Nestled in the heart of the Bauer marketplace in Waterloo, at 187 King St. S., is Flying Squirrel, a vibrant new yarn shop quickly becoming a gathering place for fiber enthusiasts. Owned by Erin Anton, the shop offers a welcoming space for knitters, crocheters and anyone interested in the art of fiber crafts.
Opening a yarn shop has long been a dream for Anton. After the closure of a local yarn store left a void in the community, she saw an opportunity to fill it.
Flying Squirrel opened its doors on Oct. 5, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Opening day was very busy. It’s been very steady since, and a lot of positive comments from people saying that they’re very happy that there’s a yarn shop in town,” Anton said.
Her journey to this moment was not without challenges. Last year, Erin faced cancer treatments, which prompted her to reflect on her aspirations and finally pursue her passion.
“Sometimes when you get sick, you think of things that you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t gotten around to yet,” she said.
Anton was reminded of knitters when seeing squirrels and inspired to use the name Flying Squirrel.
“Squirrels remind me of knitters—they gather nuts, get distracted by new finds, and always want to collect more… they have little stashes of nuts, we have little stashes of yarn,” she said.
On Thursday evenings the shop hosts a stitch social, inviting crafters to bring their projects and enjoy a cozy communal atmosphere. With 25 to 30 attendees each week, the social has quickly become a local fiber arts calendar highlight.
Anton emphasizes the importance of community and notes that the neighboring businesses have been incredibly supportive. With the Bauer Bakery next door and Vincenzo’s just a short stroll away, visitors often stop in for a treat before or after their crafting sessions.
“I’m hoping that in the summer we can do more stuff on the patio,” Anton shares.
Looking ahead, Anton is excited about the prospect of offering classes to teach and inspire the next generation of fiber artists.
She also envisions community events like “Knit and Flicks,” where attendees can enjoy a movie while working on their projects.
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