Vancouver Island is home to many Artisans. Islanders believe our creativity is inspired by the quiet and solitude found here. Many Artisans are Knitters and we have lots of support for our craft. My account deals with knitting related information I have discovered since moving to Nanaimo in 2005. It covers the area between Duncan and Campbell River.

Duncan is home to 2 LYS. The Loom, owned by Gaye Oldfield, is located on the TransCanada Hwy. It was the first LYS I visited and I purchased an afghan kit of hand dyed yarns produced on the East Coast. The range of yarns include Colinette, Fleece Artist, Brown Sheep and Berroco. Gaye has a free drop in class on Monday mornings. A Felting Class is being considered.

Ingrid’s Yarn & Needlework is situated in downtown Duncan. On my last visit, Ingrid and a customer were sitting around a table busily knitting. The store interior and window is full of hand knits. I purchased a much needed ball of Patons Astra and saw lots of the fancy, furry yarns so popular for scarf knitting. Ingrid also carries a non slip fabric which makes slipper soles safe.

Nanaimo is home to my LYS. Mad About Ewe is in the Old City Quarter, a renovated area of downtown. Its jaunty window shades and pedestrian-friendly streets attract both locals and tourists, especially passengers from the cruise ships which drop anchor in Nanaimo Harbour. Toni Chambers owns Mad About Ewe and Lynette Meek, a designer and teacher, is the manager. They publish a very informative newsletter which covers new yarns like Noro Silk Ribbon and Merino Stripes by Crystal Palace; classes such as Socks on Circs. Beginners 1 and 11 and Beaded Gloves/Mittens; workshops like Fear of Finishing and Lace Knitting; books such as Norah Gaughan’s Knitting Nature and Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis.

They also organize an annual retreat. Wendy Henderson, a published designer living on Gabriola Island whose designs have been featured in Vogue magazine, is scheduled to teach Mosiac and Shadow Knitting at Kiwi Cove Lodge in February 2007. Mad About Ewe also supports the community. They host a booth at the annual Vancouver Island Exhibition - VIEX. A large circular table surrounded by many chairs is forefront in their booth and they invite everyone to ‘come and sit and knit a while’. Each participant adds stitches to a blanket which will be finished later either by Joanne Thompson, a designer from Cortez Island or Lynette Meek. All the yarn is donated and finished blankets are given to the Haven Society.

Michaels in Nanaimo has a drop off centre for knitted squares. Several times a year volunteers sew the squares into blankets. The finished blankets are donated to charity.

Whilst sightseeing with visitors this summer, we drove through Courtenay where I spotted the sign Uptown Yarns. My husband agreed to stop and I went in search of the store. I glimpsed 2 cosy armchairs placed outside a shop and knew I’d found Uptown Yarns. The window was dressed in colorful children’s jackets and I knew I wanted to knit them all. Inside, I met Jennifer Gladwin, the owner and with her help I selected several patterns and yarn. She told me about a knitting night held the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at the Grotto, a nearby cafe.

Later, when I phoned to order extra yarn, I spoke to Judy Gladwin, Jennifer’s Mom. Judy has knitted all her life and she teaches the classes. She told me about the knitting community that’s carrying on the work of Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom, a medic killed in Afganistan. They knit boomer hats (named for Andrew) for newborns - a free pattern is available from Uptown Yarns. To date, 2240 hats have been collected.

Uptown yarns carries yarns by Judy McLean. I first heard about Judy from Cedar Wallace who operates Cedar Sheep Thrills on Hornby Island. I had purchased Cedar’s bamboo needles and a skein of hand-spun merino/silk yarn at a local craft co-op. Judy McLean is a spinner, dyer and sweater maker. She works with mohair, Bluefaced Leicester wool and wool/silk blends. She also participates in the Filberg Festival.

Further north at Campbell River is the Needle Arts Center & Framing Post. I have only accessed their store by website and Blog but I definitely plan to visit soon. One attraction is their Knit Cafe where you’re invited to relax with a latte and try out different yarns before purchasing. They also host a Knit-In on National Knit-In Day and I considered attending this August before deciding on the WCKG Knit-In at Stanley Park, Vancouver.

So, we’re spoilt for choice here on Vancouver Island. A true Knitter’s Paradise.

Places to visit when you’re in…

Duncan

The Loom Ingrid’s Yarn & Needlework

Nanaimo

Mad About Ewe

Courtenay

Uptown Yarns

Campbell River

Needle Art Center & Framing Post

Hornby Island

Cedar Sheep Thrills

Trackback URI | Comments RSS