FabLab Member Spotlight: Purl and Hank
Share This Article!
Spotlighting a local knitting pro, with over 13 years of experience under her belt.
High quality yarn available in store at Purl and Hank
Meet Crystal Salkeld, the owner of Purl and Hank and a proud North Forge FabLab™ member. She started her business five years ago selling leather goods on Instagram and it’s grown into an impressive international brand selling items all over the world including France and Australia. She’s even had Hollywood’s own, Hilary Swank, visit her in-person to purchase her handmade goods!
After successfully opening her Winnipeg store last fall, Crystal now provides workshops for the local maker community in addition to selling high-quality yarn and handmade leather goods. We sat down with Crystal to chat about Purl and Hank and how she utilizes her FabLab membership for her business.
How Purl and Hank Got Started
Various items and leather good available at Purl and Hank
Five years ago, Purl and Hank began its journey into leather goods, building on Crystal’s passion for crafting locally-made products. It all started when friends admired the leather shawl cuffs Crystal had made to keep their knitted shawls in place. From there, by using an old laser cutter from her husband’s woodshop, she faced numerous failed attempts and burnt items but persisted. Popularity for the shawl cuffs grew, from selling to friends and local yarn stores to selling in stores worldwide, including in Australia, the U.S., and France.
The Purl and Hank name is catchy, but did you know Purl is a type of knitting stitch and Hank is another name for a ball of yarn?
Discovering the FabLab
Crystal decided to join the FabLab when the lens on her old laser cutter broke, and because of its age, it wasn’t repairable. Owning an Epilog Laser System and lacking technical knowledge wasn’t feasible for her due to the high maintenance and costs, which can range from $6,000 to $8,000. Her husband, a former member when the North Forge FabLab was AssentWorks, had been encouraging her to join the FabLab for a while. Despite her initial shyness, she eventually made the leap during the fall of 2021 and became a member.
“When I was shipping my goods to Toronto, just shipping costs alone were what the [North Forge] membership fees were and then I still had to pay for their services and use of their laser-cutter there.”
Evolution of Purl and Hank
Leather “handmade” item tags
Purl and Hank started with a handful of leather pieces made for friends, initially working out of her dining room. As the business grew, the dining room became filled with leather goods, leaving no space for personal belongings. She eventually moved into a small studio but still needed more space.
When the Portage Avenue location that included a space to hold workshops became available, she jumped on it. This expansion allowed her to expand her offerings to incorporate the yarns she loved, which was the fuel behind the creation of Purl and Hank.
Tips for New Entrepreneurs
“Just take the leap. You’ll figure it out as you go, and if you don’t, that’s fine. Just do it,” she says.
Utilizing North Forge Services and Events
Outside of utilizing the North Forge FabLab, Crystal has found WiLab – a North Forge initiative geared towards empowering and inspiring women entrepreneurs. She has attended WiLab’s finance and accounting workshops. As an introvert, she finds attending events challenging, but she pushes herself because she knows it’s important. Crystal wants women entrepreneurs to know that they aren’t alone and they are capable of doing great things.
What Purl and Hank Offers
Outside of their locally-made leather products, Purl and Hank sells fine yarns from all over the world, knitting and crochet classes, and leather crafting classes where participants can make items like the Pierogi Pouch. They also host workshops with other instructors, such as stamp carving, and organize zero-waste nights to create fun items from scraps. “We just love making things.”
A completed pierogi pouch. Purl and Hank provide workshops to create your own pouch.
All workshops are listed on their website at www.purlandhank.com.
The FabLab Community
“The laser training at North Forge has been excellent. Any questions are quickly answered via Slack, and people are always willing to help with materials or any other needs,” Crystal states. Before joining North Forge, Crystal knew very little about laser cutting and often guessed on things. With the knowledge gained, she feels more confident and safe in her work.
Although Crystal is often busy, she loves seeing everyone help each other out. It’s a supportive environment where people share their expertise and collaborate. The community is worth engaging with if you make the time to embrace it.
To discover more about the FabLab and how you can be a part of it, visit NorthForge.ca/FabLab or join us at 312 William Avenue for a free tour every Tuesday @ 6 PM.
To learn more about Purl and Hank visit their website at purlandhank.com, visit their store located at 2063 Portage Avenue or follow their Instagram page @purlandhank.