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About

 The Small Bird Workshop is the creation of Catherine Knutsson, proprietress and purveyor of wool. Catherine is an experienced knitter, spinner, hand dyer, and a very new weaver. She loves sharing her love of fibre and wool with others, and is passionate about ethically sourced fibre and wool. 

As a passionate advocate for Canadian wool, Catherine is serving on the National Wool Standards and National Wool Valuation groups with the Campaign for Wool - Canada. In addition, she is a director-at-large with the InterIsland Sheep Breeders Association and is working on obtaining certification as a wool classer and wool judge. She is very fortunate to have studied with some of the best of Canadian and international wool, and acknowledges the role her mentors and teachers have played in helping her develop her wool and yarn knowledge. These individuals include (but are not limited to!): Cindy Brown, Pat Montgomery, Cherry Nettleton, Allison Irwin, Sarah Wroot, Jane Underhill, Lisa Surber, Lynn Anderson, Jennifer Bowes, Deb Robson, Susan Russell, Christine Stephens, Donna Hancock, Nicole Link-Loehr, Pieter de Mooy, and Sherry Stewart. Thank you all for your kindness and generosity! I am honoured to know you all.

Catherine is a third-generation Vancouver Islander, and a member of both the Bradley Thursday Spinners, the Vancouver Island Fibreshed, and the Tzouhalem Spinners and Weavers Guild. In the past, she has worked as both a classical singer and pianist and taught both singing and piano for many years. She is also a published author in short fiction, novels, poetry, and non-fiction, and often writes for the excellent folk at Digits and Threads. 

Catherine is a registered member of the Métis Nation British Columbia, and the Small Bird workshop is proud to be an indigenous owned business!

The Small Bird Workshop is located in Campbell River, on the the unceded traditional territory of the Ligwiłda’xw people; the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwiakah First Nations. We acknowledge our relationshop to these traditional stewards of the land, and honour elders past, present, and emerging.

About the flocks we work with
The Small Bird Workshop is proud to collaborate with an ever-growing number of Canadian sheep flocks. All of these flocks adhere to the Code of Practice for Sheep Handling as established by the National Farm Animal Care Council, and demonstrate excellence in land use, water management, and animal welfare. In many cases, the shepherds of these flocks are actively involved in their regional, provincial, and federal sheep breeders' associations.

Our flock collaborators include:

BC
The Barnston Island Flock, Barnston Island, BC (Gotland x, Romney x, CVM x)
Walnuthill Farm, Abbotsford, BC (Cotswold, Gotland x, Romney x, BFL)
Mendoza Rambouillets, Vernon, BC (Rambouillet)
Ponderosa Shropshires, Oyama, BC (Shropshire)
Raven Hill Meadows, Ladysmith, BC (North County Cheviot)
Cedar Meadows Ranch, Black Creek, BC (Romney)
Horizon Heritage Farm, Coombs, BC (Romney)
Genesta Farm, Duncan, BC (BFL, BFL x)
Next Year Farm, Langley, BC (CVM x)
Furry Creek Farm, Ladysmith, BC (Babydoll Southdown)

Alberta
Alexander Polypay, High River, Alberta

Ontario
Twin Oaks Farm Fibre, Guelph, Ontario
Crow Hill Corriedales, Cameron, Ontario
Comfort Tunis, Cardinal, Ontario
Wellington Fibre, Elora, Ontario

About the Canadian mills we work with:

Our Canadian mills make Small Bird Workshop Canadian-sourced yarns and fibre possible. Without them, we simply couldn't do what we do! Currently, the Small Bird Workshop works with the following mills:
That Darn Yarn Mill, Kamloops, BC
Dristex , Calgary, AB
Wellington Fibres, Elora, Ontario
Wave Fibre Mill, Seguin, Ontario
Mariposa Woolen Mill, Oakwood, Ontario
 

 

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