Needles in the Hay: 5 Things to do in Peterborough, Ontario if you Love Craft

In today’s city guide, we are sitting down with Deanna Guttman who is the owner of Needles in the Hay, a beautiful yarn shop in Peterborough, Ontario. In this blog post, Deanna shows us around her store and shares some excellent places for crafters to visit whilst they’re in town.

Needles in the Hay was founded in 2010 and taken over by Deanna six years later. In this lovely little yarn shop, you will find high-quality natural fibres in a myriad of beautiful colours. They work hard to bring their customers the best selections of excellent yarns at a variety of price points. Deanna has a special passion for wool, but you will also find alpaca, silk, linen and more.

Every Tuesday evening from 7-9pm, they host their Purlez-Vous knitting social, which is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with fellow fibre arts enthusiasts. This is an open house where anyone is welcome to drop in and knit or crochet with Deanna. If you prefer to visit during the day, you can Sit ‘n Knit with Grace on Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm.

Needles in the Hay has one of the largest selections of The Fibre Co. yarn in the whole of Canada, stocking Tundra, Cumbria, Lore, Acadia, Arranmore Light, Luma, Road to China Light, Cumbria Fingering and Meadow. They also have a fantastic online yarn shop for those of you who struggle to get your hands on our yarn in person.

Once you have finished your yarn shopping, here are Deanna’s recommendations of top places to visit in Peterborough if you love craft.

5 Places to Visit in Peterborough, Ontario

Best Local Museum

It doesn’t look like much on the outside, but Deanna tells us that the Canadian Canoe Museum is a wonder on the inside! It is a unique national heritage centre that explores the canoe’s enduring significance to the people of Canada. They’re an engaging, family-friendly museum with an exceptional collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft on display.

Favourite Place to Grab a Drink

If yarn shopping leaves you feeling thirsty, Deanna recommends two amazing establishments on the same block as Needles in the Hay.

Le Petit Bar is a wine bar with a warm European feel. Owner Shannon Mak has curated a tight selection of wines and custom cocktails that are absolutely delicious. This is a great place for a drink and some cheese and charcuterie.

St. Veronus is a self-described Belgian beer temple and more of a lunch and dinner spot. It has a massive beer list and a pretty long scotch list, too. The space is cosy and inviting with lots of comfort food on offer. Deanna highly recommends the Moules et Frites!

If coffee is more your thing, Deanna suggests heading to Cork and Bean, which is just around the corner from them on George Street. They have delicious espresso-based drinks, pastries and sandwiches to go.

Ideal Place to Sit and Eat a Picnic

Millenium Park is only a few short blocks away from Needles in the Hay. Nestled beside the Otonabee River, it’s a great place to have a stroll. If you didn’t bring your own picnic, the Silver Bean Cafe has healthy options and a fantastic deck right by the waterfront. You can even rent a canoe or paddle board if it strikes your fancy!