Four Seasons Knitting Products is a mail order business selling a carefully selected range of knitting products over the internet. Owned and operated by Jo-Anne Hunter, it is based in Toronto, Canada.

Four Seasons History
Four Seasons was started in 1993 by Gail Friesen, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as a mail order business selling "I'd Rather be Knitting" bumper stickers. Steady growth in product selection (!) and customers followed. In 1997, Gail was invited to enter into an accounting practice on a fulltime basis. While initially hoping to handle both businesses, she quickly realized that, although there are 24 hours in a day, some had to be set aside for sleeping. I, by now one of Gail's most frequent customers, leaped at the chance to continue Four Seasons. With the lock, stock and barrel move of inventory from Winnipeg to Toronto in August 1997, I was in the knitting business. In November 2002, after 5 years as a catalogue based business, Four Seasons joined the ranks of online knitting stores.

My History
I've been knitting since about age 6; I remember my mother (very) patiently teaching me with red wool and stubby wooden needles. I have fond memories of watching her knit steadily through the fall and winter months. I also have a lovely collection of tiny hand knit doll clothes - a standard present at Christmas and on every birthday until I was 10.

While my earlier knitting was more likely motivated by badge requirements in Girl Guides (!), I now knit because I love the process as much as the end result. I like to use the best quality materials; yarn has to feel wonderful in my hands and great needles are especially important. I tend to use natural fibres in "traditional" knitting (which I think of as Fair Isle, aran, lace, etc.), and I love the wonderful softness of merino wool.

My choice of products for Four Seasons has clearly been influenced by my own preferences. Having said this, I am always more than happy to look for any product on a customer's behalf. Some of my best tips on great books, Wow! patterns and terrific yarns have come from customers.

Four Seasons Facts

• At any one time, inventory includes:
     700+ books (over 300 titles)
     6000+ skeins/balls of yarn
     450 knitting needles
     700 patterns
  
• Number of people processing & shipping orders, managing inventory, anything-else-that-needs-doing: 1
• Number of hours spent knitting per week by this person: less than 3 (ironic, for a knitting business)
• Number of projects completed by this person in 2004: 0 (though there are several in progress)

Questions? Email Jo-Anne