Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic may well be the town’s most colourful event, with 21 vendor booths filled with colourful yarns, garment samples, quilting supplies, embroidery supplies and more fibre-related craft materials. The 2025 Fibre Frolic took place on Saturday, October 25 at the Vankleek Hill Community Centre. Although there were some booths where completed items might be for sale, the focus of the event was the wide variety of yarns and supplies for those who love to create with fibre: from yarn to fabric, from fleece to thread. More than 700 visitors packed the aisles to stock up and add to what crafters refer to as their “stash” of yarns and craft supplies. A popular feature of the event was the “Swap Table”, where donations of craft tools, knitting and craft books and other supplies were available for free. The table was busy all day as visitors kept bringing more to add to the table even while visitors were choosing new treasures to take home.
Marcelo Martins, founder of Makeloo Studio, had a few spare minutes toward the end of a hectic Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic to work at his knitting; he loves choosing colours and takes great pride in their 100%-Canadian wool yarns. He has been knitting since he was young, he says. Makeloo Studio is located in Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, Québec and is gearing up for an upcoming show in Barcelona, Spain.
Lauraline Paradis-Robert of Fibres Filantes had three spinning wheels set up at Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic on October 25, so that visitors could try their hand at spinning wool. Paradis-Robert also offered expert advice on spinning, carding and weaving, as well as carding for wool and offered fleeces for sale, as well as many accessories for the craft. Admission was free to the event, but donations at the door totalling about $1,000 went to the not-for-profit Arbor Gallery, which was hosting a fibre and pottery show the same day. The vernissage of “The Light We Hold, The Light We Carry” features fibre art by Lauren Levesque, pottery by Alison Collard and art by Susie Fairbrother. The vernissage takes place November 1 between 1 pm and 3 pm. The show continues until November 16, 2025. Arbor Gallery is located at 103 High Street and is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 4 pm.
Vankleek Hill Fibre Frolic is organized by Louise and Amelia Sproule/Amelou Holdings Inc. and those who are interested can contact them at: [email protected] or by visiting the Facebook page.
