REVIEWSCommunity
Q + A with Treena Evans, Owner of Spin Me A Yarn
Q. What inspired you to open your store Spin Me A Yarn?
A. I’ve talked about opening a yarn store as my ‘retirement goal’ for over 20 years – since the first Chapters/Indigo opened and I thought it would be a good combination to have a yarn store/coffee shop combined where people would be able to sit and craft with their coffee/tea and it would be something I could do when I retire. After moving into this neighbourhood, I always felt that it needed an LYS (local yarn store) as the closest to us are both 8km away in Port Credit and in Roncesvalles and the Mimico community has such a neighbourhood feel to it. The ‘retirement’ part of the goal was brought forward and my husband and I decided that the timing was right to open Spin Me A Yarn now, to build on the crafting community already here, and to fill that gap of missing an LYS!
Q. What is the concept of your store?
A. The store is primarily a retail yarn store; however we have created a social space at the back of the store for people to stay and knit or crochet and meet other crafters, making it also a social space for the crafting community. With an adjoining door into The Big Guys Coffee Shop and to the Healing Muse (our landlord is the same; so an adjoining store space is accessed within out stores) customers are able to grab a drink from next door and come over and sit and craft at any time. We have official ‘Socials’ on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings; but the space is always available for people to sit and craft together. We focus on highlighting Indy Dyers from the area – the yarn community has expanded greatly over the last few years where there are more and more independent, local, dyers just branching out into the industry and we want to give them an opportunity to bring their yarns to the Mimico community by hosting Trunk Shows where they can showcase their colours and yarns.
Q. Do you teach people how to knit, crochet? What classes do you teach, if any?
A. We have classes happening all the time at the store – from Knitting 101 and Crochet 101 to teaching specific project based classes such as amigurimi (crochet animals) or sock classes; dye classes; textures and techniques. Our Classes calendar changes monthly and we have the details on our website with what is offered. We also teach one-on-one classes if someone has a specific project they would like to try or if they are not able to make the group classes, so it can work around their schedule. In addition, we host events such as Movie Nights; Local Craft Beer Tasting events; Bingo nights … there’s always something happening at the store!
Q. You just celebrated your store’s 2 year anniversary (Congratulations!), what else is in store for the future?
A. Thank you! We had a wonderful 2nd year party and so many of the regulars came out to help us celebrate. We launched Club SMAY at the party and now offer two levels to join either Club for exclusive savings and events at the store. For our future plans for this year we are looking to continue to introduce new Indy dyers; offer more classes to continue to build the crafting community and to continue to offer fun events for our neighbours to participate in; World Wide Knit In Public Day and even our 2nd Annual Spin Me A Yarn Cruise which we are hosting in March 2020. We are excited to see what year 3 brings!
Q. We know you are a long term Mimico resident, what do you love about living here?
A. We love the sense of community and that you can get everything you need without having to get into a car! Stores are family run and all within walking distance; the local vegetable store across the street from Spin Me A Yarn always has great produce; Steve and Jessie at The Big Guys have a strong following of regulars and people that come together to socialize and support; Monika, the Healing Muse, has been a miracle worker in keeping us healthy with her tips and tricks and lotions and potions and shares with our customers; the variety of regulars who have lived in the area their whole life and call Mimico home is heart warming – it’s not a transient community. We love the proximity to the lake and enjoy taking advantage of the beautiful sunrises when we go for a run along Lake Promenade and the city falls away as you look over the lake. We feel lucky to have found a small space, with the city, that feels like home.
