Step by step…

As commissioned work and contracts are done and less and less deadlines are on my horizon, a bigger deadline approaches.

It’s time to start work on the book.

Many of my fellow designers are giggling at me when I say this is the hardest step ever… Choosing yarn.

While I feel like a kid in a candy shop, with tons to choose from and the freedom to pick what I want to feature, I also feel a big responsibility.

I’m responsible in the sense that the yarns need to match the project I pick for them perfectly.

There’s no sense in a yarn dyer giving yarn for a project if they don’t think the designer will do the yarn justice.

At the same time, there are many amazing dyers out there with fantastic bases that I have not yet had the chance to try –  I would feel awful asking a dyer to give me skeins to try out just to see if I can match them to a project. It’s because of this reason that in my emails to all independent companies I asked for seconds or spares – mini-skeins where the dyer just tested a colourway, or a short-run from the mill, or a skein so knotty it had to be cut apart. In short, something where they would not lose a profit.

Funny how most dyers were incredibly appreciative of this offer.

After all, I only need a few yarns to swatch a bit with to know what project they will be destined for!!  What would I do with an entire skein considering later on I’ll want a full dye-lot to make a garment with?? It’d languish in my “swatching bin”.

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Being mindful also applies to others – don’t take more than you need. Don’t abuse generosity.

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Lelah, owner and dyer of Fable Fibers, (shop link // blog link) sent me 4 test mini skeins. Perfect treat. I loved how she said one was a “sad” skein – just overdyed. :)

Above, you can see her Biography DK yarn. I loved winding it by hand and can tell it’ll be a gorgeous, round yarn to work with….

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I think I will do a small amount of posts with the yarns these amazing dyers are sending me. All of them are independent companies – some big ones we know, some small ones I’m dying to show you.