TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8TH AT 10AM EASTERN - EVENT TICKETS WILL BE FOUND UNDER THE CLASSES TAB ON OUR WEBSITE 

Knit with The Flock

Experience the Farm and Flock Behind North Bay Fiber's BayHouse Yarn.

Friday, September 25, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

$75 per person

Only 15 Tickets Available

There is something special about knowing exactly where your yarn begins.

Join us for a memorable afternoon at Great Lakes Lamb, home of the Targhee-Polypay flock that inspired North Bay Fiber's very first yarn line—BayHouse™.

Bring your knitting or crochet project and enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the farm, knitting alongside fellow fiber enthusiasts while surrounded by the flock that started it all.

We'll share a delicious catered lunch before gathering for an informal Q&A with Jill Zielinski of North Bay Fiber and Jim Bristol and Elaine Palm of Great Lakes Lamb. Hear the story behind North Bay Fiber, learn about the exceptional Targhee-Polypay flock that produces the wool for BayHouse™, and ask all of your fiber-related questions.

This is more than a knitting event—it's an opportunity to experience the farm, the flock, and the story behind North Bay Fiber's beloved BayHouse™ yarn.

Your Ticket Includes

• A three-hour private knitting gathering at Great Lakes Lamb
• Catered boxed lunch from the restaurant Buck's Country Kitchen
• Lemonade and bottled water
• Time to meet the BayHouse™ flock
• An intimate Q&A with Jill Zielinski and dad-daughter duo Jim Bristol and Elaine Palm of Great Lakes Lamb 
• A beautiful fall afternoon celebrating American wool and community
  
  

Lunch Selection

A catered boxed lunch from Buck's Country Kitchen is included with your ticket.

After registering, North Bay Fiber will contact you to confirm your lunch selection. Please choose one of the following options:

Chicken Ranch BLT Wrap

Crispy chicken tenders, bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, lettuce, and tomatoes, served with French fries, a pickle spear, and a side of ranch dressing.

Full Chef Salad

A blend of crisp lettuce and mixed greens topped with sliced ham and turkey, tomatoes, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, onions, and sliced hard-boiled egg. Served with your choice of dressing.

Chicken Strip Basket

Three crispy chicken tenders served with French fries and your choice of dipping sauce.

Grilled Cheese (Vegetarian)

Melted American cheese served on your choice of white, wheat, or rye bread, with French fries and a pickle spear.

What to Bring

• Your current knitting or crochet project.
• Dress for the weather and wear comfortable footwear suitable for walking on a working farm.
• Comfortable seating will be provided, including a variety of cushioned furniture. If you have a favorite camp chair or would like to ensure a seating option that's just right for you, you're welcome to bring one.
• Consider bringing an extra blanket or light jacket if the weather is cool, especially if we'll be gathering outdoors.

Important Information

• This event takes place at Great Lakes Lamb in West Branch, Michigan. Guests are responsible for their own transportation to and from the farm.
• After purchasing your ticket, North Bay Fiber will contact you with the farm address, driving directions, and your boxed lunch selection.
• This event takes place on a working sheep farm. Guests should expect uneven ground, grass, gravel, and natural farm terrain.
• In the event of inclement weather, the gathering will move inside the barn.
• Service animals are welcome in accordance with the ADA. Pets and emotional support animals are not permitted.
• Restroom facilities will be available on-site.

Registration Information

Space is limited to 15 guests to create an intimate, relaxed experience.

Advance registration is required.

We can't wait to spend an afternoon knitting with you at the farm where the North Bay Fiber story began.

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CANCELLATION & REFUND POLICY

We understand that plans sometimes change. If you're unable to attend, please notify North Bay Fiber as soon as possible so we can offer your reserved spot to another guest.

• Cancellations made 7 or more days before the event: Receive a full refund.
• Cancellations made 3–6 days before the event: Receive a 50% refund.
• Cancellations made fewer than 72 hours before the event or no-shows: Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a refund.

Because this event has limited seating, catered meals, and advance planning, late cancellations result in costs that cannot be recovered. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us make this experience possible.

If North Bay Fiber or Great Lakes Lamb cancels the event due to severe weather or other unforeseen circumstances, you may choose either:

• A full refund, or
• A transfer to a rescheduled event (if applicable).

It's Anniversary Week at North Bay Fiber!

This week marks a very special milestone for us—North Bay Fiber is celebrating five years!

To kick off Anniversary Week, we're sharing a preview of what's to come over the next few days and during our celebration this weekend. We have new releases, special surprises, giveaways, and more planned, and we can't wait to celebrate with you!

Celebrate Five Years of North Bay Fiber

Five years ago, North Bay Fiber began with a vision: to create beautiful yarns that celebrate American wool, support American mills and farms, and inspire makers to create something meaningful.

This week, we're celebrating that incredible journey—and we're so grateful you've been part of it.

Whether you've been with us since the very beginning or just discovered North Bay Fiber, thank you for helping make these first five years so special. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

Anniversary Weekend | August 7–9

Join us all weekend long as we celebrate five years of North Bay Fiber with special releases, giveaways, exclusive offers, and plenty of reasons to stop by the shop or visit us online.

A Brand-New Color is Coming

We've been hard at work in the dye studio creating a brand-new colorway especially for our 5th Anniversary.

We'll be revealing it later this week, and we can't wait to share it with you!

A New Pattern Release

We're also releasing a brand-new cowl pattern designed especially for our newest colorway.

To celebrate, the pattern will be FREE with the purchase of the featured yarn during our anniversary celebration.

Anniversary Sale

We'll also be celebrating with a special anniversary sale all weekend long. Details will be announced later this week, so stay tuned!

Celebrate With Us at the Shop

Join us Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM for our in-store celebration!

We'll have:

• Open Stitch all day—bring your knitting or crochet!
• Champagne and cupcakes beginning at 12:30 PM
• A $100 North Bay Fiber Gift Card door prize (no purchase necessary)
• The official reveal of our new anniversary color
• Lots of yarn, knitting, and celebration!

Can't make it to the shop? We'll also be giving away a $100 North Bay Fiber Gift Card on Instagram, so everyone can join in the celebration.

We'd love to celebrate with you!

Ice Dye Workshop

We're also hosting an Ice Dye Workshop with Jill from 10:00 AM–12:00 PM on Saturday.

Seats are available! Visit the Classes section of our website for all the details and to reserve your spot.

Thank You

It's hard to believe that five years have already passed.

What began with one yarn line and a dream has grown into an incredible community of knitters, makers, and fiber lovers. Every order, every visit to the shop, every project you've shared, and every kind word has helped shape North Bay Fiber into what it is today.

Thank you for believing in what we're building and for making North Bay Fiber part of your creative journey.

We can't wait to celebrate with you this week and this weekend—and we're even more excited for everything still to come.

— Jill and the NBF Crew

Celebrating American Wool This Fourth of July

At North Bay Fiber, the Fourth of July is about so much more than fireworks and backyard barbecues. It's a celebration of the American farmers, mills, family businesses, and makers who make our yarn possible.

Every skein in our breed-specific collection begins with 100% American wool, sourced directly from American sheep producers, custom spun at American mills, and hand-dyed in Pinconning, Michigan.

When you choose North Bay Fiber, you're supporting an entire network of American farms, mills, and small businesses that are committed to preserving the tradition of American wool.

❤️🤍💙 Fourth of July Sale 

To celebrate Independence Day and the people behind every skein, we're offering a special holiday weekend promotion.

July 2–6

• 15% OFF eligible red, white, and blue North Bay Fiber yarn
• FREE U.S. shipping on domestic orders of $50 or more
• Use coupon code AMERICANWOOL2026 at checkout

Eligible Colorways

Redear
Gill Plate
Holly
Roe
Early Maple
Watershed
Marina
Float
Frost
Bay Shore
North Bay
Hudson
Superior
Deep Dive
Natural

Included Yarn Bases

• BayBlend DK
• BayDrift
• BayHouse Fingering
• BayHouse Sport
• BayHouse DK
• BayHouse Bulky
• Elemental Fingering
• Elemental Sport
• Elemental Worsted
• Journey

Sale excludes variegated and speckled colorways, Catch of the Day yarn, and non–North Bay Fiber products. Coupon code must be entered during checkout and cannot be applied after purchase.

Where Every Skein Begins

One of the things that makes North Bay Fiber unique is our commitment to sourcing wool directly from American sheep producers.

While our breed-specific collection includes partnerships with several incredible American farms, many of the photos you'll see throughout this post are from Great Lakes Lamb, located just about an hour from our shop. Their beautiful Targhee-Polypay wool becomes BayHouse™, the yarn that started North Bay Fiber and continues to be our most popular collection today.

These photos tell one chapter of our story, but we're equally proud to partner with the American sheep producers behind Elemental and Journey, creating a collection of breed-specific yarns that celebrates the diversity, heritage, and incredible quality of American wool.

Each breed offers something unique—from softness and elasticity to loft, structure, and drape—giving knitters the opportunity to experience the remarkable variety found in American-grown wool.

Where It All Started

In 2021, our family purchased our very first harvest of 100% Targhee-Polypay wool from Great Lakes Lamb. That harvest became the very first BayHouse™ yarn and marked the beginning of what would become North Bay Fiber.

Today, BayHouse remains our flagship yarn and a favorite among knitters across the country.

Five Years of Partnership

This year marked our fifth consecutive year purchasing wool from Great Lakes Lamb.

Visiting the farm each season is a reminder that every skein begins long before it reaches our dye studio. It starts with families dedicated to raising healthy sheep, caring for the land, and producing exceptional American wool.

Seeing the Finished Yarn

One of our favorite moments was watching Jim Bristol hold a finished skein of BayHouse™ yarn for the very first time.

Seeing the wool raised on his family's farm transformed into finished yarn is a beautiful reminder of why we believe so strongly in keeping American wool local whenever possible.

The People Behind the Wool

Behind every skein is a family.

Whether it's Jim and Elaine Palm and the team at Great Lakes Lamb, the mills that custom spin our yarn, or our own family hand-dyeing every skein in Pinconning, North Bay Fiber exists because of people who care deeply about American craftsmanship.

Thank You

Thank you for supporting our family business and the American sheep producers, family farms, American mills, and small businesses that make North Bay Fiber possible.

Every skein represents countless hands working together to keep American wool thriving, strengthen American manufacturing, and preserve a tradition of craftsmanship we're proud to be part of.

From all of us at North Bay Fiber, we wish you and your family a safe, happy, and relaxing Fourth of July.

🎉 Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl Door Prize Winners! 🎉

The Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl has officially come to an end, and this morning we held our drawing for the North Bay Fiber door prizes!

We had eight wonderful prizes to give away, and we're excited to announce the winners below. Congratulations to all of our winners! We will be contacting each of you, and your prizes are ready for pickup at North Bay Fiber.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who visited, shopped, crawled, and supported North Bay Fiber during this year's Yarn Crawl!

Door Prize Winners

🏆 Door Prize #1
65 South Bucket Bag with Shoulder Strap
Winner: Lisa Bywater

🏆 Door Prize #2
Bella Filato Bella BIGG (2 skeins in IRL) + Sticker
Winner: Kay Varosi

🏆 Door Prize #3
Bella Filato Bella BIGG (2 skeins in Good Things Glow) + Sticker
Winner: Amanda Graham

🏆 Door Prize #4
Running Bird Farm Naturally Dyed Bandana
Winner: Teresa Valko

🏆 Door Prize #5
Ice-Dyed North Bay Fiber Tee, BayDrift Yarn & Sticker
Winner: Michele Goretcki

🏆 Door Prize #6
$100 North Bay Fiber Gift Card
Winner: Joseph Langevin

🏆 Door Prize #7
Circulo Yarns Goodie Bag
Winner: Kathy Forsythe

🏆 Door Prize #8
JS Handmade Wooden Bowl
Winner: Jeni Hoskins

Congratulations again to all of our winners! 

💙 A Special Thank You

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful companies and makers who generously donated prizes for our Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl door prize drawings. Your support helped make this event even more fun and memorable for our customers, and we are so grateful.

Thank you to:
• 65 South
• Bella Filato Studio
• Circulo Yarns
• JS Handmade
• North Bay Fiber
• Running Bird Farm

We appreciate your generosity and your support of the fiber arts community. Please take a moment to visit and support these amazing businesses.

Thank you again to everyone who participated in this year's Yarn Crawl. We already can't wait for next year! ❤️🧶

Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl
All the Yarny Details

The Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl starts this Thursday, June 11th and runs through June 20th. We've packed the shop with special events, exclusive products, prizes, trunk shows, and plenty of reasons to stop by.

Before we jump into all the fun, a quick note for our online community:

Many of the items featured below are debuting during the Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl and will be available first to in-store visitors. Once the Yarn Crawl concludes, we'll inventory any remaining products and do our best to make them available online as well.

That includes our new Liberty Bay colorway, special products, and other Yarn Crawl goodies. We never want our online friends to feel left out, and if inventory remains after the event, we'll be sure to share it with you too!

Now, onto all Yarn Crawl details...

Exclusive Yarn Crawl Colorway

Introducing Liberty Bay, our limited-edition colorway inspired by the celebration of America's 250th birthday.

This festive red, white, and blue speckled colorway will be available exclusively during the Yarn Crawl on BayDrift and Elemental Fingering. While supplies last.

Free Gifts During the Yarn Crawl

Spend $25 or more during the Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl and receive a complimentary North Bay Fiber cedar block while supplies last.

Custom engraved for North Bay Fiber by our friend Allison of Isabella Flock, these cedar blocks are perfect for storing with your yarn, woolens, and knitting projects while helping to naturally protect your fiber stash.

One complimentary cedar block per qualifying purchase, while supplies last.

New Arrivals for the Crawl

We've stocked the shelves with lots of new products for Yarn Crawl visitors, including:

• New products from 65 South
• Needle felting kits from Felted Sky Studios
• A fresh Cocoknits restock
• New notions, gifts, project accessories, and more!

 

 

North Bay Fiber Door Prizes

In addition to the official Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl grand prizes (for those to enter with passports) , North Bay Fiber will be giving away our own collection of door prizes throughout the event.

Receive one entry ticket for every $25 spent and place your tickets into the prize drawings that interest you most. 

The more you shop, the more chances you'll have to win!

Special Yarn Crawl Savings

We've got some great deals planned during the Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl for our in store visitors!

Sale Room — 50% Off

Enjoy 50% off all items in our Sale Room. You'll find slightly flawed yarns, Catch of the Day colorways, discontinued products, and other fiber treasures looking for a good home. If you love a bargain, this is the place to dig!

North Bay Fiber Swag — 25% Off  (In-Store Only)

All North Bay Fiber swag will be 25% off during the Yarn Crawl, including:

• One-of-a-kind ice-dyed tees
• Cozy sweatshirts
• Tote bags
• Custom stitch markers
• North Bay Fiber merchandise and gifts

It's the perfect opportunity to treat yourself or pick up a gift 
for your favorite fiber friend.

Sip & Knit With Us

This Friday, June 12th, Travelin' Tom's Coffee Truck will be parked right outside North Bay Fiber from 10 AM–1 PM serving a delicious selection of hot coffee drinks, refreshing iced beverages, and specialty coffee creations.

Grab your favorite drink, browse all the Yarn Crawl fun, and settle in for a little knitting while you're here!

Special Trunk Shows

We've curated two special trunk shows to coincide with the Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl, featuring talented makers whose work celebrates craftsmanship, creativity, and the handmade spirit we love so much.

JS Handmade: June 12–13

Beautiful handcrafted wooden yarn bowls, vessels, and home décor pieces created right here in Mid-Michigan. Perfect for knitters and anyone who appreciates quality handmade craftsmanship.

Knittery Things: June 19–20

 We’re thrilled to host Julia Vesper of Knittery Things, known for her hand-dyed yarns, including her very popular self-striping sock yarn in stunning colorways. These vibrant skeins are sure to spark inspiration for your next cast-on!

Middle Of The Mitten Passports

We currently have a small handful of official Middle of the Mitten Yarn Crawl Passports and commemorative tote bags available for just $10 and can be purchased directly from our website or in-store.

If you're planning to visit North Bay Fiber, simply select Local Pickup at checkout and we'll have your passport waiting for you when you arrive—no shipping required.

Special Extended Yarn Crawl Hours
Tuesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM – 7 PM
Thursday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Whether you're planning to visit one shop or all 12 participating shops, we hope you'll make North Bay Fiber part of your Yarn Crawl adventure. We've been working hard to make this a fun and memorable event, and we can't wait to welcome fiber friends from across Michigan and beyond through our doors. See you at the Crawl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join us Saturday, April 25 from 10–2 at North Bay Fiber as we celebrate one of our favorite days of the year.

We’ll have Open Stitch all day, so bring your project, settle in, and spend some cozy time with us in the shop.

We’re also so excited to debut a new collaboration with Yvette of Running Bird Farms — a very special release you won’t want to miss.

Throughout the day, we’ll have snacks and treats in the shop, plus we’re thrilled to be hosting special trunk show with OhMI Fibers.

Heather from OHMI Fibers will be bringing a beautifully curated selection of hand-dyed yarns and fiber kits for knitters, weavers, and fiber enthusiasts. 

Yarns will include superwash merino wool in bulky, aran, DK, sport, and fingering weights, along with cotton-bamboo blends in fingering and DK.

A range of specialty yarns will also be available, including soft suri alpaca “cloud” yarns and sparkling superwash merino nylon blends.

Weaving kits in multiple sizes — 12 × 15, 8 × 10, and 4 × 4 — will be available alongside tapestry combs and needles, as well as beginner-friendly felting kits for small projects like change purses.

And if you missed out on the last class, there’s another opportunity to join Heather’s Intro to Weaving Class on LYS Day. Be sure to sign up soon to reserve your seat.

✨ No experience needed
✨ A wonderful beginner-friendly class
✨ Limited spots available

SIGN UP FOR INTRO TO WEAVING

Introducing The Millhouse Collection

The Millhouse Collection brings a new dimension to North Bay Fiber.

While our focus remains rooted in our custom-milled, breed-specific yarns, the reality is that we can’t custom source and mill every fiber we dream of. The Millhouse Collection gives us space to explore those ideas — allowing us to expand our offerings, dream bigger, and bring you beautiful new textures and fibers that thoughtfully complement the yarns you already love.

Yarns in this collection begin their journey at select millhouses, where experienced manufacturers create beautiful, ready-to-dye bases. Each one is carefully chosen for its texture, drape, performance, and the way it takes color, selected specifically to compliment our North Bay Fiber signature yarns.

Once these bases arrive in our studio, they become uniquely North Bay Fiber. Every skein is hand-dyed with the same care, artistry, and color intention that define our custom palette.

The Millhouse Collection allows us to grow creatively — exploring new fibers, textures, and possibilities while staying true to thoughtful design. It gives us room to experiment and offer even more ways to create pieces you’ll love for years to come.

To help clearly distinguish these yarns, we’ve also introduced a refreshed label for the Millhouse Collection. While our custom-milled, breed-specific yarns continue to carry their familiar labels, Millhouse yarns feature intentionally different branding — a visual cue that reflects their distinct origin and purpose, while still belonging to the North Bay Fiber family.

Say "Hello" to BayDrift

BayDrift is the very first yarn in our new Millhouse Collection.

This cloud-light lace yarn is spun from 75% Baby Suri Alpaca and 25% Silk, chosen for its luminous halo, gentle drape, and exceptional softness. A mohair-free alternative, BayDrift offers next-to-skin comfort with a refined, airy feel.

This base takes dye beautifully and opens the door to a new exploration for us — including our very first experiment with variegated and speckled color! Needles are flying, fabrics are forming, and the color possibilities feel endlessly inspiring.

BayDrift can be used on its own for ethereal lace, or held together with our custom-milled signature bases — BayHouse, BayBlend, or Elemental — to create a fabric that’s soft, dimensional, and quietly radiant.

Once-In-A-Dyetime Colors
Available on BayDrift — Very Limited

Currently, BayDrift is currently available exclusively in Once-In-A-Dyetime colors. These are very small-batch, limited-edition colorways created as we learn, explore, and become more familiar with how this beautiful yarn takes color.

Once-In-A-Dyetime colors are born from exploration. They emerge as we experiment, play, and push our understanding of color — testing ideas that may one day evolve into part of the North Bay Fiber palette.

Through this process, we sometimes discover unexpected results. Some of these colors can’t be recreated exactly — not because anything went wrong, but because the process led us somewhere beautifully unplanned.

Each skein captures a moment in our color journey. Some ideas move forward, while others remain one-of-a-kind discoveries. Every result is beautiful and complete in its own way.

Once-In-A-Dyetime colors on BayDrift will go live Thursday, January 22 at 9 AM Eastern, both online and in the shop. Quantities are very limited, and each colorway is listed with the exact amount available. These skeins are dyed and ready to ship — and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

Below is a glimpse of the Once-In-A-Dyetime colors available.





This new collection opens the door to even more possibilities at North Bay Fiber. We hope you — and your needles (and hooks!) — are feeling just as inspired as we are! ✨

— Jill

As we step into a new year, I wanted to take a moment to share a few updates and reminders about the shop. Some of these may be familiar, but I wanted to be sure everyone has the same information as we move forward together.

Updated Shop Hours
If you haven’t heard about our new hours for the year, here’s a 
quick overview:

Wednesday: 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Knit Night runs from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Please note we are now closing at 7:00 PM (not 7:30 PM anymore)

Thursday & Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

With these updated hours, I’d like to kindly ask everyone to be mindful of closing times. Our staff often has other commitments and families waiting at home, and being able to wrap up and leave on time truly means a lot. We so appreciate your understanding and consideration.

Yarn Winding

We’re happy to offer complimentary winding for North Bay Fiber yarns purchased in the shop. For yarn brought in from outside of the shop, winding is available for $4 per skein. Because winding can be time-consuming, our winding station will close 30 minutes before the shop closes. If you’d like yarn wound, please bring it to the winding station before that time. If you miss it, you’re always welcome to have it wound on a future visit.

Knit Night Notes

Knit Night continues to be held Wednesdays from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, and we’re grateful to still be able to offer it at no charge. 

Moving forward, we will no longer be providing drinks and snacks, simply because we’re no longer able to accommodate everyone comfortably. We encourage you to bring your own drink and if you'd like to bring a snack to share, please feel free — just be mindful of potential allergies.

Help With Projects

Our shop staff is always happy to help with quick fixes on your projects when we’re able. If what you need goes beyond a 5–15 minute fix, we’ll let you know at that time that it requires paid instruction. Depending on availability, we may either assist you then or recommend scheduling a one-on-one session with one of our instructors — Jeanie, Nancy, or Jill.

One-on-one instruction is available for $15 per 30 minutes and is a great way to get focused, unrushed guidance tailored to your project.

To book an appointment, simply ask us in the shop or reach out by phone or email:
📞 989-200-2016
✉️ info@northbayfiber.com

Knit Therapy — Thursdays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Please remember we do offer Knit Therapy, a weekly drop-in support session designed to help you move forward with your projects in a relaxed, welcoming setting.

Whether you’re:

• Starting a new pattern and want cast-on confidence

• Feeling lost in a pattern

• Fixing a mistake without making it worse

• Returning to a long-lost WIP

• Or simply looking for thoughtful guidance as you build skills

—we’ve got you.

When: Every Thursday, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where: North Bay Fiber — 3737 N Huron Road, Pinconning

Pricing:
• Drop-in session: $20
• Punch card: $100 for 6 sessions (Buy 5, get 1 FREE)

I truly hope your year is off to a wonderful start. Thank you for your continued support, kindness, and understanding as we make a few adjustments that help support both the shop and the people who make it run.

Warmly,

Jill

✨ New Year, New Design — Test Knitters Wanted ✨ 

The first day of January feels like the perfect moment for a fresh cast-on — and I’m excited to share that I’m officially opening a test knit call for a brand new shawl design.

This pattern (still unnamed!) is a top-down triangular shawl knit with three colors of North Bay Fiber BayBlend DK. It’s an easy, meditative knit featuring simple knits and purls, gentle striping, and cozy ribbing — the kind of project that’s perfect for settling into the new year with your needles.

If you’re looking for a relaxing, satisfying knit and would love to help bring this design to life, I’d be so happy to have you apply as a test knitter.

🧶 All the details + application are available through the link in my profile.
Test knitters selected for the project will receive 10% off yarn for this shawl.

Please be sure to apply if you’re interested — it will be so fun to knit together!

Happy New Year, Everyone!
Here’s to fresh starts, new stitches, and a beautiful year of making ✨

CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM AND APPLY TO BE A TEST KNITTER

Our new labels arrived this week, and it felt like the right moment to share our big update.

✨ A New Year, A Thoughtful Update ✨

As we step into 2026, we’re making an intentional shift with our most loved yarn.

Over the years, our Heritage yarn has become the heart of North Bay Fiber. It wasn’t just the first yarn I developed — it’s the yarn which launched our company, and it’s our best-selling, most reliable base that so many of you return to again and again.

After nearly 5 years, we’ve realized that having a name that’s uniquely ours is more important than ever. We want to ensure this unique yarn stands out as distinctly part of the North Bay Fiber family. 

We’re excited to share that Heritage is now named BayHouse™.

Just like a house wine at your favorite restaurant, BayHouse™ is our house yarn — dependable, versatile, and deeply rooted in who we are. It’s wool sourced close to home here in Michigan, milled with care, designed to be the yarn you can always come back to.

Over the course of 2026, our labels and listings will transition from Heritage to BayHouse™. Same yarn you love. Same quality. Same fiber story. Just a name that’s distinctly and unmistakably North Bay Fiber.

Thank you for growing with us and for supporting thoughtful, American-sourced yarn every step of the way.

The Sophie Scarf: A Simple, One-Skein Project You’ll Knit Again and Again

Some knits steal your heart the moment they come off the needles — and the Sophie Scarf is one of them. Our sample is worked in BayBlend DK, and it has quickly become one of my most-worn accessories. It’s soft, lightweight, effortlessly wearable, and truly the perfect little project when you want something simple, satisfying, and beautiful.

Below, I’m sharing the small modification we made to customize the shape, plus a helpful pro tip to ensure you use your skein efficiently from beginning to end.

Our Modifications

The pattern is already wonderfully straightforward, but we made one small adjustment to achieve a longer, slimmer silhouette — a look I absolutely love.

Here’s what we did:

• Instead of working the increases and decreases every 7 rows as written

• We spaced them out to every 14 rows

This tiny tweak changes the proportions just enough to give the scarf a bit more length and elegance while still keeping the simple charm of the original design.

Pro Tip

Before you cast on, take a moment to weigh your skein.

Here’s the method that ensures you don’t run out of yarn and can enjoy the longest possible scarf:

1. Weigh your full skein.

2. Knit until you’ve used half the skein, plus an extra 10% for a little wiggle room.

3. Once you hit that point, begin your decreases.

It’s an easy habit that makes a huge difference — especially with one-skein projects!

The Perfect Project for Today

The Sophie Scarf is a fantastic one-skein knit, and BayBlend DK suits it beautifully. If you haven’t tried this blend yet, today is the perfect chance. It’s next-to-skin soft, has a lovely hand, and drapes like a dream.

In celebration of Giving Tuesday, enjoy free domestic shipping on orders of $25+ — a great excuse to treat yourself to a skein (or two!) and cast on something cozy.

Happy knitting, Jill! Let me know if you want a version formatted for your newsletter, too.



LINK TO PATTERN:  CLICK HERE
LINK TO YARN:  CLICK HERE

It’s Giving Tuesday

After a weekend full of holiday excitement, today gives us the chance to slow down and focus on something especially meaningful — giving back.

What Is Giving Tuesday?

Giving Tuesday takes place each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It’s a global movement built around generosity and kindness, encouraging us all to uplift the organizations, people, and causes that strengthen our communities. It’s a day dedicated to supporting the work that matters most.

How North Bay Fiber Is Giving Back

For Giving Tuesday, North Bay Fiber is donating 10% of today’s online sales to the Michigan Sheep Producers Association — a mission-driven organization we’re deeply proud to support.

This marks our fifth year contributing to MSPA. Their advocacy, mentorship programs, scholarships, and educational outreach help nurture the next generation of Michigan shepherds. After seeing firsthand the knowledge, dedication, and skill that go into American wool production, supporting their work feels more important than ever.

Because truly… if shepherds aren’t trained to shear the sheep, we wouldn’t have the wool that becomes your yarn. 🐑

And a Little Something for You…

To thank you for supporting our Giving Tuesday efforts — and to help maximize our donation — we’re offering:

✨ FREE domestic shipping on all orders of $25+ (today only!)
Use code: GIVINGTUESDAY2025

Your purchase today not only brings something cozy to your needles, but also directly supports the future of Michigan’s sheep and wool industry.

Thank you for giving back with us. 💛