Beehive Wool Shop

Beehive Wool Shop is a family-owned specialty yarn and fibre-arts retailer based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1906 as Beehive Yarns and Dry Goods by the Fowler Family, it is one of the oldest continuously operating yarn shops in Canada. The store began by retailing yarn, fabric and woolen underwear to early twentieth-century Victoria, and over more than a century it evolved into a destination for knitters, crocheters and fibre artists. The shop is located at the intersection of Douglas and Fisgard Street in downtown Victoria, steps away from Canada's oldest Chinatown and Old Town Victoria, on the traditional unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People (Esquimalt and Songhees Nations). The Beehive carries a curated selection of commercial and hand-dyed yarns in a wide variety of gauges and fibres, from bulky cotton to lace-weight alpaca, alongside knitting and crochet tools, notions, books and ready-to-knit kits. It is known for its ever-changing collection of knitted and crocheted samples from local and international designers, and for knowledgeable staff who help customers with yarn substitutions, technique questions and project planning. The shop also hosts community events such as the Craft Rave and the Beehive Fibre Arts Centre gatherings, and offers seasonal programs like the 12 Days of Merriment advent calendar. Ownership has passed through several families. After two generations of Fowler Family ownership, the Orme Family bought the Beehive in the 1950s and specialized in fine British woollen yarns and fabric. In March 1997, Valerie Huggett bought the shop; she moved it back downtown in 1999, and in 2018 her daughter Julia joined the team to continue the tradition of family ownership. Today Beehive Wool Shop operates both a physical store in Victoria and an online shop serving customers well beyond Vancouver Island.

Beehive Wool Shop was founded in 1906 as Beehive Yarns and Dry Goods by the Fowler Family in Victoria, British Columbia. In its early years the store retailed yarn, fabric and woolen underwear to early twentieth-century Victoria; the woolen underwear was proudly displayed suspended from the ceiling. The store moved locations several times before settling on Fort Street, where it remained for several decades. After two generations of ownership by the Fowler Family, the Orme Family bought the Beehive in the 1950s. Under the Orme Family, the shop's specialty became fine British woollen yarns and fabric, and gradually all other 'dry goods' were phased out. In the 1970s, knitting experienced a big renaissance when the 'Condo Sweater' craze began. The Beehive responded by opening multiple locations in Hillside Mall, in Mayfair Mall, and on Oak Bay Avenue. By 1995, the multiple shop locations had merged into the single Oak Bay Avenue location. In March 1997, Valerie Huggett bought the Beehive. In 1999, she moved the shop back downtown, just a few blocks away from its original location. The shop remains at the intersection of Douglas and Fisgard to this day. In 2018, her daughter Julia joined the team to continue the Beehive Wool Shop tradition of family ownership. Over its more than 115-year history, the Beehive has stood for quality in its yarn selection, expertise and service. The shop describes itself as a welcoming space for knitters and fibre artists of all skill levels, with an ever-growing and -changing collection of knitted and crocheted samples from local and international designers. It is located on the traditional unceded territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən People, known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations, just steps away from Canada's oldest Chinatown and Old Town Victoria. The shop operates both a physical store and an online shop, and hosts community events such as the Craft Rave and the Beehive Fibre Arts Centre gatherings.

• 2018

  Valerie's daughter Julia joined the team, continuing family ownership.

• 1999

  Shop moved back downtown, a few blocks from its original location, to Douglas and Fisgard.

• 1997

  Valerie Huggett bought the Beehive in March.

• 1995

  Multiple shop locations merged into the single Oak Bay Avenue location.

• 1970

  Knitting renaissance and 'Condo Sweater' craze led to multiple locations in Hillside Mall, Mayfair Mall and Oak Bay Avenue.

• 1950

  Orme Family bought the Beehive; specialty became fine British woollen yarns and fabric.

• 1906

  Founded as Beehive Yarns and Dry Goods by the Fowler Family in Victoria, B.C.

• Store moved several times before settling on Fort Street, where it remained for several decades.

Canada's premiere retailer of yarn, knits and tools; a welcoming, family-owned destination for knitters and fibre artists of all skill levels.

• Ready to Knit Kits

  Curated kits including Woolly Wreath & Garland Kit, Colorwork Cap Kit, Alexandra's Airplane Scarf Kit, Happy Baby Blanket Kit, Featherlight Shawl Kit, Fisgard Lighthouse Shawl Kit, Tapered Cowl Kit, Chenille Checkerboard Blanket Kit, Enter Octopus Kit.

• Yarn

  Curated selection of commercial and hand-dyed yarns in a wide variety of gauges and fibres from bulky cotton to lace-weight alpaca.

• Books and patterns

  Titles such as Lang Book - Naturalis - Punto 97, Patty Lyons' Knitting ER, Symmetric Socks & More, A User's Guide to Yarn.

• Gift Card

  Gift cards usable online or in-store, with no processing fees or expiry dates.

• Craft Rave
• 12 Days of Merriment

1. 1Beehive Wool Shop | Canada's Premiere Retailer Of Yarn, Knits & Toolsbeehivewoolshop.com
2. 2Our History | Canada's Premiere Retailer Of Yarn, Knits & Tools - Beehive Wool Shopbeehivewoolshop.com
3. 3About Us | Canada's Premiere Retailer Of Yarn, Knits & Tools - Beehive Wool Shopbeehivewoolshop.com
4. 4Gift Card | Shop Gift Card Online Today - Beehive Wool Shopbeehivewoolshop.com
5. 5Beehive Wool Shop - Wikidatawikidata.org