Just in time for cooler and cozy days made for knitting, Needles in the Hay in downtown Peterborough is hosting an exclusive trunk show full of Canadian-made yarn and lots of colourful inspiration. Tickets are now on sale for the Saturday, October 25 event, which is being held in partnership with Guelph-based Waxwing Yarn Company.
Owned by Deanna Guttman, Needles in the Hay is a boutique yarn and fibre arts supply shop and community for makers. With a focus on sustainable and ethically sourced products, the shop stocks curated collections of quality alpaca, cotton, luxurious cashmere, silk, linen and more in a myriad of colours, gauges and weights, as well as needles, hooks, and other accessories and supplies.
To develop community connections, Needles in the Hay also hosts experiences including workshops, classes, and special events in The Hayloft, a warm and welcoming space located above the shop. This creative space will be used for the trunk show, where guests will have the opportunity to purchase products from Waxwing Yarn Company and hear from founder Christine Laframboise.
A knitter who aims to reduce overconsumption and make purposeful purchases, Laframboise was inspired to launch her business in November 2024 because she was frustrated by project leftovers, given that yarn is typically sold in 100-gram formats. She wanted to not only offer smaller sizes but wanted to do so by creating products that are made entirely in Canada from sheep to skein.
Waxwing Yarn has even previously worked with Pine Hollow Farms in Norwood to source a norbouillet fleece, which Laframboise blends with the base of her core products to create a collection of all natural shades from the farm. The collection sold out quickly, though Laframboise is hopeful to have more available in the coming months ahead of the holiday season.
During two ticketed timeslots at the exclusive trunk show, Laframboise will be talking about the inspiration behind launching her company, as well as sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse of business operations, including talking about working with local farms and the challenges and limits posed by Canadian manufacturing.
Well-suited for colourwork projects with circular motifs in the yoke, Laframboise’s product is made with fleece from Topsy Farms, located on Amherst Island just outside of Kingston. The yarn will be available in 20 different colours in both the standard 100-gram format and a 25-gram format for those who want lots of colour accents while limiting the cost of their project. She will also be bringing a range of samples that provide guidance and inspiration, including colourwork sweaters and accessories like mittens and hats, as well as solid-colour vests, shawls, blankets, and more.
Tickets are available for the trunk show, with drop-in timeslots from 1 to 3 p.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., and are priced at $15, which can be applied towards any purchase made at the show. To register for a timeslot and for more information on Needles in the Hay, visit needlesinthehay.ca. You can also follow Needles in the Hay on Instagram and Facebook.
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