FERGUS - Two local yarn businesses have stitched together a new knitting kit which will help support the LGBTQ+ community.
String Theory Yarn and the Fergus Yarn Co. have collaborated to create and sell the Rainbow Love Shawl Kit.
Each Rainbow Love Shawl Kit includes instructions and six spools of bright coloured yarn to help knitters create a rainbow flag shawl. Customers also have the option to buy this kit with sparkly, brightly coloured yarn.
The kits are worth $110 with 25 per cent of each purchase going to Guelph Pride.
Miranda Holmes, the owner of String Theory Yarn, came up with the idea of the shawl as a way to still give back to the community during the pandemic.
“I came to Andrea and said hey would you be interested in making a shawl kit in a rainbow for Pride,” said Holmes, “and that was because I have family members who are in the LGBTQ community.
“For me, it’s kind of near and dear to my heart and supporting people from this community and so I approached Andrea to see if she was interested because she was the talent behind it.”
Andrea Leising, the owner of Fergus Yarn Co., designed the shawl pattern and yarn. She mentions she also has a niece and other family members who are part of the LGBTQ+ community.
“I don’t know why I didn’t think of it until Miranda suggested it, it was a great idea,” said Leising, “And of course, I hopped on board right away.”
She mentions this shawl is an easy project for beginners knitters.
“You could knit it for yourself or have someone knit it for you, I’ve had lots of people contact me who are just in the process and what we are doing.”
Leising explains they chose the shawl due to its ability to translate the concept of the pride flag.
“You can have that really well represented with the rainbow aspect as well,” she said, “For me, I thought it was a really good translation for the idea.”
Holmes adds shawls is a common knitting project among knitters and is a versatile piece which can be worn as a wrap, scarf or even be sewn into a vest.
“Also with Pride being at the beginning of June, a light-weight shawl like this is perhaps a little bit more in keeping with the season," said Holmes.
Having created this kit, Holmes and Leising are also planning to make two different kits, which will feature a non-binary pride flag and trans pride flag. They are also looking into creating a crochet version of the rainbow pride flag.
Once the two new kits are made available for purchase, 25 per cent of their proceeds will be donated to OK2BEME, a youth LGBTQ+ organization in Waterloo.
“We love the work that OK2BEME is doing with kids, because it’s important,” said Holmes.
“COVID is hard enough, but COVID plus the isolation of growing up in this community sometimes, it’s hard because people need other people, and when you’re part of a smaller community, it’s harder to connect with each other.”
Already receiving positive feedback and responses on this kit, both Holmes and Leising hope residents will consider sharing their posts to raise awareness, or purchasing a kit to support their community.
“Even though we’ve created it with pride in mind...if you like a rainbow, why not get it?” said Holmes, “You’ll be helping a cause and it’s a beautiful shawl,”
To purchase one of these kits, go to stringtheoryyarn.ca.
