The Indie Shelf: Nunnaba
When you aren't busy dyeing yarn, what do you do?
Anything yarn related fits around 4 kidlets, so they take up most of the non-dyeing time, but I do like to sneak in a bit of knitting, sewing and cooking too. My eldest is a very keen cook, so that gives me a great excuse to hang out in the kitchen…. and eat lots of tasty food…
What is your number one favourite part of being an indie dyer?
Can I have a couple of number one favourites? I don’t think I could choose just one! It would have to be a toss up between experimenting and playing with different blends of colours, and the relationships that you get to form being part of such a close knit (pun totally intended) online community. The experimenting is what keeps me loving what I do so much, seeing the ways that different combinations play off against each other or discovering new colourways through happy accidents is just a whole lot of fun! I just love it! When I am planning the preorders each month, the best part is developing the colourways because there is that freedom to play and let accidents happen and enjoy the results. And the friendship that I have been blessed with as a result of people working with my yarn are just an extra special icing on the cake, there are so many wonderfully talented (and lovely)people in the world!
How did you get into knitting? Are you a process or a product knitter?
I was taught as child, but have been pretty hit and miss up until a few years ago when I was pregnant with my second. No wait, that was six and a half years ago! Oops! Whenever it was, I was too big to get down to the floor to make the quilt I had planned for him (actually that’s a lie, I could get on the floor, just not back up again), and knitting seemed a much more accessible and friendly option. I still very much consider myself a beginner though as I am ridiculously slow. And I’m a little bit of a process and product knitter, probably more so a product knitter, but being unable to sit still for very long means that I enjoy just have something to do with my hands when I am knitting.
Do you have a particular fibre or fibre blend you love to dye more than any other?
It probably comes as no surprise, but I really love White Gum Wool. The kindness and care that Nan gives her sheep comes out so clearly in the beautiful, fine yarn that they produce. It really is such a deliciously soft, squishy yarn! I’ve enjoyed playing with some exotic blends too, but I do keep coming back to White Gum Wool as my favourite.
We all have colour tendencies - what's yours? Do you find this comes through in your dyeing?
It’s quite funny really, the colours that I go for naturally are not the colours I go to when I am dyeing, which I hadn’t even realised until you asked this question! My wardrobe and my home are filled with blues, greys and neutrals, very soft, homely colours, and I suppose dyeing gives an outlet to all the other colours that I like, but wouldn’t necessarily call a colour tendency. As a result of dyeing I now have a thing for golden mustard and deep, rich reds, so perhaps my colour tendencies are more fluid than I would have thought they were.
If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Iceland. In a heartbeat. I’ve seen some absolutely amazing photos of the landscape there, so would love to see that in person one day. But I don’t like the cold at all, so would have to invest in some seriously hardcore woollies before setting off on that adventure!
Anything else you want to share with us?
Absolutely! I’d love to say a big mushy thank you to everyone who has ever bought a Nunnaba yarn and a just-as-big mushy thank you to Holland Road for letting Nunnaba come for a visit this month. It is such an amazing privilege to be able to call my creative outlet, my job, and I can only do that thanks to everyone who has encouraged me along the way. Naww! You guys are the best!! :) And come say hi if you are going to KAN, I’d love to meet you!