HRYC
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!
Give us your best pun!
It's that time of year where I sit down to organise the tote bag design for Knit August Nights. This year, both Colleen and I are completely stuck for knitting puns. So we're throwing it out to you, excellent yarn lovers!
We've had Knit Me Baby One More Line
and
This is what a knitter looks like
But we need something fresh, funny and yarn related.
So, give us your best puns! Entries close 5pm Thursday 30 July and the best pun will win a $50 Holland Road Yarn Co voucher and a tote bag with the new design on it! Hooray!
July KAL: Slippers!
We are officially half way through the year! After the great success of our garment KAL, this next KAL should be a bit faster although just as toasty and warm. You can sign up to join us here (which means if i'm organised enough for prizes you'll go in the draw!) and you can find our chatter about project in the Holland Road Yarn Co Ravelry group.
Here's a few ideas...
Cadeautje by Ysolda Teague if you'd like to have a go at thrums
French Press slippers by Melynda Bernardi
Crocodile stitch booties (they come in bigger sizes too!)
Foot Oven socks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (free pattern!)
Stippers by Ashley Knowlton
We'd really love to have you join in the fun!
The Indie Shelf: Fibre 2 Go
June sees us with Fibre 2 Go on the Indie Shelf - Lyn is based in Auckland and dyes jewel tones on both fibre and yarn. They simply glow with vibrancy - and we love being able to treat our spinners with some special indie dyed goodness!
When you aren't busy dyeing yarn, what do you do?
Spin, knit, housework (when absolutely necessary), cook meals, visit my 96 year old Mum, browse Ravelry and Craftsy and I also have a keen interest in netball so I volunteer on the official scoring and timing bench at ANZ netball games and tournaments.
What is your number one favourite part of being an indie dyer?
Seeing the reaction of my customers (both regular and new) when they see my stock. The smiles often followed by jaw-dropping amazement. Then I know I have them in my trap!
How did you get into knitting? Are you a process or a product knitter?
My mum taught me during a three week drive around NZ on a family holiday. I was 8. I love to try new techniques so often my projects don't get finished. They get tinked and reinvented. Having said that I do love that sense of achievement when I remove a finished shawl from the blocking pins, or give a special piece to a friend.Do you have a particular fibre or fibre blend you love to dye more than any other?
Hmmm, let's see. Probably the 20%silk 80% merino. But I also love the Luxury blend which is silk/cria alpaca/fine merino. The colours migrate in a very special way and look incredible.
We all have colour tendencies - what's yours? Do you find this comes through in your dyeing?
Blues and purples but I get most of my inspiration from nature. Millions of years of product development already for me to use. But I do study colour theory and have a sense of what will work with fibres because you have to understand how to spin or knit to create the best starting materials for other crafters to work with. This is especially important for fibre as opposed to yarn. Yes, I hope my colour sense comes through in my dyeing. But I am always happy to work with customers to create something special with their own colour suggestions.If you could go on holiday anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?
Tahiti for the underwater colour bonanza or India, I have heard that vibrant colours are everywhere and not to be missed.
Anything else you want to share with us?
I produce mainly highly colour-saturated fibre blends. When using coloured fibres for spinning or felting it is important to realise that after dyeing, each process the fibre goes through can cause the colours to optically blend and may result in muddy browns. Of course this may be your goal. But knowing how to use highly saturated colours for maximum effect is an art in itself. Your projects will look breathtakingly beautiful as much from a distance as up close. And when you do get close the feel of the merino-based garment will add to the magic.Summary of 2015 Blanket CAL patterns
Although links to each month's patterns are still available in the Ravelry forum, the older ones can take awhile to find. Here is a handy list of the CAL patterns to date:
(To see all our participant versions of these squares, check out our Facebook album)
February (patterns using only basic stitches)
March (patterns include back loop only and/or cluster stitches)
April (patterns include post stitches)
May (more patterns with post stitches or with slightly complicated/unusual constructions)
Bonus square (pattern includes spike stitches; original pattern in French):
June (patterns include crochet diagrams)
July (patterns include stitches worked multiple rounds below)
August (patterns include spike stitches and picots)
September (patterns include puff stitches and more advanced construction)
October (patterns may involve more complicated color work)
November (generally advanced patterns or patterns that were published mid-year and didn't fit anywhere else)
This last option is a bit of a challenge. The pattern is no longer available, but between the notes on Kate33wlu's project page & the other project photos you could still make it:
