Brianna Redlich is the owner of Yarn Over Fibre and Crafting Co., the only yarn store in Regina, Saskatchewan. She has created a welcoming and inclusive yarn shop in the heart of the Prairies, but how did this former veterinary technician make the leap to yarn store owner? I recently chatted with Brianna about her fibre origin story.
(This interview has been edited for clarity.)
Ellen Paulley: How did you develop an interest in craft?
Brianna Redlich: My granny got my brother and me started with crochet and using plastic canvas. Since I was little, I enjoyed arts and crafts and have tried many things over my lifetime. About ten years ago I looked up a YouTube video to start crocheting again. It just kind of went from there and got to the point where I have yarn tattooed on my arm now.
EP: What interested you in a career shift from veterinary technician to yarn store owner?
BR: I’ve always wanted to own my own business. COVID and my maternity leave were the nail in the coffin on my vet tech career. Vet techs unfortunately have a very high burnout rate—the average career is five years, and I did twelve. As vet techs, we would deal with a high percentage of negative interactions. When I went back to work after my maternity leave, I didn’t find joy in my position anymore. Then the universe aligned, and I got funding for my yarn store.
All images courtesy Brianna Redlich.
