Our Story
Sweet Paprika Designs was started in 2007 by sisters Elizabeth and Debbie Sullivan. Our grandmother got us started on our crafting journey by teaching us to knit when we were kids, and we've never looked back. We've delved into crochet, dyeing, spinning and weaving and a variety of other fibre crafts along the way. Our business grew out of our shared passion for creating beautiful things with yarn.
We offer high-quality materials for knitters and crocheters, with a focus on locally-sourced and sustainable products. Our hand-dyed yarns, kits, and knitting and crochet patterns are all available online through our website as well as through select retailers. We're based in Montreal, Canada, where we teach dyeing workshops in our studio and host monthly knitting teas.
We love connecting with other crafters both here in Montreal and around the world. You can find us on Facebook and Instagram, join our Ravelry group, or if you're in the area we'd love to meet you in person at one of our events!
Our Yarns
Winfield 100% Canadian-sourced yarn
We think of our yarns as high-quality art supplies, allowing you to fully enjoy the process of expressing yourself through beautiful crafting projects.
We choose our yarn bases carefully and dye them with the finished project in mind. Our colourways range from semi-solid or tonal (on yarn bases that are likely to be combined with intricate stitch patterns or used for colourwork) to variegated yarns that can liven up simpler projects without worry of unplanned pooling. We offer both bright, eye-catching colours and easy-to-wear neutrals.
Our yarns are sourced from around the world, with fibres such as silk and camel from as far away as China, and merino wool from South America. Our current focus is on bringing attention to the high-quality wools that are sustainably grown right here in Canada, and offering yarns that are traceable all the way from farm to finished product.
All of our yarns are made from natural plant or animal fibres (a few also include a small percentage of nylon for increased durability) and are dyed with acid or fibre reactive dyes in our Montreal studio.
Our Patterns
Wayfaring Stranger sock pattern in 5 sizes
We’ve been designing our own patterns almost as long as we’ve been knitting. Our yarns are often the inspiration behind our designs and we like to create patterns that are both fun to make and enjoyable to wear. Our patterns range from whimsical to classic wardrobe staples. In all of our designs we pay attention to the little details that will take your project from good to great.
We offer patterns for a variety of skill levels from beginner to advanced and pride ourselves on having patterns that are clear to read and easy to follow. All of our patterns are tech edited before they are published.
Size inclusivity is very important to us and most of our adult garments are sized to fit a 30-60" bust/chest range. A detailed schematic is included on each pattern page (for garments) so you can review it before you buy the pattern.
