About Me
Well, it’s been a fairly long journey, more than 60 years. Born in Holland, my parents came to Canada with me, when I was a toddler. We eventually settled in Port Hope, Ontario where I was joined by 2 sisters, almost two and a half years between each of us.
My mother shared her love of sewing and creativity in general with all three of her daughters. We learned to sew, embroider, knit, crochet, and more. No idle hands for us!
My father was also very creative, and could do anything! Dream it, design it, then build it.
Many years later, now having a family of my own, a desire to share my knowledge became a mission of sorts. Machine knitting was a passion of mine, and it wasn’t unusual for me to have a house full of people with knitting machines set up so I could teach them. My children often came home from school to a group of surrogate aunties and grandmas.
Pine Ridge Knitting Machines was born.
Storefront came next, in Baltimore Ontario, then sewing machines, and the name of the business changed to Pine Ridge Knit & Sew. And I loved to teach.
The store is now located on Highway 2 west in Trenton, at the junction of Second Dug Hill Road and Highway 2.
At the end of January 2014, my greatest dream came true. My oldest daughter Laura bought the business! She and a team of 16 transformed my vision of Pine Ridge Knit & Sew into her vision. And I’m not a part of that vision.
So these days I sew sample garments for Catherine, owner of Distinctive Sewing Supplies in Oakville. I review them on this blog, and really enjoy the challenge, and also teach classes on her behalf at the Creativfestival held in Mississauga twice a year. I’ll be involved with “A Fashion Sewing Retreat with Émilie of Jalie Sewing Patterns” : November 19 – 21, 2018 which has been organized by Catherine, too.
I’m also an Ambassador for Jalie, the pattern company, and get to try patterns out before they are released, again, to blog about them.
I still teach sewing skills and mentor a group of “Sewing Sistas” weekly at our local library. I’ve taught a few classes at my home in my kitchen and will do more of that in the future. Our local quilt guild has asked me to teach a workshop next spring which has me pretty stoked!
Machine knitting is still a large part of my life, and along with refurbishing used machines, I teach locally and out of town.
14 Responses
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Hi Yvette,
I just came across your e-mail from the Bulky and mid gauge site
and I am glad to know what are you doing now. I am semi retired, still have the home based business, teaching, repairing machines and selling some reconditioned one.
I have seen your business listing on the Linda Daougle William
Dealer listing. I wrote to her to add my business to the listing but Collected $25.- without adding me to the list. Could you
check if you can find it? I correspond with her about this, but she states that I am there. Is anybody can benefit from this listings? How people can see it?
Thanks for your cooperation
Ada Meyers
Hello Ada, it’s good to hear that you are still machine knitting. I vaguely recall something about the name you mentioned, but can’t find anything more. Please email me privately to continue this conversation. yvettechilcott(at)yahoo(dot)ca
Hi Yvette!
We’re writing to let you know of a new website that is launching in the coming weeks.
http://www.k3tog.com
We’re a knitting community hosting knit-a-longs, tutorials, patterns, and a community space for knitters to become friends and help one another (or vent as the situation calls for)
We plan on featuring a knitter/designer a month and would love for you to contribute (a pattern, yarn, whatever you’d like!)
We please ask if you could let your followers know we exist! It would be greatly appreciated.
Looking forward to having you as a member of the k3tog community
The k3tog team
– Kendra and Sarah
hi Kendra and Sarah, it sounds like an exciting venture, and I will probably contribute. Please let me know when you go “live” so I can check it out. All the best,
Hi Yvette,
Congratulation for your Retirement. You have been in business long enough, that you deserve a lot of “my time”. Unfortunately, that is not materializing as we plan it. You could be more busy than ever before.
However, it is nice to do something just fun and unexpected pleasure.
I would like to belong to your group, and maybe contribute some ideas.
Talk to you soon.
Ada
Hello Yvette, many years ago I took knitting machine classes at Sheridan College in Oakville. Now we are living in Prince Edward County and would like to get back into using knitting machines again. I do not own a machine, but would consider purchasing one new or refurbished. I’m also interested in taking classes.
Sylvia
Hi Sylvia, so nice to “meet” you. I refurbish used knitting machines, then sell them, so I might be able to hook you up. Right now I have a Brother 260 (bulky), a Brother KX350 (plastic mid-gauge) and a Singer 360 with ribber (standard gauge) for sale, my email address is yvettechilcott@yahoo.ca if you’d like to know more. I also teach lessons in my home.
Hi Yvette,
I spoke to you early last Friday morning about a Passap Duo80 and all related paraphernalia that I would like to pass on to a good home, preferably for a “best offer”.
I think you said you knew someone who might be interested.
I realize you had a very busy weekend, so I just thought a reminder would not go amiss.
I could deliver the machine. I need a day ‘away’, as we have just moved from near Barrie to near Orillia.
Thanks,
Susan
Hi. Came over from PR. My bad re Turkish dress – I didn’t look the pattern up and had it confused with a different Folkwear dress.
re drop down menus: I think they need a scroll bar or reformat. I had to reduce my browser down to 33% in order to see the whole garment list. Perhaps there’s a way to change it before the list gets longer.
Hi Canary, thanks for dropping by. If you’re having issues with the PatternReview site, let them know directly, perhaps they can fix it.
Hi Yvette, when I saw this link I was hoping it was for you. Glad you are still out and about. Miss seeing you in the store. I am also going to retire this coming June 2018, so hope to do a lot more sewing. Have joined the Quilters Guild in Belleville, so hope to have more time to do more sewing. Hope to see you around.
Janette Anderson
Hello Janette, I hope you enjoy your retirement as much as I have. All the best to you, and feel free to drop in at the Quinte West Library any Tuesday between 1 and 4, we’d love to see you.
I ordered the beret knitting machine pattern. The link to download the pattern didn’t work. Please help.
I’m sorry Joyce, and have attached it to an email a few moments ago.