Yvonne King went into the 2025 Local Quilt Shop with a mission: She was going to get a free ByAnnie trunk show for her shop, Black Rabbit Fabrics.
Seeing that a trunk show was one of the many prizes for the Grand Prize, Yvonne began campaigning for her shop.
Every customer who came through her shop heard about the contest, and soon the entire town of Penticton knew about Black Rabbit Fabric’s race to the top.
The votes were close, but Black Rabbit consistently kept their spot at first or second place in Canada.
When the dust cleared and all votes were tallied, Yvonne had done it.
She had become both the Regional Winner for British Columbia and the Grand Prize Winner for Canada in the 2025 Local Quilt Shop Contest!
“At this point, it has really gotten our community talking about us. We talked about this contest every single day for the month of February. We have found so many new customers learnt about us from their friends talking about this contest to them.” — Yvonne on the impact of the contest
From Passion to Penticton:
The Story of Black Rabbit Fabric
Tucked away in the beautiful paradise of Penticton, BC, Black Rabbit Fabric (BRF) is a dream brought to life.
Yvonne, a mother, wife, and creative soul, has always had a passion for life, whether it’s sewing, gardening, or enjoying Okanagan wine with friends.
But in 2015, her search for high-quality fabrics in Canada led to something much bigger.
Black Rabbit Fabric started in a living room in Maple Ridge. The store was named after a beloved black rabbit, BunBun.
Originally supplying materials for Yvonne’s baby clothing line, the small shop quickly gained traction as fellow Canadian makers struggled to find quality fabrics.
Within six months, the business outgrew its space, prompting a bold move — selling their home and relocating to Penticton to raise a family and grow the business.
By 2016, a backyard shop was built.
By 2020, plans for a retail store were in motion — just as the world shut down.
With product shortages and skyrocketing demand, long days of work and homeschooling became the new norm.
Determined to push through, the business not only survived but thrived.
The first retail space quickly became too small, leading to a second location while keeping the original space as a warehouse.
With the expansion came a shift into quilting fabrics and bag making supplies, bringing unique offerings to the South Okanagan.
A Community Hub for Makers
Black Rabbit Fabric serves the Penticton community every day.
Located in the historic Cannery Trade Centre, where some customers once worked on canning lines in the ’60s and ’70s, the shop now thrives among 30 other local businesses.
Spanning 1,770 square feet, it is bright, welcoming, and offers plenty of free parking. Customer demand has shaped the store’s evolution.
While apparel fabrics were once a staple, the focus has shifted to quilting and bag making supplies, filling a gap left by the closure of two other local quilt shops.
The warehouse space has been transformed into a large learning center, fostering a community of makers. A Husqvarna dealer, the store also offers everything from hundreds of bolts of quilting cotton to longarm services and the largest selection of bag making supplies in the Okanagan.
None of this would be possible without the incredible BRF team.
Renate, the welcoming face of the store, keeps things running smoothly, from updating stock to coordinating classes.
Lynn, the slow stitch master, fills the shop with beautiful samples and leads inspiring workshops.
Else works alongside Yvonne on longarm services, while a team of expert sewing machine technicians visits twice a month to keep machines in top shape.
Through growth, challenges, and change, Black Rabbit Fabric continues to evolve, always listening to the needs of its customers and providing a space where creativity thrives.
Visit the Okanagan
When you visit Black Rabbit Fabric, you’ll find there’s plenty to do in their corner of Okanagan.
They’re just minutes away from beautiful hikes if you visit in the summer —and exciting skiing slopes if you visit in the winter.
Penticton is situated in between two gorgeous lakes with great beaches.
Yvonne would be happy to recommend many wineries, golf courses, and concerts. And she’s happy to tell you the best vendors at their weekly Saturday market.
Don’t forget to take a picture with Alice the T-Rex!
Want to learn more?
