As lovely as Knit City is to attend and host a booth at, we have been privileged to meet so many talented British Columbian fibre-related small businesses through our Beautiful BC Baaadass Roadtrips that miss this spotlight. I am pleased to work with three of those talents this weekend to present trunk shows at our bricks and mortar store just blocks away from the Knit City venue; with all sales of their displayed goods going 100% to the artist.

Saturday: Caroline Dick Designs

When C.Dick Designs relaunched her Grotine pattern this February with 100% of the proceeds going to True North Aid, Ravelry was on fire. The important discussions of privilege, accessibility, and exclusion had begun and Caroline has been sharing her voice and perspective while juggling the rebranding her talent for knitware design. I cannot support enough the fibre community that Caroline’s efforts are helping to create and this is still my favorite post of hers that should be continually revisited throughout our community. And BTW, True North Aid is a Canadian Charity committed to serving northern Indigenous communities in Canada with practical humanitarian support. Come and see C.Dick Designs ( i love that alliteration, and this amazing logo) this Saturday at our 2667 Hastings St location.

Saturday: Spirit Song Fibre Studio

Hailing from Coombs, BC, SpiritSong Studio is run by Tsimshian Fibre Artist, Cara Barter and focuses on using fibres from local producers to invigorate the local fibre economy. The fibres are mainly processed by hand with love in small batches for a difference you can see and feel. They are processed without the use of harsh chemicals to ensure the safety of future generations. While attending UVic, Cara was introduced to Fibre Arts through an Indigenous women and children’s group run by Tsartlip Elder May Sam. May taught the group how to spin wool and Coast Salish Weave and the importance of working with a good heart and a good mind to pass positive energy into the wool. Spirit Song proudly follows the teachings that the earth is borrowed from our children so we strive to leave the earth in better condition than we found it. Cara will be launching a collaboration this weekend with C.Dick Designs and knitwear jewelry designer Kristan MacIntyre which will be launched alongside Cara’s amazing selection of yarn and fibre also this Saturday at our 2667 Hastings St location.

Sunday: Ukee Knits Designs

Faye Kennington makes her life on the remote western edge of Vancouver Island, in a place known to locals as “Ukee.” Stormy winters make an excellent excuse for throwing some logs on the wood stove and swatching away. She is known for her colourwork designs and quick knits. We met Faye this spring on our Northern Vancouver Island Roadtrip stop in Ucluelet and realized we had come across many of Faye’s extensive pattern collection pieces before without linking them back to this single source of local talent. Currently our favorite is her Wrapt Collection where proceeds from the sale of her online collection are donated to Food Bank on the Edge Society which helps feed those in need in the Ucluelet and Tofino communities. Come and see an amazing selection of Faye’s talented designs this Sunday at our 2667 Hastings St location.

Baaad Anna’s Yarn Store will be open from 11am-6pm throughout the Knit City weekend, so come check out these local talents as well as our newly renovated space!