In the 1930’s, our founders, Willard and Olive McPhedrain, started the Mary Maxim journey with Sifton Products in Sifton, Manitoba. Willard was the station manager at the nearest railroad station and used his railroad connections to market Sifton Products across Canada. Spinning wheels and various other products were first, before eventually producing their first yarn range. Years later, the company name was changed to Mary Maxim following the personal marketing idea behind Betty Crocker. Then, the pairing of graph-style sweater patterns with our yarn started Mary Maxim on the road to success.

After a couple of moves, Willard and Olive settled in Paris, Ontario. At this point, their son Larry is now working with them. Larry then sees an opportunity in the United States and moves his family to Port Huron, Michigan, to introduce Mary Maxim to the US in 1956. Larry’s son, Rusty, grows up working and learning the family business. He later becomes the third-generation leader.

Rusty and his wife Jane raise three children, instilling in them the importance of family values and business. Their son, Mitch McPhedrain, now leads Mary Maxim to continue our great family business legacy. Over the years, the business has grown and evolved, but one thing remained constant: Our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable yarns, beautifully designed patterns, and a variety of creative crafts to our customers.

Today, Mary Maxim is led by 4th-generation owner Mitch McPhedrain, with the help of our experienced family members and staff. We are dedicated to carrying on the legacy and love of helping our customers bring their creative visions to life.

We offer a wide selection of exclusive Mary Maxim yarns along with a large library of kits and patterns to support projects of any kind. We also carry a variety of popular brand-name yarns, knit/crochet accessories, jigsaw puzzles, seasonal crafts for every occasion, and much more. It warms our hearts knowing that our customers and their families have been able to fill their homes with such unique handmade items for many years.

As the McPhedrain family, we believe crafting is more than a hobby; it is a way of life. We are proud to be a part of the crafting community, and we are committed to providing our customers with the best products and service possible. Thank you for choosing us as your go-to source for all your yarn and crafting needs.