Today's’s Maker Spotlight takes us to the rugged beauty of Newfoundland, where Pamela of Windswept Fibres and Design captures the spirit of her coastal home in every skein. What began as a way to share locally dyed yarn with visiting knitters soon became a thriving fibre business, rooted in pride for her province and a deep love of colour. From her shop in St. John’s, Pamela continues to craft luminous yarns that celebrate Newfoundland’s natural magic: each hue telling a story of sea, stone, and sky.
Q. How did your business get started?
My business started in early 2022. I was working in our LYS and we daily had tourists dropping by looking for locally dyed yarn. I approached the owner, Katie, and mentioned that I was interested in trying to dye high quality yarn for the shop to fill that need. I have always been a very proud Newfoundlander so the chance to show off our culture through beautiful fibre was the drive behind the brand! We launched on LYS Day in April of 2022 and thankfully it was a success right from the start.
Unfortunately a couple of months later Katie announced she was selling the shop and it ended up leaving the city so I started on my own. In 2024 I opened my own shop on Water Street in St. John’s and it is thriving!
Q. Do you have a favorite project or piece that you've ever worked on?
It’s very hard to choose a favourite “child” but Labradorite has definitely been the most popular of my colourways. It is layers of blue, greens, greys and golds to try to replicate the look of the Labradorite gemstone. I only do it on Paradise silk sock which is 50% silk as it shines.
Q. If you could collaborate with any designer, dyer, or maker, who would it be, and why?
I don’t think I could ever narrow down my choice of favourite designer to just one but it would be amazing to collaborate with designers such as Jennifer Beale, Joji Locatelli, Isabelle Kraemer or Ankestrick! Their designs have always been personal favourites as they are so well written and beautifully designed but still very wearable. I have also been a huge fan of Thread and Maple for years and have quite a collection of beautiful leather binders and tools that I use on a daily basis! My favourite would have to be the On the Go that I carry everywhere. To collaborate on something like that would be a dream!
Q. What do you like to listen to while you're working?
Surprisingly enough I don’t usually listen to anything when I’m working! I’m usually humming or singing something to myself but I tend to be thinking and planning something as I dye and I really enjoy the quiet!
With every dye pan, Pamela captures the textures and tones of Newfoundland’s coastline: yarns that glow with warmth, movement, and a sense of place. Pamela also joins us as one of the talented sponsors for this year’s Knit for the Girls fundraiser, helping support breast cancer research through her generous contribution. You can explore her stunning yarns and find a bit of that beauty for yourself on Instagram and at Windswept Fibres and Design.
love,
