
Love Arcane fiberworks. There’s something magical about their colors.
Lichen and Lace, is a Canadian dyer in a tiny university town near the Nova Scotia border in Sackville, New Brunswick. Her colours are beautiful.
I just this morning came across a reference to this weaving oriented business. I’ve not ordered from them yet but I love their online aesthetic, offerings of fiber and drafts, etc. How had I not heard of them? Here’s the link. https://gathertextiles.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorMS93repP_tLy2wES5oRIFEscZNNoHi9cHB7aQZU2f2CoYwIEw
Circle of Stitches in Salem MA is a lovely yarn shop and they also dye their own yarns. They just had a flood (no inventory damage) and are encouraging online purchases so they can deal with expenses. https://www.circleofstitches.com/shop-2
Today I received the two notions tins that I ordered from Circle of Stitches when I read about the flood. I don’t have room for more yarn, but I can always use help corralling my stitch markers!
Ana, the owner, was the other teacher with me on the Vogue Knitting Alaska Cruise in 2023. She’s super smart, and kind. Please help support her as she repairs the shop!
Gorgeous hand dyed yarn: Miss Babs in TN
https://www.missbabs.com/
Fabulous hand made bags and stitch markers from VA: Cotton Tail Farm
https://www.etsy.com/shop/Cottontailfarmva?page=3#items
Harrisville Tweed’s amazing yarns. This NH mill, still making heirloom quality yarn with ethical sourcing and green production:
https://harrisville.com/collections/yarn-by-weight?srsltid=AfmBOooQ8DRFkktFn54zmepUQ5n7MX_14gL0O3V5T-DmAhtZnEN5ZMPp
And from master herbalist Fiber Fairie: Bear. Tallow. Amazing stuff. And great fiber:
https://thefiberfaerie.com/
For weaving, Lofty Fiber in Easley, SC. They make weaving tools and bought the full Euroflax Linen yarn line: https://loftyfiber.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorHABeB1WzhPduV3Ibj47kOHzjNnRjtzf2kSkoAVztXg8jKxEnn
Thanks for the reminder about Harrisville! I have purchased many of their “Friendly Looms” for the younger members of our extended family and they always are well received.
Thank you for all the resources!
I’ve ordered the Euroflax linen from Lofty Fiber for several projects and my orders arrive promptly and well-packed. They’re a very nice company to do business with.
If you don’t have access to local makers, Farm and Fiber Knits showcases many makers of wool, a kind of farm-to-needle approach! Farmfiberknits.com – It’s kind of like Rhinebeck with no donuts!
Website or further info on them please. ❤️
Sorry, I put it in there, but not hyper linked! https://farmfiberknits.com/
I am trying to support endeavors just like Tideline more and spread some joy and magic!! For basic household needs I am trying to use the big order idea less although I have to admit COVID lockdown did introduce me to the big A.
I love Turtlepurl yarns for fun socks and Musselburgh hats so I am committed to continuing my habit despite the new tariffs!!! As well as always finding a new Indie dyer when I travel!
Spread some joy today!!! Keep calm but loudly resist and knit on or fiber on whatever your passion!!!
Fleece and Harmony of Belfast PEI Canada https://fleeceandharmony.com/ is a sheep farm, wool mill and yarn shop. Beautiful yarn. They also have one of the most entertaining YouTube channels around.
Agreed. Great products, wonderful service and so much encouragement for crafters and fibre artists.
Thanks for this post and for my other Canadian makers for bringing local, small shops/businesses to my attention. I am not on social media, so I know I miss out on knowing some things. When visiting my friend in Calgary, we took a wonderful dyeing course at Ancient Arts and it was amazing. They also have a fabulous array of colours and yarns. A great business and their emails are super. I love my local yarn shop and many local dyers, including Songbird Yarn and Fibre in Stratford, ON (a city always worth a visit, for yarn and chocolate) And Timber Yarns in wee Conestogo, ON (a great bakeshop there, too). Slight side bar, for encouraging others to our wonderful crafting work, checkout your public library for knitting and crocheting learning and/or socializing events.
Watch out for local Fibre shows and exhibits – and you can pat some cute alpacas. Oh, and Prince Edward Island has a Fibre Fest in October!
Thank you Ann, for a great reality check. We do need to support our makers, or they won’t be there when we need them.
I should have named my LYS -The Flying Squirrel in Waterloo ON. Beautiful yarn and tools, and super helpful, kind staff! So glad they’ve recently opened. The Galt House of Yarn is also a great LYS, just a bit further down the road.
I am so pleased that my new friend Dana, owner of Isadora Popper, will be sharing her wares at NashFest. Her shop is located in the lovely, small town of Clayton, Georgia, and is a must see if you should ever venture there. Dana has an incredible selection of yarns, a wonderful table to sit and knit at, whether taking a class or just wanting to knit with others of like mind. Isadora Popper also carries many gift items, either for yourself (!) or for those you hold dear. One of the shop employees makes the most marvelous chocolates, not to be missed!
I wish I could be at NashFest this year, but hopefully next year!
I’ve been reading the same – RIP Tolt and others. I cannot understand how the internet can be so alive with several lifetimes of inspiration, amazing makers, new makers and us ordinary enthusiasts AND there be so many closures. Just baffling.
My friend, Rita, the owner and dyer of gorgeous yarns at Ex Libris Fibers https://exlibrisfibers.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooJUAhaOoaPVN24fZV_ZvDqefbAQ4_nK6AQtA3aSn97qyzwH6fq
is going to be at the yarn festival in Nashville! She’ll also be in Chicago (at that other yarn festival) in April! Even if you won’t be in Nashville (or Chicago) for Yarn Heaven (gosh, I wish I could go!), you should definitely check her out!
I’m fortunate that my northern New Jersey area still has local yarn shops: The Blue Purl, Knitapestry, Yarn Diva, Knit Knot & Natter, Winterberries Yarn, Rows of Purl, Yarnia, Wool & Grace, The Stitchery, Knitting Nation, and Biscotte Yarns. There are probably more just in north Jersey — (my apologies to whatever north Jersey stores I’ve left off), and I didn’t include the stores in south Jersey. We’re also blessed to have NYC and neighboring states within driving distance. We all need to support our local small businesses whenever possible if we want our maker community to survive and thrive.
The bigger sign of the times that worries me is when a large corporation like JoAnn’s closes. Even though they don’t offer the highest quality supplies, there are tens of thousands of people who buy their supplies at JoAnn’s and truly enjoy visiting the store for the same reasons we love our LYS’s — inspiration, connection, socialization, convenience, and reasonable prices. JoAnn’s employees are losing their jobs, and all that business will go somewhere else, most likely to cheap online suppliers.
We are the keepers of our chosen crafts. It’s up to all of us to protect what we love by supporting the stores and people who make it possible for us to keep making.
I’d like to add that places like Joann’s and Michael’s are “gateway stores” for new crafters – the ability to browse different handwork supplies and be inspired to try something new cannot be duplicated on line. Dissappearing department stores means the loss of the social aspect (real people!) and dreaming / window shopping opportunities they provide. It’s where I started and then “graduated” to my LYS and currated fabric source. Also grateful that here in Chicago YarnCon has returned as an intro to independent sources.
JoAnn’s was done in by greedy venture capitalists. That’s where we are at in the US, where everything is about profit to people who are already billionaires, whatever the fallout. I don’t know how we turn the tide.
At least in the Twin Cities, our LYSs seem to be doing ok, and we have many. I think it is a job of constant outreach and promotion, and counting on a loyal clientele. Perhaps the weather helps a bit, as it does for our Canadian friends? When you have six months of winter, you stay indoors and knit and crochet and quilt and sew.
We also have a fantastic guild, the MN Knitters’ Guild http://www.knitters.org that all are welcome to join! We have members from some 30 US states, a couple of Canadian territories, and I think some other countries? Monthly meetings are on Zoom so you do not have to be local to hang out with us!
Thank you Deepa for connective social context: Joann’s downfall is so symbolic.
Our social fabric beckons creatives to dig deeper and reach a little past our borders – stitched and otherwise:
We (folks in the U.S.) have to connect differently to support each other ethically and meaningfully …
I’m an outraged childless, knitting cat-lady this morning… so THANK YOU again.
Peace and power
Stephanie at Deep Dyed Yarns creates beautiful yarn and fiber – definitely my local favorite!
http://www.deepdyedyarns.com
Jill Draper! Her colors are da bomb!
https://www.jilldraper.com/
Sally Mitchell from Isleboro. What a treat to visit her studio and meet her virtually. The chair she invites the viewer to rest on is so inviting. I would sit and knit and listen to Sally all day long. Thank you. ❤️
All these wonderful posts – sanity in an increasingly mad world. Gives me hope!
The FUNNIEST conversation just happened in my house. Daughter is going to a new fiber festival next week as a vendor. She’s telling me who else will be there that she already knows: “…and Modern Daily Knitting…”
Me: “They can’t be. They’ve got a big thing going on next – wait. You’re going to Tennesee…” The penny drops with a loud thunk. “YOU’RE GOING TO NASH YARN FEST???!!!”
So stop by KnitBaahPurl and say hi to Amanda!
Love Knitbaahpurl! I would often purchase from them at Yarnfest….such fun yarn themed gifts!
I am always so sad to see small businesses (fiber & otherwise) close. Definitely reminds me to seek out the unusual, the small and the local businesses both at home and when traveling.
It feels like Canada is winning this, and I’ll add two more:
Purl and Hank makes wonderful tools. I am rarely not wearing one of their bracelets and their removable button are the only right way to close a shawl, in my opinion https://www.purlandhank.com/.
Then Sunflower Knit is my go-to for naturally died yarn, great patterns, all natural sock yarn (no nylon), and random weird things. The shop is on hiatus until sometime later this week https://ashalberg.com/.
Wow!! An embarrassment of riches in these comments! Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I’ll be wandering through these shops online for days. I’m blessed to have four yarn shops close by. Two of them in the town I live in and two in the towns next door. Each one has its own unique selection and personality. I love and support them all. Purl Soho has their warehouse here in Southern California, and they have a parking lot sale now and then. So I’m surrounded by yarn shopping opportunities. I’m sad to see Joann stores closing. They were essential for so many crafters. Regarding the comments about passing our crafts along…I was SO pleased to discover that our young neighbor next door (6 or 7 years old) has learned to knit!! She says she hasn’t learned how to start or finish yet, but she’s having fun. And her mom wants to learn!! So, I’m seeing some future knitting with our lovely young neighbors. Yay!! Let’s keep sharing, learning, teaching and supporting the the crafts and crafters we love. ❤️