Little Green Hat

I first met Melly at the Port Elgin Farmer’s Market back in 2018. That’s when she purchased a mini skein from me and made a little green hat. It was the first year I decided to sell my yarn to the public. Every Wednesday morning my husband and I would pack up the car and drive over to Port Elgin and set up my booth. He would head home for the morning and work. Around 1 he would return with lunch and help me pass the last hour of the market and then help me pack up and head for home. It was our hope when first planning these market days, that after the market we would go and explore towns nearby, enjoy bike rides and hikes, unfortuantely that didn’t pan out too often. I was often way too exhausted from a day out in the elements.  So instead we ended up snoozing on the couch together to rejuvenate before entertaining thoughts of dinner and then enjoying an evening walk or bike ride.

I loved my Wednesdays at the market. Meeting so many wonderful people was the highlight of the day, but looking for knitters within the crowd was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I always got lots of compliments on my yarn and always had sales, but I knew I would be better off if I could find my tribe of yarnies. The first fiber festival I did was the KW Knitters Fair. I got in because another vendor had to cancel. I was over the moon excited to participate in the event. The success of that show told me that my hunch of going where the yarnies are was good.

Now I only go to the market once or twice a season and instead have chosen to concentrate my efforts at the various Knitter’s Fairs within about a 3 hour driving radius from my home. This strategy has worked out so well for my business. This year, because of Covid-19, my spring shows have been cancelled or postoned, but I’m optimistic that the efforts of our federal and provincial governments continue to be successful our self isolation can be lifted and we will slowly return to our regularly scheduled lives.