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SHOW TRADE BOOK AND TELL WARS SMART Clear employee How tariffs Stocking books guidelines put affect the and magazines everyone on the imported can help shore up same page. goods you your bottom line. carry. JANUARY 2019
WEATHERING ALL STORMS
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EDITOR’S LETTER
Intention ROSE CALLAHAN I talk a lot about New Year’s resolutions in the January issue, don’t I? I never thought of myself as a real “resolutions” kind of person, and yet, the end of one year and the beginning of the next does bring up thoughts about intentions. On social media these days you see a lot of people picking a word for the coming year. Things like “time,” or “nourish”—one person I saw chose “deliberate,” without, I think, considering the word’s double meaning! I invite you to think about a word for your business, whether it’s as simple as “profit” or as complex as “community.” Think about all the mean- ings of the word, and decide how you will embrace it. Because keeping that word front of mind throughout the year will affect the decisions you make and the future of your business. At the end of the year, let’s revisit those words. Have you fulfilled your intention? In this issue we tackle a few very pragmatic issues regarding business as we enter 2019, particularly with regards to the tariff issue that faces our whole economy, not just our little slice of it. We also look at some good ol’ worsted-weight yarns—workhorses for your shop, on the cover and just the thing to get into the hands of those whose word for the year might have been Kelbourne Woolens’ varied “create.” We talk about actual tools to use to create video content, and give you meta- yarns, available here in phorical tools for giving feedback to and reviews of your employees. many shades of blue, can weather any storm. Here’s to a happy, healthy and profitable 2019! kelbournewoolens.com
Photograph by Marcus Tullis
Erin Slonaker, Editor in Chief
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features
31 THE TROUBLE WITH TARIFFS How a trade war between the U.S. and China will affect J A N U A R Y 2 019 the imports on your shelves. By Leslie Petrovski 31 The U.S. currently exports about 50 percent of its wool to China.
in every issue
2 EDITOR’S LETTER 8 MARKET REPORT 16 BOOK REVIEWS 18 YARN FORWARD 24 YARN GROUP 25 CRAFT YARN COUNCIL An outdoor garden space In praise of that stash 26 ASSOCIATION FOR at Oakland’s A Verb staple, worsted-weight CREATIVE INDUSTRIES yarns. for Keeping Warm hosts 18 30 natural dyeing classes. 27 SMART MERCHANDISING 28 SMART ONLINE 29 SMART STAFFING 30 RETAIL PROFILE A Verb for Keeping Warm, Oakland, California 32 COMPANY PROFILE Freia Fine Handpaints, North Adams, Massachusetts 37 CELEBRITY INTERVIEW Jesse Molzan, Knit One, Crochet Too Crochet artist London Kaye Tina Whitmore relocated honors Mickey Mouse on his Friea Fine Handpaints 90th birthday. from the Bay Area to the 8 32 Berkshires. 40years 40 iconic hand-knit designs
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-64021-028-8 224 page $27.95 US / $37.95 CAN
Celebrate 40 years of iconic Rowan with this beautiful collection of some of our best-loved patterns. With 20 designs reshot and restyled and classic images of many more, this encyclopedic retrospective is a must for any Rowan fan.
There are stand-out moments here from all of Rowan’s top designers; from the kaleidoscopic colours of Ka e Fassett’s painterly style, to the subtle hues of Marie Wallin’s Fair Isle palettes. Wrap yourself in the sumptuous texture of Martin Storey’s creative cables or create a picture of elegance in impeccable tailoring by Kim Hargreaves and Jean Moss.
Take your time choosing your perfect project. Cast on a masterpiece and savour every joyful stitch.
This book is a true look back at wonderful memories of working with Rowan Yarns over the years. A must- have for any Rowan fan, and something to treasure for a long time.
– Martin Storey sixthandspring.com Rowan Designer
YMJAN19RowanBookAD.2.indd 5 1/24/19 10:59 AM YMJAN19Masthead.FINAL:YMNMA05masthead 1/24/19 1:37 PM Page 6
Editorial Director TRISHA MALCOLM
Editor in Chief ERIN SLONAKER
Creative Director JOE VIOR
Managing Editor LESLIE A. BARBER
EDITORIAL Contributing Editor LESLIE PETROVSKI
ADVERTISING Director of Advertising Sales LORI HORAK (212) 937-2554; [email protected]
Advertising Associate KARIMA AMIR (212) 225-9011; [email protected]
EVENTSANDMARKETING Events Director GABRIELLE ALD [email protected]
Marketing Manager BETH RITTER [email protected]
Events Manager KARIMA AMIR [email protected]
SOHOPUBLISHING,LLC President ART JOINNIDES Chief Executive Officer CARRIE KILMER Publisher DAVID JOINNIDES Controller ELAINE MOWBRAY
ADVISORYBOARD HOLLY FLOYD, Bella Filati Luxury Yarns JANET AVILA, String Theory Yarn Company JOHN KOVAL, Churchmouse Yarns & Teas PEARL CHIN, Knitty City SUZANNE MIDDLEBROOKS, Hill Country Weavers KRISTINE PORRITT, LISA RUESCH, Cream City Yarn
Magazine Publishers of America Manufactured and printed in the United States of America
Yarn Market News™ is a trademark of SoHo Publishing, LLC. YMN is published three times a year, in January, May and October, in the U.S. and Canada. Copyright © 2019 by SoHo Publishing, LLC, 104 West 27th Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10001. No part of this book may be copied or reproduced by any means without written permission of the Publisher. Executive, publishing, editorial and advertising offices: 104 West 27th Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10001.
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MARKET REPORT BYLESLIEPETROVSKI
archival material and works from past and present by artists including Kenny Scharf, Keith Haring, Amanda Ross-Ho and even crochet artist London Kaye. Kaye’s piece, Supersonic Skein, is an homage to Mickey’s first color cartoon, “The Band Concert,” from 1935. Using more than 500 skeins of Lion Brand yarn, including her own branded super-bulky London Kaye® LKYC, and Lion Brand ergonomic hooks she helped design—London Kaye® Hooks with a Twist—the professional fiber artist spent more than three months stitching the 10-by- 20-foot installation. To add even more magic, Kaye hooked the background blindfolded, selecting from a predetermined palette of yarns stashed in a bag. M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E “I crocheted the whole backdrop blind- folded because I love the abstract designs If the Big Apple is in your travel plans, be sure two dozen artists and honors Mickey’s influence and unexpected color combinations that are to pop in to “Mickey: The True Original,” a on animation, pop culture and stuff (hello, created,” she says. “Sometimes the most pop-up exhibit celebrating the 90th birthday Mickey Mouse ears!). Curated by Los Angeles– beautiful things happen naturally.” To learn of the world’s most famous mouse. Held in based streetwear designer and creative director more about the exhibit and the nonagenarian Lower Manhattan through February 10, the Darren Romanelli, the 16,000-square-foot mouse, visit partners.disney.com/mickey- immersive show features the work of nearly interactive exhibit is a mash-up of Disney the-true-original-exhibition.
IMMIGRANT YARN PROJECT Cindy Weil came up with the idea for the country’s largest crowd- submitted pieces. African American women, whose ancestors came sourced work of art while on a run in San Francisco. Spying Angel to this country involuntarily, have also provided work. Weil says that Island through a fringe of palm trees—Angel about 600 people from almost every state have con- Island was where the U.S. government processed tributed, representing dozens of countries of origin. and detained Asian immigrants from 1910 to “I’ve had so many conversations with people 1940—she thought about the countless immi- about their immigrant stories,” Weil says. “These grants and refugees today who are struggling as stories matter to people and they want to have them a result of U.S. immigration policies. recognized. I thought we were building this cool Securing permission from nearby Fort Point public art project, but it’s turned out to be an oppor- to hold an exhibit, Weil built a website for the tunity to come together to talk about our immigrant Immigrant Yarn Project and started asking for stories, and that’s not nothing.” yarn-crafted submissions and stories to honor To display the pieces, Weil and teams of volun- the country’s immigrant history. California’s U.S. teers have been sewing the submissions around a se- Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris ries of 4- to 6-foot cylinders, which Weil has curated lent their names to the project, and soon Weil around various themes or aesthetic considerations. was inundated with knitted, crocheted, woven “Maybe there’s a narrative story to it, or it just looks and embroidered submissions. The SF Men good, but [either way], each totem [has undergone Knit group created a totem of the San Francisco an] editorial process,” says Weil. skyline. Former Secretary of State Madeleine The first exhibit opens in the spring at Fort Point. Albright and her sister Anna Katherine Silva, both The show will feature some 100 totems and a wall immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia, sent Weil a hand-knit naming all contributors. Portions of the exhibit will later travel to American flag (shown above). Japanese women at an assisted-living venues across the country. All exhibits of the Immigrant Yarn Project community, many of whom were interned during World War II, are free. To keep up with the project, visit enactivist.org.
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FIFTY YEARS OF MANOS This past year marked the 50th anniversary wool and wind up treasurer of the whole of Manos del Uruguay, the artisan coopera- organization, with a dozen separate cooper- tive that dyes and hand-spins yarn and makes atives and a multimillion-dollar business.” clothing loved by people the world over. Over the years, Manos has created prod- Started by five friends to create economic op- ucts for companies including Ralph Lauren, portunities for rural Uruguayan women, Donna Karan, Nordstrom and Saks. Last fall, Manos del Uruguay began by selling local they collaborated with Madewell on a micro crafts, wool throws and horse blankets, and collection of three hand-knit slouchy sweaters eventually expanded to offer goods that in- and a pompom beanie. “Madewell has a volved spinning, dyeing, weaving and knitting. broad audience and the kind of aesthetic Today Manos is a World Fair Trade that interests Manos,” Myers says. “It’s been Organization certified nonprofit; it’s organ- very reinforcing. The Madewell design sense ized around 12 cooperatives, located in appeals to a lot of the same customers that villages throughout Uruguay, that employ Manos yarns appeal to.” some 300 artisans. Currently, 300 or so To celebrate its golden anniversary, Manos yarn shops carry Manos yarns in the United had Uruguayan artists customize a series of States, with many more selling the yarns their iconic ruanas and debuted a new color- in Europe, Asia and Australia. way, Cincuenta (below), a dazzling celebra- Manos is not focused solely on the tory mix of orange, purple, green and yellow. economic betterment of its members; it Manos’s products, Myers says, continue to also stresses personal growth and em- resonate with U.S. customers because powerment. “Its impact on individual they can be traced back to the women women’s lives has been huge,” explains who make them. Lisa Myers of Fairmount Fibers, which “Within the landscape of increasing distributes Manos yarns in the U.S. transparency in the supply chain and “Besides improving women’s economic the market, knitters are people who care situations, it helps women with their about things that are handmade,” Myers sense of their own abilities and potential. says. “Why shouldn’t the materials with At Manos you could start off spinning which they create also be handmade?”
EXCUSE ME!
In an effort to make wool and lamb even more sustainable, researchers in New Zealand have been working to breed sheep that burp less and pass less gas. The New Zealand company AgResearch has successfully bred sheep that emit 10 percent less methane than average. Rumi- nants like cows, bison and sheep account for between 14.5 and 18 percent of mammal-related greenhouse gases. Other scientists have found that changing the diets of farm animals can also affect emis- sions. Early results from researchers at the University of California Davis indi- cate that feeding cows seaweed reduces emissions by as much as 99 percent. To date, Norway, China and Ireland have all expressed interest in less gassy sheep.
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MARKET REPORT
Located in Chico, California, HeartStrings Yarn their classroom, calling the initiative #fillemptyhands. AFTER Studio was the yarn shop closest to Paradise, the Yarn and other supplies flooded in. Nearby yarn town decimated by the Camp Fire, the worst wild- shops and knitting guilds rallied to the cause with THE FIRE fire in California’s history. The fire was responsible gifts of money, bags, yarn or project kits. Vendors for at least 86 deaths and the destruction of nearly including Berroco, Brown Sheep, Sirdar, Rowan 14,000 homes. Tens of thousands of people were and Bryson contributed product and in some cases displaced by the conflagration. cash. Customers and fans from around the country During the early days of the fire, HeartStrings’ gave money and treasures from their stashes. “We owner, Joanne Wilson, offered the shop as a haven have gotten beautiful yarns, $30 and $50 hanks, for customers who had been evacuated. For people bags, gradient yarn packs,” she says. “People are who needed to busy their hands while waiting for not just getting rid of stash. We keep opening boxes news or a place to stay, Wilson gave them yarn and and asking, ‘Why would anybody get rid of this?’” supplies—gratis. “People came in shaken, not know- Wilson estimates that to date the shop has re- ing whether their homes were still there,” Wilson ceived about $7,000 in cash and $20,000 to explains. “We weren’t going to charge them.” $30,000 worth of products, with more coming in As the fire continued to rage, Wilson and her every day. For the shop, it’s been a challenge staff realized that if they were going to supply managing the donations as well as bearing wit- evacuees with yarn, they would need help. Through ness to the trauma experienced by so many. email and social media, Wilson “After the first three weeks,” Wilson says, “I reached out, asking initially joked with the girls that I hadn’t cried yet that day. for gifts of money (through an We have been holding these people and listening to account on PayPal) so they could their stories and hearing their gratitude. When we continue to supply knitters, tell customers that their purchase has been taken crocheters and weavers who had care of, they break down and then we break down.” lost their stashes and tools to People have come into the store, fresh from the blaze. A few days later, Heart- having driven through the fire, desperately in need Strings began requesting tools, of busying their hands, she says. “Going through books and yarn—new or like new this with people has been an emotional journey. (“because they need something You’re feeling their emotions and sharing their grief. lovely,” Wilson explains)—and What must it be like for first responders?” Wilson established an alternate store in plans to continue the effort through January.
A LEG UP When it came time for Sandi Schneider had to keep it simple, so no raised stitches to order a new prosthetic leg last year, the or even k2togs, but she incorporated glitter longtime knitter discovered that it was yarns and sequins to add bling to her new possible to personalize her prosthesis. limb. To make her leg, her prosthetist had to “Many soldiers coming home [from battle] cut Schneider’s knitted piece to make it fit. don’t want the cover on their prostheses At one of her local yarn shops, Schneider to look like skin,” she explains. “They and her knitting compatriots marveled at the want a camo print or something indica- technician’s masterful steeking and seaming tive of their unit or favorite sports team.” job. “He had to cut it and join it in the back,” So, she thought, if a guy can have a Schneider explains. “We still don’t know Chicago Cubs leg, why shouldn’t she how he did the seaming.” have one featuring her own knitting? Schneider has wanted to get the word out Working with her prosthetist, about personalized prosthetics because of Schneider, who lost her leg in 2000 to a how meaningful it’s been for her to create a rare form of cancer, knit a 20-by-13-inch piece of art she wears every day. “I’m proud striped rectangle with some of her fa- of my work,” she says. “I’m hoping it will vorite fingering-weight yarns from companies including open doors for other creative people to use their needle- Anzula, Trendsetter, Turtlepurl Yarns, Alexandra’s Crafts and point or crochet or wood-shaving art or whatever, so they the Alaskan Yarn Co. Because the leg is laminated, Schneider can be more of who they are. To me that’s very important.”
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BLANKETS FOR THE BEREFT Last November, Yarns by Design, a yarn shop in Oakmont, Pennsyl- vania, posted a photo on Facebook of two healthy stacks of knitted squares, all blocked and ready to become afghans for the Tree of Life Synagogue, the Pittsburgh shul where a shooter opened fire on October 27, 2018, killing eleven people. The afghan-athon was inspired by 9-year-old Eliana Wellman, who wanted grieving family members and congregants to receive the same kind of comfort she got from her security blanket. Knowing how deeply her daughter was affected by the shooting, Vanessa Picard, Wellman’s mother, told her daughter, “We can make them a blanket.” Picard spent a good part of that night knitting a square featuring the pattern and one featuring the star of David on the shop’s Ravelry entwined trees from Nicky Epstein’s group page. Since then, squares have been pouring in from all over Tree of Life Afghan design and the country, depicting trees, hearts, leaves, Hebrew letters, menorahs, posted it on her Facebook page, six-pointed stars and other motifs. Some knitting groups have even hoping friends might contribute to a sent completed afghans. As of early December, the yarn shop had re- blanket for the synagogue. Natalie ceived more than 1,000 squares—enough to make about 40 afghans Belmont, who manages Yarns by —with more coming in daily. Design, where Picard teaches sock “Our knitting community has responded beautifully to this project,” knitting, reposted the Tree of Life Belmont says. “Our regular customers, knitters and club members have square on the yarn shop’s page and all volunteered in some way, whether that involves taking photos of each soon was deluged with requests square to make a mosaic or taking the squares home to wash and block.” for Epstein’s motif from people inter- In January, stitchers will gather to begin seaming the squares into ested in making squares. afghans. “This has been a very emotional thing for us as a business,” With Epstein’s permission, the Belmont explains. “Letters are coming in with the blankets, some shop posted a pattern based on her talking about family members who were Holocaust survivors and design, as well as a plain square some just thanking us for letting them have this outlet to help heal.”
Years from now, will we be saying, “Oh, that’s so 2019” when we pull out the coral-colored cardigan ANOTHER PRETTY IN we made this year? In December, the Pantone Color Institute announced Living Coral as the nothing-subtle- PINKISH about-it Pantone Color of the Year. Straddling the YARN territory between pink and orange, the hue, according to Pantone, is “sociable and spirited,” “welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity” and symbolizes “our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits.” Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute has gath- ered international experts who analyze color trends and select a color that reflects the spirit of the times. The color influences designers and creatives across industries, including media, home design, fashion and, yes, knitwear. “Color is an equalizing lens through which we experience our natural and digital realities, and this is especially true of Living Coral,” explains Leatrice Eise- Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle, man, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. has a new book out that’s more about “With consumers craving human interaction and so- food than yarn. The newly released cial connection, the humanizing and heartening quali- Kitchen Yarns: Notes on Life, Love and ties displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral Food is a collection of essays—and hit a responsive chord.” For the designers among you, recipes—about how food has threaded the official color is Living Coral 16-1546. its way through the fabric of her life.
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MARKET REPORT PRINT PASSING WOOL POOR Woolrich, Inc. announced in November that it would cease opera- More lousy news for craft tions of its Woolrich, Pennsylvania, woolen mill at the end of 2018. magazines. F+W has shut The mill, which dates back to 1845, produced blankets, throws down four titles, Modern and fabric. It was Woolrich’s last remaining plant on American soil Patchwork, Cloth Paper and the country’s oldest continuously operating mill. Scissors, Quilty and “The decision to close the mill was made following a compre- Knit.Wear (shown is the hensive review of our overall woven fabric business and the cover of Knit.Wear’s considerable capital improvements needed to modernize and main- final issue). “These maga- tain viable operations,” Nick Brayton, president of Woolrich, said zines were considered in a statement. “Unfortunately, due to higher manufacturing costs, to be not necessarily core eroding margins and continued unprofitability within the mill, it is to what we feel our no longer economically feasible to continue our Pennsylvania-based strategy is going forward woolen mill operation.” long-term,” explained The closure affects 40 employees and leaves only two indus- Interweave General Man- trial wool fabric mills in the United States, Pendleton Woolen Mill ager David Pyle in an arti- in Portland, Oregon, and the Faribault Woolen Mill in Faribault, cle on the Craft Industry Alliance website. “They were not Minnesota. performing and delivering in a way that was sustainable.”
SILVER LINING Remember that silver-enhanced yarn you could knit into gloves, which diabetics, because the silver kills germs, and people with diabetes warmed your hands—and allowed you to text? It’s back! After a year’s have to be careful about their feet,” Gonyea says. “The yarn works hiatus, Laurie Gonyea, partnering with Michelle Makowiecki (formerly wonderfully for people with arthritis or carpal tunnel, because it of Peace Fleece), is reinvigorating Feel Good Yarn Company, home warms when you put it on.” of SilverSpun, a yarn spun with real silver. Developed at North Carolina SilverSpun is currently available in SilverSpun Sock (87% combed State University, the yarn is constructed from American-grown cotton, cotton/5% silver/5% nylon/3% spandex) in natural, gray and indigo a touch of spandex and a nylon thread coated with 99.9 percent pure (it’s naturally dyed by Green Matters Natural Dye Company in Lan- U.S. silver. caster, Pennsylvania) Why silver? Gonyea and SilverSpun Silk was interested in the (70% combed metal’s therapeutic ben- cotton/17% Tussah efits. Considered anti- silk/6% silver/7% bacterial and antimicro- nylon), a laceweight bial, silver also has great offered in six colors, thermal properties and which is put up conducts electricity—so in skeins as well as you can use your smart cones for weavers. phone as you keep your In early 2019, hands warm. the Feel Good Yarn SilverSpun debuted in Company will launch 2013 and quickly devel- a wholesale and oped passionate fans. In professional program a testimonial posted on the Feel Good Yarn Company website, one cus- as a way to get their alchemical yarn into more hands. The yarn— tomer says, “I bought two skeins of the SilverSpun yarn to make some primarily sourced and made in the United States and imbued with actual fingerless mitts for my mom. She is 91 and suffers from arthritis in both silver—isn’t cheap. The retail price on the sock yarn is $42 for 335 yards of her hands, making it harder and harder for her to knit—a lifelong and $68 for 800 yards of the silk blend. passion. Anyway, she has had the mitts now for a few days and she says “It’s so much better to feel it than to just look at it on the website,” her hands feel so much better and that she can knit with them on!” explains Makowiecki. “Our minimums will be fairly low for people Gonyea reports that her mother, a fine artist, has also found that who’d like to start carrying it in stores. We’re doing what we can to her fingers feel better when she wears her SilverSpun fingerless gloves, give people as much of a break as possible.” For more information,
because they warm her knuckles. “A lot of customers knit socks for visit feel-good-yarn-company.myshopify.com. PHOTOGRAPHS BY WINONA QUIGLEY OF GREEN MATTERS NATURAL DYE CO.
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Events to keep you in stitches this winter YMN CALENDAR and early spring.
January 24–27 March 8–9 Wood County Fairgrounds April 12–14 Oxford Fiber Arts Festival Jay County Fiber Arts Festival Bowling Green, Ohio Smoky Mountain Fiber Powerhouse Community Arts Jay Community Center blackswampspinnersguild.org Arts Festival Center and Pavilion Portland, Indiana Great Smoky Mt. Heritage Center Oxford, Mississippi fiberarts.visitjaycounty.com March 27–31 Townsend, Tennessee oxfordarts.com/events/fiberfest Interweave Yarn Fest smokymountainfiberartsfestival.org March 8–10 Embassy Suites Loveland Hotel January 25–27 Delmarva Wool and Fiber Expo Loveland, Colorado April 13–14 Vogue Knitting LIVE! Ocean City Convention Center interweaveyarnfest.com CNY Fiber Frolic New York Marriott Marquis Ocean City, Maryland Beaver Lake Nature Center New York, New York woolandfiber.com March 30–31 Baldwinsville, New York vogueknittinglive.com/newyork19 Buckeye Alpaca Show goldenfleecespinnerssociety.org March 14–17 Arena Complex Summit County January 27 Knit North Yarn Crawl Fairgrounds April 13–14 Farm Fiber Days Boston, Massachusetts Tallmadge, Ohio Spring Fiber Expo Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market knitnorthyarncrawl.com buckeyealpacashow.com Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds Wayland, Massachusetts Ann Arbor, Michigan farmfresh.org/food/farmersmarkets_ March 15–16 March 30–31 fiberexpo.com details.php?market=387 Cedarburg Spur Fiber Arts Tour Midwest Alpaca Owners and Cedarburg, Grafton, Thiensville, Breeders Association International April 26–28 January 31–February 3 Wisconsin Alpaca Show Okfiberfest TNNA Winter Trade Show midwestfiberartstrails.org/cedarburg- American Royal Hale Arena Okanogan County Fairgrounds Embassy Suites by Hilton spur-2019 Kansas City, Missouri Okanogan, Washington Portland, Oregon mopaca.org/MOPACA-Alpaca-Show okfiberfest.org tnna.org March 15–17 Pittsburgh Creative Arts Festival: April 4–7 April 26–28 February 3 Knit, Crochet, Quilt, Create! Dallas–Fort Worth Fiber Fest Woolith Fair: A Greater Indie Goes West Pop-Up Doubletree by Hilton Irving Convention Center Vancouver Yarn Crawl Taborspace Green Tree, Pennsylvania Irving, Texas Vancouver, British Columbia Portland, Oregon pghknitandcrochet.com dfwfiberfest.org woolithfair.ca indieuntangled.com/indie-goes-west March 15–17 April 4–7 April 27 February 8–10 Fiber Forward: A Juried Exhibition Long Island Yarn Crawl Connecticut Sheep, Wool Midwest Fiber Frolic Celebrating Knit and Crochet Long Island, New York and Fiber Festival Crown Plaza Milwaukee Airport Doubletree by Hilton longislandyarncrawl.com Tolland County Agricultural Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin Green Tree, Pennsylvania Vernon, Connecticut midwestfiberfrolic.com fiberforwardpgh.com April 4–7 ctsheep.com Minnesota Yarn Shop Hop February 10 March 16 Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota April 27 Boston Farm & Fiber Festival Heartland Fiberpalooza minnesotayarnshophop.com Powahatan’s Festival of Fiber Boston Public Market Winterset Elementary School Village of Powahatan Boston, Massachusetts Winterset, Iowa April 4–13 Powahatan, Virginia newenglandfarmtofiber.com/events- heartlandfiber.net/about- LA County Yarn Crawl powhatansfestivaloffiber.com 1/boston-farm-fiber-festival fiberpalooza.htm Los Angeles County, California layarncrawl.org April 27 February 14–17 March 20–24 Toronto Knitters Frolic Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreat Edinburgh Yarn Festival April 6–7 Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Hotel Murano Edinburgh Corn Exchange YarnCon Toronto, Canada Tacoma, Washington Edinburgh, Scotland Chicago Journeymen Plumbers frolic.torontoknittersguild.ca madronafiberarts.com edinyarnfest.com Union Hall Chicago, Illinois April 27–28 February 21–24 March 21–24 yarncon.com New York’s Washington Stitches West Vogue Knitting Destination County Fiber Tour Santa Clara Convention Center Boston Park Plaza April 6–7 Washington County, New York Santa Clara, California Boston, Massachusetts Alpacapalooza washingtoncountyfibertour.org knittinguniverse.com/west vogueknittinglive.com/boston Clark County Event Center Ridgefield, Washington May 4 February 28–March 3 March 22–23 alpacawa.org New Jersey Needle Festival Spring Knitting & Stitching Show Fibres West The Imperia Olympia London Cloverdale Exhibition Park Fairgrounds April 8–11 and 11–14 Somerset, New Jersey Hammersmith Road Cloverdale, British Columbia Vogue Knitting Destinations needlefest.com London, England fibreswest.com Portland, Maine theknittingandstitchingshow.com/spring vogueknittinglive.com/yarn May 4–5 March 22–23 portland2 Maryland Sheep & Wool March 1–10 Carolina Fiber Fest Festival Roving Indiana Yarn Crawl North Carolina State Fairgrounds April 12–13 Howard County Fairgrounds Central Indiana Raleigh, North Carolina World’s Largest Textile West Friendship, Maryland rovingindiana.com carolinafiberfest.org Garage Sale sheepandwool.org University of Minnesota ReUse March 7–10 March 23 Warehouse Rose City Yarn Crawl Black Swamp Spinners Guild Minneapolis, Minnesota Portland, Oregon Market Day and Fiber Fair textilecentermn.org/garagesale rosecityyarncrawl.com Junior Fair Building
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VINTAGE MODERN Add luxurious natural fiber to your wardrobe with sumptuous Finesse Cotton Silk DK yarn, perfect FLYING for spring/summer knits. Available HIGH in 10 fashionable vintage shades. We have developed an exquisite HiyaHiya Flyers fuse together the best attributes of both circular and book filled with beautiful, innovative double-pointed needles. They bend so you can move aside the ends knits and have partnered this that are resting, allowing you to work comfortably with the active tips. with three gorgeous crochet leaflets. HiyaHiya Flyers are 8" long and feature 3" Sharp tips and a 2" blue www.kingcole.com cable. Use them for all of your favorite double-point projects—socks, hats, mittens, gloves and more! https://knittingzone.com/ index.php?route= product/category&path= 1_166_236 YMJAN19NewProducts.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 5:36 PM Page 3
SPECIALADVERTISINGSECTION NEWPRODUCTS
ALL IN ONE A YARN FOR ALL SEASONS MINI TWIST interchangeable set, Kiawah, a year-round including 4" stainless- DK-weight yarn in steel tips (sizes 000– 17 heathered colors. 1.5), three cable 55% lambswool/45% lengths, a Tiny Tools cotton; 1.75oz/50g case, tip sleeve, ball; 128yds/117m. mesh pouch and 5" Gauge:22 sts and30 needle gauge. rows = 4". Needles: www.chiaogoo.com 4–7 (3.5mm-4.5mm); Crochet Hook: F-5 (3.75mm). www.tahkistacycharles.com
NEW IN BAMBOO
A FINE Cast on to an effortless new method FINISH of knitting socks, cuffs, hats and many other projects worked in the round with Finishing School from the addi® FlexiFlips, now in bamboo! renowned designer Deborah Made specifically for the North American Newton gives you all the market, these specially designed circulars techniques and advice you rest comfortably in the hand and act as need to create beautifully flexible double-pointed needles. Stitches finished knits. New in are simply distributed over two needles and paperback. To order copies for your store, contact Jamie Lynn then knit with the third, resulting in only Armes at (814) 942-3186 (direct); (877) 860-6164 (toll-free); two needle changes per row. or [email protected]. www.sixthandspring.com www.skacelknitting.com/flexiflips-bamboo
JUST LIKE MAGIC!
Presto…it’s back! The original and only UV-reactive color-changing yarn, HiKoo® Abracadabra, has IT’S IN returned for an encore. When THE JEANS exposed to UV rays, the yarn will transform from a natural base to either blue, purple, pink or yellow. Just think of the possibilities: phantom stripes, ribs, cables, beachwear, children’s garments, chemo caps The della Q Boutique Collection offers and more. If you can conceive it, something unique for the LYS. The first HiKoo® Abracadabra allows Boutique Collection includes denim you to achieve it! fabric with printed label sizes. For sale www.skacelknitting.com/ in stores only; no online sales permitted. Abracadabra www.wholesale.dellaQ.com YMJAN19Books.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 4:04 PM Page 16
BOOK REVIEWS BY CAROLYN NOYES
M Knitting Ganseys: stockinette, as Nilsson’s third sec- contemporary Nordic styles. Most work, too), Techniques and Patterns for tion offers knit-and-purl stitch pat- of the sweaters are loose-fitting but that’s not Traditional Sweaters terns that add surface texture. Each pullovers, some with turtlenecks, to imply that By Beth Brown-Reinsel stitch pattern is accompanied by a some with asymmetrical hems. this book is Interweave/F+W; $29.99 full-color swatch. Patterns for five The colorwork—mostly stripes and for experts ISBN: 978-1632506160 basic garments are included, serving geometrics—is charted; there are only. In fact, In this revised and updated version mainly as a canvas to try out one two colorblocked designs. Some of both the of her 25-year-old classic on the his- of the techniques. This book is a the patterns have illustrations that cable and tory and the making of the gansey compact reference for all knitters, highlight how certain details, such Aran sections sweater, Brown-Reinsel dissects especially if there are no stitch dic- as a back pleat, are constructed, but of this book begin with single-cable every element of the style to lead tionaries on the bookshelf yet. there are no overall schematics projects including hats, cowls and knitters, ultimately, to designing or notes on construction, so knitters mitts to help beginning cablers get their own M The Knitter’s Dictionary: should have a working knowledge the hang of crossing stitches on a gansey. Her Knitting Know-How From A–Z of how to read a pattern before cast- small scale. After that, they’re all set method By Kate Atherley ing on. And though there is no how- for more complicated cable and stitch for creating Interweave/F+W; $19.99 to information, in her introduction combinations in projects with no updated ISBN: 978-1632506382 Skappel reminds knitters of all the shaping (the Woodland Cable Blanket versions of Part A-to-Z resources available to help with or Long Aran Scarf ). Storey includes the classic dictionary, techniques they don’t know, noting patterns for loose-fitting jackets and nineteenth- part ency- too that “yarn is so beautiful that it cardigans and a slipover cabled vest century clopedia, deserves a second chance.” that keep the emphasis on working British fishermen’s garment begins Atherley’s the stitches and not shaping the with knitting a sampler—a small- book M Animal Friends of Pica Pau garment. Personal touch: The author scale model—to familiarize knitters decodes By Yan Schenkel models a few of his designs and with various cast-ons, knit/purl pat- everything Meteeor Books; $21.95 looks particularly happy to don the terns, underarm and neckline a knitter ISBN: 978-9491643194 scarf entitled “Cable Project #2.” gussets, and the other details that needs to Swiping onto an Instagram post of define the style. A template for cre- know about how to use various a cute amigurumi can send even M Raw Material: ating your own gansey design is in- tools, decipher the language of pat- a non-crocheter running to pick up a Working Wool in the West cluded, with a worksheet that helps terns and assess the attributes of hook and yarn. And Schenkel’s 20 By Stephany Wilkes you track stitch-pattern changes as various fibers. She also covers age- colorful animal characters in this Oregon State University you work the pieces to your specific old basics, such as determining how book, along with 40 pages of photo- Press; $18.95 measurements. Even if you never much yarn to buy (reminding read- illustrated techniques, will likely do ISBN: 978-0870719516 design your own or knit one of the ers to calculate skeins by length, not the same. The Argentinian crochet- It began nine included patterns, Brown- weight) to defining that newer phe- toy designer provides how-tos— somewhat Reinsel’s many tips—from reinforc- nom called “yarn barf” (“the tangle everything simply: ing ribbings to preventing cable of yarn that sometimes emerges from the Wilkes was splay—make this a useful addition when you pull out the end of a center- anatomy of a knitter on to every knitter’s reference library. pull ball”). New knitters in particular the crochet the hunt for will appreciate the information hook and local yarn, M The Big 3 Knitting Techniques that delineates style differences that ways to and along By Ann-Mari Nilsson affect not only fit but construction— hold it com- the way she Trafalgar Square Books; $22.95 such as raglan versus set-in versus fortably to read Clara ISBN: 978-1570769036 saddle sleeves—that can aid in changing colors within a project and Parkes’s The Knitter’s Book of Wool. New knitters choosing a pattern. the various abbreviations and punc- Talk about inspiration: By the time who are ready tuations of crochet patterns that Wilkes hit the last page, she had to venture out M Alpaca Knit Sweaters not only get novice stitchers started become so curious about the state from stock- By Dorthe Skappel but help them out of any sticking of wool production that she set out inette will find Stackpole Books; $24.95 point along the way. The patterns on a quite unlikely journey, leaving easy ways to ISBN: 978-0811718417 are written round by round for each her job in the world of high-tech to work in color A knitwear body part of each pattern, which become a certified sheep shearer. and texture designer and offers easy accessibility to those This book is her good-with-the-bad with these 80 charted stitch pat- TV personality who have never crocheted before. nonfiction account of what she terns. One of Nilsson’s “big 3” tech- in Norway, discovered while following fleece niques is basic two-color stranded Skappel has M Martin Storey’s Easy Cable from farm to factory. There are knitting, but for knitters whose fin- created 28 pat- and Aran Knits no patterns or stitch motifs here, gers want to fly, the slip-stitch de- terns (27 comfy Trafalgar Books; $22.95 but rather stories of the ranchers, signs add color without carrying yarn sweaters and ISBN: 978-1570768972 sheep, small-batch yarn makers across the back of the row. Those one hat) that Knitwear designer Martin Storey and fellow shearers on the front- who prefer to knit with one color make the most of the warmth and made his reputation as a king of tex- lines of trying to bring eco- aren’t stuck with a solid ground of delicate halo of alpaca yarns in tured and cable knitting (and color- conscious product to market.
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M Knit Your Story in Yarn multiple gauges for whatever yarn should have a project or two on the motifs are fit for all ages. The By Dee Hardwicke you choose and a range of head FO shelf before casting on. patterns here are exclusively for Stackpole Books; $24.95 sizes for a custom fit. socks and mittens, but why not ISBN: 978-0811736503 M Wild Mittens, Unruly Sock: go rogue and knit her peonies or Hardwicke’s cover quilt is her own M 100 Knits: Interweave’s 22 Outrageously Unique kittens on the yoke of a sweater heirloom Ultimate Pattern Collection Knitting Patterns or the ends of a scarf? “story in Interweave/F+W; $45 By Lumi Karmitsa yarn,” com- ISBN: 978-3962740009 Trafalgar Square Books; $22.95 M Wool Studio: The Knit.Wear prised of 32 Glance at the table of contents and ISBN: 978-1570768996 Capsule Collection hexagons you’ll find a few designs that have If you’re a knitter who fears the fiddly By Meghan Babin with intarsia achieved name-recognition status in that can come with some stranded Interweave/F+W; $27.99 floral mo- the knitting world, such as the Kool- knitting projects, Karmitsa’s back- ISBN: 978-1632506412 tifs—includ- haus Hat, the Central Park Hoodie story may inspire you to cast on color- A hard-copy combination of Inter- ing seasonal (more than 9,000 and 5,000 projects work as much as her 22 stylishly weave’s digital lookbook series favorite on Ravelry, whimsical designs will. Karmitsa (Wool Studio Vols 1 and 2), Wool crocuses, sunflowers, hydrangeas, respectively) had been knitting for about five Studio features 21 patterns with a holly and snowdrops. The pattern and the years when minimalist aesthetic, from designers for her quilt is given, but she also Dahlia Cardi- she decided Susanna IC, walks knitters through the steps of gan (more to knit a pair Kate Gagnon creating their own heirlooms with than 17,000 of colorwork Osborn, Norah motifs that carry personal meaning Rav hearts). mittens for Gaughan and for them. Hardwicke provides a Given the a friend— Linda Marveng, blank hexagon template, a brief popularity and the suc- among others. primer on knitting with intarsia, and of just those three, the remaining cess of that If you’re always making butterflies (mini center-pull 97 patterns seem like a bonus. first stranded on the lookout for designs with in- skeins) for the various colors in Because all of the designs are from project encouraged her to start teresting construction and judicious the design, as well as instructions Interweave’s previously published designing her own patterns. She’s placement of textured stitch pat- for joining the finished quilt pieces. inventory, the yarn for the original proof positive that if you want it, you terns, this collection serves that up Smaller intarsia projects include sample may no longer be available, can do it. From a smiley skull and in pullovers, cardigans and wraps a handbag, buttons, wristlets and but the “materials” section of each a happy Buddha to delicate lupines destined to become long-serving home-decor items like a pillow pattern recommends an appropriate and roses, Karmitsa’s detailed, artistic wardrobe staples. and bunting. yarn weight to make substitutions easy. Just for fun: Do the math on M Firmament: Stellar Stitches this book’s price per pattern. for Your Next Adventure I TREND WATCH By Hunter Hammersen M Oversize Fashion Knits: Pantsville Press; $19.95 26 Cardigans and Pullovers Here’s what was selling the first week ISBN: 978-0984998296 Designed to Maximize Style of January 2019: Though Hammersen has published and Ease more Stackpole Books; $22.95 Amazon Knitting List (print publications) than 200 ISBN: 978-0811718394 • Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (revised edition), accessories Who doesn’t love a cast-on with by the editors of Vogue Knitting (Sixth&Spring Books) patterns, bulky yarn and large needles, • Faerie Knitting, by Alice Hoffman and Lisa Hoffman (Adams Media) Firmament especially if you’ve just bound off a • Knit Mitts: Your Handy Guide to Knitting Mittens and Gloves, was a bit long-on-the-needles project? If a by Kate Atherley (Interweave/F+W) of an acci- quick knit is what you’re after, this • Noro Kureyon: The 30th Anniversary Collection (Sixth&Spring Books) dental col- pattern collection has it—26 of them, • Easy Lace Knits, by Anniken Allis (Stackpole Books) lection: She says she was merely in fact, to choose from. There are • Amy Herzog’s Ultimate Sweater Book (Abrams) “playing around” with stitches for a easygoing • Knitting Fresh Brioche, by Nancy Marchant (Sixth&Spring Books) boyfriend- singular hat design but was having Amazon Crochet List (print publications) style cardis as so much fun she ended up with • Creepy Cute Crochet, by Christen Haden (Quirk Books) well as loose- four beanie-style hat patterns. Each • A to Z Crochet (Martingale & Co.) fit textured- hat features a dip stitch, which, • Crochet One-Skein Wonders (Storey) knit pullovers, Hammersen explains, is simply made • The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs, by Linda P. all designed by picking a spot on your knitted Schapper (Lark Crafts) fabric and pulling a new yarn loop to pair with through it. The stitch patterns for trending-again Barnes & Noble Knitting List (print publications) each of the four hats are charted but slim jeans and leggings. Patterns • Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book (Sixth&Spring Books) include written instructions to ex- are rated from beginner to expert, • Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible, by Hitomi Shida (Tuttle Publishing) plain the symbols used. Bonus fea- but there is no how-to-knit infor- • Slow Knitting, by Hannah Thiessen (Abrams) ture: Each pattern is calculated for mation included, so new knitters
17 YMJAN19YarnUpdate.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 6:10 PM Page 18
YARN FORWARD WORSTED WONDERS Medium-weight yarns are a knitter’s mainstay. Old favorites and new options go the distance.
By Renee Lorion PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARCUS TULLIS
Freia Fine Handpaints Ombre Worsted Cascade Yarns Cantata Specs: 48 colors; 100% U.S. wool; Specs: 14 colors; 70% cotton, 30% 127yds/75g superwash merino wool; 218yds/100g Gauge 12–18 sts = 4" on U.S. 8–10 Gauge: 18 sts = 4" on U.S. 9 needles needles Distinctions: This unique worsted-weight Distinctions: Few yarns have more skein yarn features a cotton tube filled with appeal than Ombre Worsted, a single- merino fibers, a great option for lighter- ply handpaint. Each skein is a journey weight garments. through a landscape of shifting color. Projects: The Fairytale Cowl from Projects: Play the colors off one another Cascade’s website uses a long-loop with stitch patterns like brioche and texture stitch to showcase Cantata’s entrelac, or get extra creative with ombré distinctive look. colorwork.
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HiKoo/Skacel Collection Simplinatural Kelbourne Woolens Germantown Berroco Vintage Specs: 21 colors; 40% baby alpaca, 40% Specs: 18 colors; 100% North American Specs: 87 colors; 52% acrylic, 40% wool, fine merino wool, 20% mulberry silk; wool; 220yds/100g 8% nylon; 218yds/100g 183yds/100g Gauge: 16–20 sts = 4" on U.S. 6–9 needles Gauge: 18–20 sts = 4" on U.S. 7–8 needles Gauge: 16–18 sts = 4" on U.S. 8–9 needles Distinctions: Germantown carries some- Distinctions: Vintage, a washable blend in Distinctions: A touch of silk takes this thing special within its tidy center-pull lovely, consistent colors, is a modern classic. alpaca/wool/silk blend to a luxurious place. skeins—the long heritage of hand-knitting This yarn knits up with beautiful stitch def- With rounded 6-ply construction and a soft in America. Sourced and spun domestically, inition and stands up to repeated washings. sheen, this versatile yarn gives garments this 4-ply yarn represents a tradition of Projects: Use the updated pastels for and accessories a little extra polish. textile manufacturing that dates back to heirloom-quality baby blankets worked in Projects: The wide-ranging palette is invit- Colonial times. textured patterns or traditional cables. ing for colorwork and eclectic stripes. Projects: Kelbourne’s collection of Building Blocks patterns, focused on accessories, are perfect for beginners looking to expand their skills.
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WORSTED WONDERS
Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted Plymouth Yarn Co. Galway Worsted Specs: 22 colors; 100% wool; 219yds/100g Specs: 88 colors; 100% wool; Gauge: 20 sts = 4" on U.S. 7 needles 210yds/100g Distinctions: This classic 4-ply is ready for Gauge: 20 sts = 4" on U.S. 8 needles all of your worsted-weight adventures. A Distinctions: A go-to worsted, Galway center-pull skein and superwash wool make has stood the test of time. Easy to work in this yarn a stash favorite. knitting and crocheting projects, this ver- Projects: Use a rainbow of colors to create satile yarn can also be felted or woven. one of Kaffe Fassett’s signature afghans, Projects: Look to pieced afghans and log- like the Upscale Tumbling Blocks Throw. cabin-style blankets in contrasting colors or tonal shifts.
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Knit One, Crochet Too Allagash (top) Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted Blue Sky Fibers Extra Specs: 9 colors; 60% wool, 20% viscose, (bottom left) Specs: 20 colors; 55% baby alpaca/ 20% nylon; 219yds/100g Specs: Hundreds of nearly solids and multis; 45% fine merino; 218yds/150g Gauge: 17–18 sts = 4" on U.S. 7–8 100% superwash merino wool; 225yds/113g Gauge: 16–20 sts = 4” on U.S. 7–9 needles needles Gauge: 18 sts = 4" on U.S. 7 needles Distinctions: Baby alpaca and merino wool Distinctions: A woolen-spun blend, this Distinctions: A longtime favorite, Shepherd do the twist in this squishy 2-ply yarn that super-soft yarn is extra lofty. Subtle flecks Worsted continues to delight with its represents the best of both worlds. The of color give the tweed a rustic look. beautifully saturated nearly solid shades and springy construction gives it great stitch Projects: Former company owner Hélène unique hand-dyed multis. The fun Splatter- definition in cables and textured patterns. Rush’s Gray Matter cardigan contrasts shot colors offer another way to explore this Projects: Use the neutrals, like the two colors of Allagash in a striped mosaic dependable yarn. new Chestnut, to whip up myriad winter pattern. Projects: Extra soft and machine washable, accessories. this is an easy choice for kids’ knits and larger projects like afghans.
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WORSTED WONDERS
Universal Yarn Deluxe Worsted Koigu Wool Designs Chelsea Malabrigo Rios Specs: 147 colors; 100% wool; Specs: 20 colors; 100% superwash Specs: 81 colors; 100% merino superwash; 220yds/100g merino wool; 125yds/100g 210yds/100g Gauge: 18 sts = 4" on U.S. 7 needles Gauge: 16 sts = 4" on U.S. 8 needles Gauge: 18–22 sts = 4" on U.S. 6–8 needles Distinctions: This reliable 4-ply offers an Distinctions: Koigu, known more for Distinctions: Malabrigo’s gorgeous colors incredible color range, including heathers, skinny yarns, recently added an Aran sing in this squishy 4-ply yarn, named for the undyed natural colors and marled shades weight with the same bouncy, soft quali- four major rivers of Uruguay. Choose from called Rustics. ties we’ve come to know in KPPPM— kettle-dyed semisolid shades or watercolor Projects: It’s hard not to think of color- only at a larger gauge. multis. work with a palette this extensive. Go Projects: This yarn begs to be knit or Projects: A great all-around choice for traditional with the muted neutrals or crocheted into a cozy oversized sweater. accessories and garments, Rios looks espe- experiment with pop-of-color motifs. Great stitch definition makes it a natural cially cozy in a kid’s pullover like the Chuck for cables. sweater by Lisa Chemery.
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Celebrate 30 years of stunning textures, mesmerizing cables and innovative constructions with 40 of Norah Gaughan’s most memorable designs from Vogue Knitting.
ISBN 978-1-64021-027-1 • Hardcover • $24.95 • 176 pages
“[This book] embodies the best of Norah Gaughan’s brilliant career and is a must-have for every knitter’s library, both for the creative patterns and the inspiration....” —Deborah Newton
“I have followed Norah’s designing career from the very beginning.... [She] is indeed one of knitting’s great treasures.” —Meg Swansen
“Norah specs her proportions to fit and to flatter a variety of body types. Her muse seems to be the knitter herself.” —Margery Winter
“[Norah’s] avid curiosity and enduring commitment to our craft has enriched the world of knitting in ways rarely achieved by a single designer.” —Jared Flood YMJAN19YarnGroup.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 1:22 PM Page 24
YARN GROUP BY HEATHER ZOPPETTI, CHAIR Bigger and Better
appy New Year! As we ring in 2019, the date: April 27, 2019. LYS Day celebrates TNNA Winter Market: Many of the suppliers we look forward to making everything the bricks-and-mortar yarn shop. Think about who can create kits and products will be avail- Hbigger and better than ever. Our web- ways to collaborate with industry professionals able at TNNA’s Winter Market. They will bring site has gotten a facelift, we are headed to a and to create a sensational gathering in cele- with them ready-to-order items as well as new city for Winter Market, and we are exhila- bration of your store. Wholesalers and design- their best ideas for exploring partnerships with rated about our second Local Yarn Store Day. ers are eager to create unique kits and exclu- stores. What better way to discuss, network sive products to feature in your shop for this and collaborate than in face-to-face meetings? A New Look: TNNA has a new face on the momentous day. Be sure to promote the day TNNA’s Winter Market is the place to gather Internet. Last year, in late October, we launched to your customers, and find ways to draw with industry leaders and to plan for the future the new TNNA website, tnna.org/home. walk-in customers on the day of. success of your business. In addition to having a brand-new look, this Last year’s inaugural LYS Day was a huge This year the Winter Market will take place modernized site offers a responsive mobile success, with more than 400 retailers and in Portland, Oregon. In addition to LYS Day experience, improved navigation, an online nearly 50 wholesalers participating. A number planning, the Winter Market is the place to be community and an updated member directory. of retailers told us it was their best sales day for spring and summer buying. Learn about If you haven’t already, please take a moment of the year. We are eager to make this year upcoming trends, take classes from top educa- to log in and update your member profile. This bigger and better than ever. tors, network with your peers and so much will allow you to connect with thousands of The LYS Day page (tnna.org/events/local- more. This show, like the one last year in Las industry professionals and to participate in our yarn-store-day) is going to be a powerful Vegas, is a mixed-format hotel suite and ball- growing online community. New member resource for companies to network, connect room show, which offers a more relaxed features are being added, including community with collaborators and ultimately bring in new and personal shopping experience. Check out groups, a resource hub and video content. customers. Be sure to register on the site to all the details at www.tnna.org/events/winter- Local Yarn Store Day: Yarn Group is busy be listed as a participant so you can be found needlearts-market. We look forward to seeing gearing up for Local Yarn Store Day 2019. Save by potential collaborators and customers. you in Portland.
TNNA’s Yarn Group is an industry-encompassing group that promotes the growth of the yarn industry, creates awareness and appreciation of the craft, and encourages partnerships among members of the community. YMJAN19CYC.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 6:16 PM Page 25
CRAFT YARN COUNCIL BYJENNYBESSONETTE,EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR Still Warming Up America
n the early 1990s, when the problem of among other resources, to keep the organization By doing so, you can encourage your own cus- homelessness in America was making head- thriving and growing. We have worked to pro- tomers to contribute and also provide a venue I lines across the country, Evie Rosen—a mote, train and encourage individual volunteers at which current WUA! volunteers can drop off Wisconsin yarn shop owner and a knitting and groups to adopt the WUA program as a their donations. instructor of national renown—came up with the local activity; support and assist these volun- Donations could also be assembled at a idea of having volunteers knit or crochet 7x9- teers by providing information and instructional joining party in your shop and donated locally inch swatches and then join them together to materials through the website and newsletters; or shipped to WUA’s home office. Hosting a make afghans. Rosen said, “I’ve been do- act as a collection point for knit/crochet items; joining party for an evening would be a time of nating knitted afghans to a local shelter, but I oversee assembly of blankets; and ship items fellowship with your customers. Engaging can’t knit them fast enough to fill the need. to various charitable organizations and agencies your customers to help select the local charity What if we break down the task of making for distribution to persons in need. To date, makes another important community connec- these afghans into manageable parts so we more than 20,000 volunteers working for Warm tion. Working with WUA is a wonderful way to can involve a lot more people?” Up America! have made more than one million give back to your community and has the added Rosen began promoting her idea among blankets, hats, scarves and other items for tens benefit of bringing current and new customers other retailers in the midwest and in the of thousands of people. into your store. National NeedleArts Association’s associate Warm Up America! continues to be an ideal Lastly, WUA is always in need of monetary member program. With support from TNNA and charity for needlearts retailers to sponsor. CYC donations to help with shipping costs. Infor- the Craft Yarn Council, Rosen’s program—called and the foundation would welcome your support mation on making a donation and other details Warm Up America!—quickly gained traction in helping to spread the word by sponsoring a can be found by visiting the new Warm Up and became a national success. WUA program in your store. You can set one America! website, www.warmupamerica.org. The Craft Yarn Council has supported the up in a variety of ways. One way is to designate If you’d like to work with Warm Up America!, Warm Up America! Foundation since the begin- your store as a drop-off location for knitted or please contact [email protected]. ning, providing office space and personnel, crochet “sections,” blankets and other items. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Craft Yarn Council was formed in 1981 to raise awareness about fibers. Visit craftyarncouncil.com or knitandcrochet.com for more information. YMJAN19AFCI.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 6:18 PM Page 26
ASSOCIATION FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES BYKERICUNNINGHAM,SENIORDIRECTOROFMARKETINGANDRESEARCH Celebrating National Craft Month unning annually during the month of from businesses in other industries that have Actively contribute without blatantly promoting March, National Craft Month was started captured your attention. Evaluate past promotion- your business. (Mention your business or provide R in 1994 by the Association for Creative al ideas to determine what drove traffic and what a link to your website only when appropriate.) Industries (formerly the Craft & Hobby Associa- fell short. Do you have products on your shelves • Partner with others. Your best promotions can tion) as a way for individuals to participate in that might appeal to crafters who are not your happen when you collaborate. Join forces to host hands-on activities, try a new skill and discover usual customer? a local National Craft Month event or set up a the benefits of crafting. National Craft Month has • Develop your plan. March will be here before pop-up shop in a neighborhood store or location grown into an international celebration of inspira- you know it. Start getting your customers excited that receives large volumes of foot traffic. tion, innovation and creativity, with millions of to visit your shop and buy your products. • Contact the press. Press releases are a power- participants underscoring the familiar and near- • Involve your team. Hold a staff meeting to ful media tool to generate publicity and traffic. universal experience of making. share ideas and set goals. Invite your employees PRLog and 24/7 Press Releases are good vehi- During National Craft Month, retailers across to contribute ways to celebrate the month. cles for distribution. You can also subscribe to the country offer product discounts, special classes • Promote the event. Once that you have all the Help a Reporter Out (HARO) to find reporters and demonstrations, as well as tips and projects details in place, plan your marketing strategy. looking for story ideas and resources. to help customers try and discover crafts. With Here are four easy ways to promote National National Craft Month is also a great time for 62 percent of all U.S. households crafting in Craft Month: manufacturers to get involved by providing some form last year, you can use this opportunity • Utilize social media. Organize a competition on retail customers with ideas for simple projects to drive incremental sales by helping consumers your social network platforms. It’s a great way to that they can pass along to their shoppers online, rediscover all that creating has to offer. acquire new customers and maintain your exist- in classes or as free takeaway materials. By Incorporating National Craft Month into your ing relationships. supplying the sales support materials along with promotional calendar is simple. • Join online communities. Find a community unique and traffic-stopping merchandising ideas, • Brainstorm ideas. Examine marketing strategies and/or blog that best fits your niche customer. everyone benefits.
The AFCI is the premier trade association for the global creative arts products industries. Our members include the manufacturers, retailers, distributors, designers, educators, digital content providers, professional makers and DIYers and other creative professionals who comprise the $40 billion+ creative- arts industries around the globe. For more information about AFCI, membership or the annual Creativation trade event, visit afci.global. YMJAN19SmtMerch.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 1:32 PM Page 27
SMART MERCHANDISING
Pushing Paper BYDARYLBROWER Make books and magazines a viable sales tool.
crochet classes using the store’s Churchmouse it Hutchin of Churchmouse Yarns & Teas things to help you sell other things, you can unlock Classroom Collection, an illustrated how-to guide on Bainbridge Island, Washington, has a their full potential. with accompanying printed patterns that teach continuing love affair with paper. “We still K the basics. “Some knitters still relate better send sixteen-page paper newsletters by mail four Book (and Magazine) Smarts to paper than to YouTube,” John Koval explains. to five times a year,” says her husband and busi- At Churchmouse, Hutchin and Koval keep the Those who don’t have house how-to patterns ness partner, John Koval. “It’s a significant ex- shelves well stocked with reading material. What can use books the same way—pick a title (mag- pense, with printing and postage, but we feel it’s Koval describes as a “hefty bookcase” is filled azine or book) with simple projects and base a a good investment.” with reference and designer books (Vogue Knit- course around it. Offer a discount on the book if The newsletters, which supply news about ting’s Ultimate Knitting Book, June Hemmons it’s purchased in conjunction with the class to the shop, new products, programs and project Hiatt’s Principles of Knitting and many more). Pat- sweeten the deal. ideas and advice, are sent to an ever-growing terns, including more than 125 custom shop de- At Wool & Honey, print projects form the mailing list and handed out to customers as they signs printed on 110-pound cardstock, are stored base for kits. “We typically build kits around a browse the store. Sure, email blasts would reach in file cabinets. Magazines are also key players particular pattern or yarn,” explains Kelensko. “The just as many—if not more—knitters, but Koval and include all the long-running staples, along greatest success we have—in selling books, says they wouldn’t have the same impact. “It’s with a new breed of serial publications including magazines or yarn—is samples. Even more than another in-store selling tool,” he says. Having a By Hand, Pom Pom and Koel. “They are mar- patterns, when a customer can see a sample on piece of paper in your hand creates a connection velous,” says Koval. “We stock them all.” display, see how a yarn behaves, talk with one that a screen does not. At Wool & Honey in Cedar, Michigan, owners of us who’s knit the pattern—that’s when they’re Of course, not every shop has the resources, Liz Neddo and Melissa Kelensko favor smaller the most likely to make a purchase.” both time and money, to write, design and mail publications over big-name publishers: “We stock out printed matter each month. But the books and a decent number [of books and magazines],” magazines that your shop already stocks can be says Kelensko, “but not as a primary focus. We Spread the Love While a library-like shelf might seem the ideal (and obvious) spot to showcase books and maga- Display Type zines, it’s better to avoid burying everything in one Not sure how to get your books off the shelves and into a stylish display? Below are a few location. “We place patterns in stands around the suggestions to get you started. Find more by browsing Bookstagram, Pinterest boards store,” explains Koval. “We find that they serve and the like for book-display ideas. as ‘self-shoppers,’ something that’s very helpful • Pick a show-stopper pattern from a book or magazine and get a sample made up pronto. when you’re busy with other customers.” Set a mannequin wearing the design next to a table stacked with the book or near an Wool & Honey, too, avoids the library look. endcap displaying multiples of the magazine in which it appeared. No time to knit sam- “We merchandise the books and magazines ples? Attach a poster-sized blow-up of a favorite photo from your book and magazine strategically around the store—the newest issues collection to foam core. Use fishing line and T-pins to suspend the image from the ceiling tend to be up front near the counter so cus- over a display that includes copies of the books, the yarns used to create the pattern in tomers can flip through them while they’re check- the photo and a swatch of the design. ing out. Occasionally, we create a nook for read- • Got a spare chair? Set a table next to it and create a cozy vignette. Put an in-progress work ing, but we’ve learned that customers will gloss on the chair, a basket of yarn at the foot, and arrange select knitting titles on the table. over that. We find that books and magazines See a theme emerging? Curate a collection of books around specific projects (baby knits, make more of an impact individually than when socks, hats), a technique (lace, entrelac, colorwork), or thing (animals, flowers). they’re [all combined].” Getting books out of the corner and into the mix is easy enough. Use stands to display them on tables or atop your yarn bins. Endcaps are also great for building used to similar effect. According to a Craft Yarn know so many customers who subscribe to the book and magazine displays. Council report, knitters and crocheters get more major publications, and we just can't touch their Think outside the shop, too. Your news- than 60 percent of their ideas for projects from subscriber prices. So we focus on indie publica- letter, print or electronic, makes a great (and far- books and magazines. Of course, they also get tions that customers may not have seen, like reaching) display source for new titles. Add a ideas from the Internet, and that shift has led a Taproot and Making Stories. We like the idea of book review section that tells customers why number of retailers to treat books and magazines introducing them to something new.” they should buy the latest book to arrive in your as an afterthought. But merchandised with a eye collection and the old favorites you’ve had for toward inspiring and informing, printed pieces offer Each One, Teach One years. Spread the word and sales will follow. a tactile way to expand your customers’ creativity Rather than set books on a shelf and wait for and get them excited about what your store has them to sell themselves, both shops incorporate to offer. Once you stop thinking of printed pieces them into other aspects of the store. At Church- Daryl Brower, a regular contributor to this magazine, just as things to sell and start thinking of them as mouse, instructors teach beginning knitting and is a New Jersey–based freelance writer.
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SMART ONLINE
Action! BYMARYMCGURN The talk of social media engagement is video. Here’s how to make it yourself.
true—it’s even easier to use than Spark Video. ocial media is, increasingly, the place to Post makes it easy to get started. Open the After a free trial, you’ll pay an annual fee of watch video posted by friends and family app and you’re greeted with hundreds of profes- $264 for the pro plan. or businesses. The quality of these videos sionally designed templates. Select one and re- S mix it with new text, a different font, a new text Animoto presents you with two paths, ranges from raw, spontaneous captures to slick, Memories and Marketing Video Builder. I use professionally created stories. The question for size, shape and orientation, other colors or addi- the latter for its high degree of customization all businesses is not “Why create videos?” but tional text effects. If you’re still not sure you’ve and ability to render a video as either square “How quickly can we create them?” Coming to gotten it right, use the app’s style wheel. As you or wide-screen. Memories is not customizable, the rescue of small businesses are a plethora of move around the circle, the app suggests myriad but with more than 100 video templates into free or low-cost desktop and mobile apps capa- graphic treatments. You can open the app and which you can drag-and-drop your photos and ble of creating eye-catching, engaging videos— upload your own image or search through millions video clips, you’ll have a polished wide-screen little expertise required. of free and priced stock photos and illustrations. video in minutes—complete with soundtrack. The cloud-based apps described here are You’ll find two other helpful features: the Instead of templates, the Marketing Video my core video builders. With each, videos can resize tool and layouts. Post lets you resize your Builder offers you nine video styles. Transitions be shared directly on social platforms or down- image with one touch for major social platforms, and text effects differentiate each style. You loaded. You can also copy a URL to share your print and oft-used ratios. With layouts, you create create your video by stringing together content video on a website, blog or in an e-newsletter. grids of images and text. You can customize blocks containing photos, video clips, text, User interfaces are intuitive but, should you get the grid’s border and cell spacing and colors and collage, quotes or logos. To fill them, drag and stuck or find yourself in need of inspiration, resize its cells. drop your media (whether it’s your own that their blogs and tutorials deliver. Spark Video you’ve uploaded or found from among the app’s one million free stock content). Set the timing (spark.adobe.com) Create square or widescreen videos with this Adobe Spark of your blocks and add customizable captions. Created by the leader of visual apps for profes- app. Using the app’s templates, decide on your Grab and move blocks to reorder them. Each sionals, Adobe Spark is a suite of three apps— preferred visual style and, following the tem- style comes with a licensed soundtrack, but you Page, Post and Video—created for the novice. plate’s story prompts, upload your own photos can swap it for one of the app’s many other A key advantage is their ability to sync your and video clips. Each template brings in its tracks or upload your own. Voice-over is an op- work seamlessly across all of your devices. Start unique transitions and motion. Alternatively, you tion. What’s cool with Animoto is that one click a project on your desktop, then continue it on can start from scratch and build your own in can change your video’s ratio and style. your tablet or phone using their mobile apps, this easy-to-use app. Animoto is primarily a desktop video builder, available for both iOS & Android. Want to add icons or use other media? A key- but it does offer a mobile app (for both iOS and Relevant are Spark Post, to create graphics word search of Adobe Stock or the freebies from Android) that lets you access your videos and as an element for your video, and Spark Video, Unsplash and Pixabay gives you plenty of options. share them to Instagram. Animoto recently re- for combining photos, video clips and icons Change each frame’s layout from full screen to leased a mobile app (iOS only) to create Insta- into a video. (Spark Page, not relevant here, split screen to screen with caption or screen with gram Stories using templates. creates micro-websites hosted free by Adobe.) title and subtitle. You can also add text to any Adobe Spark is free, but if you buy their paid frame, size it and then drag-and-drop it anywhere. yearly plan at $99.99, you can replace their logo Trim seconds off your clips and photos. Zoom or with yours and add brand colors and fonts to minimize photos. Add audio from the app’s li- Best Practices all you create. censed soundtracks (you can preview each), up- load your own licensed track or do a voice-over. Create square or vertically formatted You can adjust volume frame by frame. If you up- videos; catch people’s attention within Spark Post the first 3 seconds; add captions; Post overlays text on an image, making it and load a video clip with audio, you can mute it. focus on one key point; add a call to the image pop. I use it to animate either the text One cool feature that sets Spark Video apart action and upload directly to the client: or image for a four-second video clip to be used is its ability to continue a video clip over more Using these tools and following these alone or as part of a longer video. Alone, it works than one frame. The app remembers where the guidelines will make you a master of well as an auto-play looping video on either Face- clip ended and picks up the clip in the right spot social media video and get your content book or Instagram; as part of a longer video, it's in the next frame. This helps when you want to in front of more customers. another video clip contributing to the storyline. use different captions as the clip plays. Make the image zoom, pan, gray out to full color, blur to focus and reveal from a solid color. Use Animoto (animoto.com) Mary McGurn of McGurn Media creates, manages the clip alone or as one element in a longer According to Animoto, this video-building plat- and strategizes social media accounts for small businesses video. The possibilities are infinite. form is “fast and shockingly simple.” And it’s and nonprofits.
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SMART STAFFING Glows and Grows Providing employees with feedback—both positive and not—is a surefire way to keep everyone on the right track. BYCLAIRELUI
ne of the hardest skills for a busi- stores with a significant number of employees, Ailene Long points out that evaluations go both ness owner to master is managing evaluations with “glows and grows” are unavoid- ways, saying the process “gives our employees an a group of employees. For some able for a smoothly running operation. avenue to also give us feedback that is recorded yarn shops, the question may be “The human aspect of hurting somebody and taken very seriously.” O moot: The store may have only will always be hard for me, and negative feedback one or two employees, or even none, with the always has that potential,” says Long. “I once had Draw the Line Between Friend owner doing all of the work. But as a business to write up an employee—an efficient hard worker and Boss starts to expand, hiring staff will be a given. with a positive attitude—for lack of follow-through, Long worked her way up at Jimmy Beans, from a What’s the best way to ensure new employees after a customer order snafu. This write-up was college kid working part-time to her current role understand and adapt to the company’s culture? given after multiple warnings that follow-through as a full-time manager. “A lot of friendships have is key.” Long says that even though the employee been formed during my time here, and I some- Begin as You Mean to Go On was considered a valued team member, a formal times find it very hard to draw the line between Be up-front from the get-go about your expecta- tions. As the owner, of course, you know what kind of yarn store you wanted to create, but don’t Feedback Fundamentals assume your employees can read your mind. • Be clear and consistent about expectations. Create an employee handbook and have regu- Many yarn stores have a formal employee lar meetings to lay out company culture and expectations. handbook and orientation to help new employees get with the program. Ailene Long, assistant • Feedback is a two-way street: Give employees a chance to ask questions and to offer sug- general manager at Jimmy Beans Wool in Reno, gestions on a regular basis, both informally and formally. Make sure that employees also Nevada, describes their handbook as a “living understand their rights and importance as part of the company. document” that changes as the store grows, but says “the mission statement of the company • Keep written records: Whether it’s a casual update about a change in customer service or never changes. We don’t necessarily want to be a more formal evaluation, make sure employees initial or sign off on written updates as an the biggest yarn store, but we do want to be acknowledgment of receipt. Follow up conversations with a quick email so that there is a among the best by providing good customer serv- record of the change. ice and creating lasting relationships.” • Emphasize the positives to all and the negatives to individuals. Consistently call out great Meet Regularly employee work as frequently and publicly as possible. Whether it’s a shout-out during a As a business evolves, it is important to check in company meeting or posting a complimentary customer email on the bulletin board, creat- with employees to make sure they understand ing a culture of positive validation benefits every employee. On the other hand, if an em- your expectations. Sheri Berger, owner of The ployee has to be given negative feedback, keep it private. If it’s a larger issue that is worth Loopy Ewe in Fort Collins, Colorado, says, “I do a mentioning to the store at large, keep the situation as anonymous as possible. formal check-in after an employee has been with us for a month or so, and then as needed for part- timers. We review full-timers more regularly.” negative consequence was necessary, saying, “I friendship and the needs of the business.” Berger also holds quarterly staff meetings with had to push through [my discomfort] in order to For Berger, the hierarchy is a bit different, since customer service training, as well as informal emphasize that certain behaviors needed to be ad- she is the owner and founder of the company. weekly meetings to discuss new inventory or justed, and it wouldn’t be fair to everybody else if “Once in a while, someone will get frustrated or programs. the problem wasn’t addressed.” offended over something another employee did, Ailene Long also emphasizes a check-in with Sheri Berger agrees that giving negative feed- said, didn’t do or didn’t say,” says Berger. “When new employees: “These employees are evaluated back, though difficult, is actually beneficial to both they can’t work the problem out themselves, for both performance and fit within our company employer and employee, as it helps the employee they bring it to me.” But she has found that over culture. We’ve learned the hard way that as much become more successful at his or her job. Berger time, her role as arbiter in these disagreements as we would like to keep everybody who is nice or adds, “It's also easier to give negative feedback has become less frequent. “Because we’ve done works well, the team dynamic is very important.” when you have been able to give them plenty of training on different personalities and different positive feedback over time.” perspectives, our employees are able to figure out Always Be Giving Feedback Berger does a formal yearly evaluation, both these things on their own and be more patient It is a truth universally acknowledged that every- written and oral, for her full-time employees. They with the differences.” one loves sharing positive feedback but dislikes are asked to sign and date the evaluation. Jimmy having to give negative feedback. But for yarn Beans Wool also gives formal yearly evaluations. Claire Lui writes and knits in Forest Hills, Queens.
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RETAIL PROFILE A Verb for Keeping Warm Oakland, California
BY MARYAM SIDDIQI
Tucked between a cupcake shop West in Santa Clara to rent a studio.” and a café, near a gift store and a A Verb for Keeping Warm is a community hub. The garden is an educational space in church, sits a garden, two dyeing which schoolchildren, fiber fans and aspiring studios and two classrooms—all gardeners can learn about plants from which part of a yarn shop in Oakland, dye can be made. The outdoor classroom, in the California, called A Verb for garden, hosts natural dyeing classes, while the Keeping Warm. indoor classroom is where courses on knitting, spinning, quilting and weaving are taught. “Our goal is to connect people with textiles branded yarn and several other lines. he shop—which opened in its current and natural dyeing on every level possible,” “When I opened our current space, I did so location, on the border of Oakland and Vejar says. because I wanted to support and offer yarns Berkeley, in 2011—was always meant to Vejar first learned about the merits and art from other like-minded companies,” particularly Tbe a multifaceted space, says owner Kristine of natural dyeing during a visit to India. She “other women-owned businesses that are Vejar. In fact, the brand itself has many facets, began practicing it herself in her home, where working with domestic wool, including Jill Draper starting as a knitting-bag company in 2004. she created a small line of naturally dyed yarns. Makes Stuff, Magpie, Spincycle and Twirl. We “I was designing and sewing bags for knit- The store’s dye studio now produces upward of are also very fond of Rosa Pomar, Daughter of a ters and thought I would like to make yarn. It 300 pounds per month of naturally dyed yarns, Shepherd, Isager and Biches and Bûches for wasn’t until I left my full-time job in 2007, though, fiber and fabric. She stocks the shop with a their work with local wool.” that I began my line of naturally dyed yarn and vast array of items for craftspeople, everything The store’s eponymous yarn brand, naturally fiber,” Vejar says. “I began in my kitchen and from fabric and trims to spinning supplies, dyed in the adjacent studio, includes yarns made [soon after] earned enough money at Stitches natural dyes and patterns, as well as her own of imported materials and made in Canada and YMJAN19RetailProfile.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 2:16 PM Page 31
RETAIL PROFILE
Peru (Reliquary II, ETA, Floating, Annapurna), and those made of domestic materials and made in U.S. mills: Flock, Gather, Pioneer, Range [now discontinued], and Dawn, a blend of 75 percent California organic merino and 25 percent organic cotton, which Vejar calls “farm yarns.” “The wool in all of these [farm] yarns is grown in California. All are either organic and/or climate- beneficial, a certification indicating that the ran- cher is farming carbon [which, according to the website Fibershed, “has the potential to restore balance within the carbon cycle in a way that will ameliorate climate change, build resilience to drought and increase agricultural productivity naturally”]. We have close relationships with our Vejar fosters customer relationships through occasion, she asked knitwear designer Thea ranchers/farmers and the mills,” she explains. a variety of means. Her first book, The Modern Colman to create a recipe for a “Dye Day “Because our climate is warming, more Natural Dyer, published in 2015, teaches readers Cocktail.” Pomegranate was used as the start- people are looking to work with cellulose the ins and outs of natural dyeing. The store is ing point for the drink—as Vejar wrote on and cellulose blends, which is what led us to home to classes and events, and she writes a her blog, “it’s a natural dye as well as a delicious make our yarn Dawn,” she adds. “From April monthly newsletter, “The Verbivore,” and blog fruit!”—and Colman then paired it with tea- through September, we tend to carry more to keep knitters and other makers informed infused bourbon. “Since black tea is a dye as cellulose. But really, in the Bay Area it is poss- about stock, initiatives and events. well, it’s a perfect pairing.” ible to wear a sweater nearly every evening Last year, A Verb for Keeping Warm organ- Her newest project is a podcast called throughout the year.” ized a Dye Day in which participants could pur- Reverberate. “It’s a new form of communica- Vejar has a team of nine employees at the chase dye kits from the shop to use at home. tion to share the projects we do at Verb,” store who work with her clientele, which she Vejar offers three dye kits, one for knitters, one Vejar says. “We will discuss our favorite topics: describes as diverse: “a diverse age range, from for sewists, and an indigo and shibori package; creating clothing from materials with a story. a multitude of backgrounds, who come from a each comes with concepts for three projects We plan to interview many different types of wide economic spectrum. And they value care- and all the supplies (materials, scours, mordants, people and to really give a sense of what it fully sourced materials,” she says. tools) needed to complete them. To toast the is like to make yarn.”
“From April through September, we tend to carry more cellulose. But really, in the Bay Area it is possible to wear a sweater nearly every evening throughout the year.”
A Verb for Keeping Warm QUICK 6328 San Pablo Avenue, GLANCE Oakland, CA 94608; (510) 595-8372; www.averbforkeepingwarm.com Years in business: 8 Staff: 9 Square footage: 1,700 Hours: Sun., Mon., Fri.: 11am–6pm; Tues.: closed; Wed., Thu.: 11am–7pm; Sat.: 10am–6pm YMJAN19CompanyProfile.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 2:32 PM Page 32
COMPANY PROFILE Freia Fine Handpaints
BY MARYAM SIDDIQI
ven bigger balls” proclaims the striping and semisolid gradients. home page of Freia Fine Hand- And all Freia yarns are exclusively U.S. paints, a nod to an economical merino/wool blends, some 100 percent product offering for those working U.S. merino (her best-selling yarn type), on larger-scale projects (customers some U.S. merino blended with silk. “All Ecan purchase yarn in 50-gram or 100-gram of the wool comes from the Rockies. My balls), but also to the sass, creativity and motivation for using American wool is not energy of founder Tina Whitmore. so much about protectionism; rather, it’s “I’m juggling a dozen new ideas in my head about keeping a smaller footprint and valu- at any given moment,” says Whitmore. “Like ing the animal husbandry procedures here so many others in this incredible industry, I in the U.S. that preclude mulesing,” Whitmore wish there were more hours in the day so that explains. “It is also nice to know that in I could knit more, design more, dye more.” my own small way, I’m helping out a few “There is a big farm-to-table Whitmore founded Freia, named in honor growers in the States.” of a dog she once had, in the fall of 2010 after This year, Whitmore took on a major and creative community working exploring the many facets of dyeing yarn. “The project, relocating her company from in traditional arts and crafts, and yarn first went on sale in early fall that year, California’s Bay Area to the Berkshires in about eight weeks after I decided to try my western Massachusetts. “Moving had [the Berkshires are] the home of hand at dyeing. I took what little yarn I had been on my mind for a number of years. MASS MoCA and other amazing art, dyed—about eighty balls of self-striping yarn— “[Northern California] has seen huge popu- to sell alongside Knitwhits [pattern and knitting] lation growth, with the accompanying neg- theatrical and music establishments.” kits at a Stitches Midwest show and sold out, atives of homelessness, wage pressure, even selling the swatch I had on my needles. I high rents, high taxes, high costs of doing knew then I was on to something,” she says. business, with, in my opinion, less return Since that unexpectedly successful intro- on that investment.” duction, she has steadily grown the company, On a visit to the Berkshires, she imme- launching two collections a year, each featur- diately felt at home. “I found a place of ing new gradient colors, and debuting them great beauty and history, sparse popula- at TNNA trade shows. All yarns produced by tion, lower taxes and lower cost of living, the company are hand-dyed—“currently it’s four well-defined seasons and an overall all tabletop dyeing and very labor intensive,” better quality of life,” Whitmore says. Whitmore says—and include ombré, self- It was almost simply a bonus that the area has historical ties to the textile and wool industries. “The people I met did not look at me sideways when I said I owned a yarn company. Everyone here knew what that meant,” she says. “There is a big farm-to-table and creative community working in traditional arts and crafts, and [the Berkshires are] the home of MASS MoCA and other amazing art, theatrical and music establishments. The area really checked off all the things I felt I needed.” Whitmore did not make the cross-country move on her own, though. One of her stu- dio assistants decided to head east with
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COMPANY PROFILE “The new framework will allow me to create a yarn shop portal for quick and easy reorders with current in-stock data and rapid delivery.”
her. “It’s really been great having her here. Though her desire to slow down in the She’s been very helpful in keeping things short term as she settles into her new running smoothly,” Whitmore says. Since home base and staffs up is understandable, opening the doors at her new location, she’s Whitmore has a growing list of plans and hired three additional staff, and she aims to aspirations. She’s curious to try other fiber build the team back up to 10 employees. types; for instance, “Cormo comes to “There are some challenges to moving to a mind,” she says. Pattern development has somewhat economically depressed area— taken a back seat recently, and she sends mainly just finding the right people—but the out yarn to a handful of reliable designers staff I’ve hired have all been great. Every job who she knows will “make something counts in these small towns, so it’s nice to amazing that really shows off the gradient,” see that coming here has contributed to the but she’s hoping to get back to work on overall well-being of the area,” she explains. this herself in the coming year: “I have While production and manufacturing very ideas of my own stashed away.” And with much have a local focus, Freia yarns are sold the expanded space at Freia’s new head- around the world, which she has achieved quarters, she hopes to open up a corner of for the company via attendance at TNNA, the studio to the public for a few hours a Vogue Knitting LIVE! and other shows and month. “We’ve had a lot of requests from through a healthy social media presence. For people in the area to come by, and I’ve al- Whitmore, the TNNA shows have “always ways wanted to have an atelier of sorts,” been a nice way to say hello to shop owners she explains. and hear from them what’s working best. Before that, though, she’s focused on Though it’s work and I’m very focused, it is the company’s most recent initiatives. also a bit of a breather; it’s enjoyable to be She rebuilt the brand’s website last year— able to talk more casually and see what’s hap- “The new framework will allow me to cre- pening in the industry in general,” she says. ate a yarn shop portal for quick and easy And Instagram is what she turns to for reorders with current in-stock data and rapid direct feedback and community building delivery,” she says—and last fall launched with the end user: “I love seeing what knit- “yarn bombs,” giant gradient balls of fingering- ters make in Freia yarns and enjoy re-sharing weight merino. “There’s close to a half- those images so that the knitters can get mile of yarn per ball,” Whitmore says. “I’m greater acknowledgment for their work than really excited about these and the design they might otherwise,” Whitmore says. possibilities within.”
Address: 60 Roberts Drive, Suite 204, North Adams, MA 01247; freiafibers.com Employees: 5 Fun fact: Tina Whitmore’s hand-dyed yarn was only meant to be a fun project. “It was supposed to be just something I’d play around with on the side and see if I could make some money, but it took off and took over from the [Knitwhits] kit business entirely.”
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The Trouble with TARIFFS HOW THEY MIGHT AFFECT THE IMPORTS ON YOUR SHELVES. By Leslie Petrovski
The Wool Act of 1699 forbade the American it’s not much of a stretch to say that wool helped Colonies from exporting wool and wool products spark the American Revolution. Three hundred- and restricted wool imports into North America to plus years later, tariffs, and the threat of same, can British wool only. This draconian law required still be fighting words, which is why the United colonists to pay taxes on every wool purchase. States and China are currently at odds—over wool, Given the importance of wool to both economies, bamboo and thousands of other goods.
U.S.–CHINA TRADE WAR
based on concerns that China was violating intel- lated to the transportation industry. China immedi- Last year, the United States and China began lectual property rights and engaging in other unfair ately retaliated with tariffs on $50 million of U.S. volleying onerous tariffs back and forth in a game trade practices. Imposed during two phases, these exports, including soy beans and four-wheel-drive that will have huge consequences for the global initial salvos inflicted 25 percent tariffs on $50 bil- cars, accusing the U.S. of starting the biggest trade economy. The United States started it, in the spring lion worth of Chinese imports, which involve more war in economic history. of 2018, with fees on steel and aluminum from than 1,100 goods including farm equipment, LEDs, When the U.S. levied a 10 percent duty on an several34 countries. President Donald Trump then chemicals used in plastic manufacturing, some additional $200 billion of Chinese goods, with those announced punitive tariffs on Chinese products medical and scientific equipment, and items re- tariffs slated to escalate to 25 percent, China fired YMJAN19Tariffs.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 3:02 PM Page 35
back with tariffs on $60 billion worth of American impacted, the administration continues to advance tariffs too, on items including computers, meat, products—all of this on top of any duties that al- harmful tariff policies that threaten to weaken the wine and textiles. Plus, there are other forces at ready existed between the two countries. U.S. economy. work that affect the price of goods, including fluc- At this writing, the threat of escalating duties “Every time this trade war escalates, the risk to tuating currency values, the commodity market on that $200 billion package of imports is on hold, U.S. consumers grows,” he continued. “With these and all the things that make up the complicated part of a 90-day “cease-fire” agreement Trump latest tariffs,WHAT many hardworking ARE TARIFFS? Americans will ecosystem of the global economy. and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached during the soon wonder why their shopping bills are higher So who pays all these tit-for-tat charges on G20 Summit at the beginning of December, so the and their budgets feel stretched.” goods as they travel between countries? Again, the two superpowers can try to hash things out. In the answer is complicated. Take wool, for example. meantime, the U.S. stock market has slumped, the Right now, the United States exports about 50 per- pressure onWHY prices DOES is building THE and CRAFT prices are rising So where do we stand now? All the tariffs men- cent of its clip to China. Since China has imposed as the resultsINDUSTRY of the trade war CARE? trickle through the tioned above are currently in effect. But what are tariffs on U.S. wool coming in, Chinese buyers will global economy. they and who do they impact, really? The answer either pay those taxes or forgo purchasing the is: It’s complicated. American fiber, which will require American wool Essentially, tariffs are taxes on imported goods. sellers to seek other markets. Those Chinese mills Countries impose tariffs for various reasons. In and textile manufacturers that do purchase U.S. What does this have to do with the craft industry? the case of the United States and China trade im- wool will likely offer less money to American grow- Quite a lot, if you’re importing raw materials or fin- broglio, the U.S. rationale for the tariffs is China’s ers or raise prices to make up the difference on the ished goods from China or purchasing from compa- troublesomeESSENTIALLY, trade practices and, TARIFFS arguably, the value-added yarn, clothing or other products they nies that do. These are some of the products that sell back to the United States and other countries. ARE TAXES ON IMPORTED could cause U.S. craft manufacturers, wholesalers “ Julie Stepanek Shiflett, an economist and and retailers concern: raw silk, silk yarn, raw wool, GOODS. COUNTRIES sheep-industry consultant to the American Sheep value-added wool in various forms including super- Industry Association, explains that because the wash, all kinds of yarn and fabrics, even baskets. IMPOSE TARIFFS FOR trade narrative continues to shift, it’s creating jit- After the United States announced the $200 VARIOUS REASONS. IN THE ters for the industry. “It’s the uncertainty that’s the billion batch of tariffs, Jo-Ann Stores, the Ohio– CASEOFTHEUNITED real killer,” she says. “When you’re investing in based fabric and craft retailer, came out with something, if you have uncertainty, you’re going a statement protesting the fees, calling the move STATES AND CHINA to reduce that investment. The industry is looking a “made in America” tax for the chilling effect it TRADE IMBROGLIO, THE for other buyers, perhaps in India and Eastern could have on U.S. crafterpreneurs and charity- Europe. Depending on what happens, it could be a minded makers who use the imported materials U.S. RATIONALE FOR tough spring.” Jo-Ann sells to make stuff. The company went on THE TARIFFS IS CHINA’S Once U.S. wool gets transformed into a ball of to create an online petition urging customers to yarn, skirt or sweater on Chinese soil, it’s no longer take a stand against the tariffs, collecting nearly TROUBLESOME TRADE an American product and is subject to the 10 per- 100,000 signatures, as well as backlash from cus- PRACTICES AND, ARGUABLY, cent duties the U.S. government levied on that giant tomers incensed over Jo-Ann’s foray into what $200 billion package of goods. Should things not some perceived as politics. THEMASSIVEDEFICIT go well during trade talks, that percentage could Jill Soltau, then CEO of Jo-Ann Stores, testified THAT EXISTS BETWEEN escalate to 25 percent on both U.S. wool exports before the Office of the United States Trade and Chinese imports made of U.S. wool. Representative, asking for an exemption for 30 THE TWO COUNTRIES. Diego Paullier, president and general manager product categories, but managing concessions of Chargeurs Wool USA, the South Carolina–based only on fleece and woven fabric. In her testimony, company where much of the country’s wool top is Soltau decried the tariffs, saying, “Our customers, produced, says they sell 60 to 70 percent of the many of whom are nonprofit organizations and ” wool they export to spinneries in China. The wool small businesses that operate on tight budgets, they process that stays in the U.S. is purchased could not tolerate the increased pricing resulting by the military, hosiery manufacturers, sporting from the tariff cost.” massive deficit that exists between both countries. goods and craft yarn companies. The National Retail Federation has also taken According to the Office of the United States Trade “The tariffs are pretty new,” he says, referring will a stand against the U.S.’s trade war with China, Representative, in 2017 the United States imported to the tariffs on wool exports went into effect warning that small businesses and consumers both $505.5 billion of goods from China, whereas we ex- in late September. “Most of our wool was sold in will feel the impact. A study by the NRF and the ported only $129.9 billion worth. spring and summer, so we have not seen the im- Consumer Technology Association showed that In theory, by slapping tariffs on about half of pact yet. It have an impact, of course. Duties are the effect of the early rounds of tariffs affecting $50 what we import from China, we’ll level the playing like taxes, so we’ll get 10 percent less price at the billion of imports could reduce gross domestic field by making U.S. products and imports from end of the day.” product by $3 billion and kill four jobs for every other countries more attractive to domestic buyers. Though Chargeurs’ Chinese export business one that’s created. Should China really feel the pinch, perhaps it would might suffer, there’s the possibility that demand “As thousands of businesses have testified negotiate to end the trade practices the United will increase domestically for U.S. wool, assuming and explained in comments to the administration, States finds objectionable, and we would enter into textile enterprises and consumers aren’t suffering tariffs are a tax on American families,” said NRF a new, more equitable era of U.S.–Chinese com- from the tariffs in other ways. “Yes, we export, 35 President and CEO Matthew Shay in a statement. merce. That’s the basic idea, anyway. but domestically speaking we are more protected,” “It’s disappointing that, despite the voices of those The problem is, China is hitting the U.S. with he says. “But our customers could be hurt in other YMJAN19Tariffs.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 3:02 PM Page 36
The Troublewith TARIFFS
ways. The marketsWHO are PAYS? so globalized that subject to lesser duties. “We also need to it’s difficult to know what the final result work a little smarter,” Mulcahy explains. will be.” “Right now all of our products are shipped from China to Michigan. It would help to keep costs down if we could ship When it comes to Chinese imports into the directlyDO to ourYOU global KNOW distributors. WHERE But United States, China doesn’t bear the actual we don’tYOUR have the TARIFFS capability ARE? to do that.” cost of these tariffs—U.S. businesses do. Say, for example, a yarn company ordered a silk-blend yarn from China. When the yarn arrives in a U.S. harbor, the duty is paid by U.S. import tariffs. “Luckily, we found out about What do you do if you are manufacturing goods the company’s customs broker to the U.S. Border the tariffs before we finalized our prices,” explains in China or importing yarns and other products? Protection Service. The yarn company can then Jimmy Beans’ Laura Zander, “so we were able to If you haven’t looked into what the trade war decide to raise the price on that silk-blend yarn incorporate the tariffs into our pricing strategy.” means to you, now is the time. If you are seeing to cover the import duties, or it can absorb them ChiaoGoo, a family-owned business based in fees on invoices you don’t understand, contact as part of the cost of doing business. Michigan, manufactures its knitting needles in your customs broker. Given the complexity of the “Whether it’s yarn or some totally different Hangzhou, China, and distributes them all over the trade conflict with China, you will want to make product, the concern is how this actually affects a world. They’ve been hit with 25 percent duties on sure that your invoices don’t contain mistaken business,” explains Amanda Peaker, customs their products coming into the United States. To charges. commercial account manager for Gallagher Trans- cover rising raw-material costs and the tariffs, the Juliana Mulcahy advises companies with port. “There’s definitely a lot of concern across company is planning a 10 percent whole price in- operations in China to engage the help of a lawyer the board about what’s going to happen, what crease to go into effect January 1. “Our last price to ensure that everything is being done to comply [companies] will have to pay and how it will affect increase was in September 2017,” explains Juliana with the new laws. “We are working with an im- their businesses.” Mulcahy, office sales manager for ChiaoGoo. “We port-export lawyer, which also costs money,” she Jimmy Beans Wool, which purchased the were due for a price increase anyway.” says. “But if you are importing from China, how Namaste bags brand, debuted the new range of ChiaoGoo is also working with an import- you import is under a microscope. You don’t want Namaste bags late last year. The stitcher-friendly export attorney to see whether some of their goods to incur extra fines by customs and border patrol bags, which are made in China, were subject toThecan Rising be reclassified in such Price a way that they of might Wool be because you are doing something incorrectly.” Tariffs aren’t the only factor affecting yarn prices. Have you processes and boosting prices on new yarn releases. Because wool checked the price of wool lately? After years of low prices, fine jumped precipitously in 2018, she anticipates having to add 20 cents wool is having a moment. The price of fine wool hit an all-time or so to her wool skeins once that wool is processed. “This makes high on the global market last fall, fueled by the drought in me so happy,” she says, “because ranchers will make more money.” Australia (resulting in smaller herds, so less wool) and rising Jesse Molzan, who owns Knit One Crochet Too, has seen prices demand, mainly in activewear (hello SmartWool and Allbirds rise not only in wool but also cotton, silk and linen, in addition to merino shoes, among others). milling costs. At this point, she’s only had to raise the price on two “People are rediscovering wool through next-to-skin products,” yarns. “My customers haven’t batted an eye when I say I’ve had to do explains Stanley Strode, wool manager for Midstates Wool Growers an increase,” she says. “They say, ‘That’s fine based on the quality.’” Cooperative. “There is strong demand and tight supply. It’s good for Yarn shops, too, are seeing increases from vendors. At Wool & the sheep growers.” Honey in Cedar, Michigan, yarn shop owners Liz Neddo and Melissa But for U.S. yarn companies looking to purchase domestic— Kelenske have experienced some price hikes. “Brooklyn Tweed in- or foreign—wool, it can run into real money. Nick Colony, direc- creased their prices,” explains Neddo, “but they hadn’t changed their tor of marketing operations for Harrisville Designs, encountered prices in a long time. We’re able to communicate that with our cus- this reality as the company was launching its American-grown tomers, and they are willing to pay for a really good product. If it’s Cormo-blend yarn Nightshades, a DK-weight black yarn dusted in $10 more for a sweater, it still seems like it’s worth it.” ten colors. Released last fall, the new line sold out at Rhinebeck. Danielle Romanetti, owner of Fibre Space in Alexandria, Virginia, Anticipating the demand, Colony went back to his yarn broker says most of her vendors have increased prices in the last three with an order, only to discover that in the year since the yarn months, which she’s passed along to her retail customers. She’s also had gone into development, the wool price had increased by $2 slightly reduced the number of yarns she carries. “I haven’t heard a a pound, which adds up quickly when you’re purchasing a few word from customers,” she says, “and haven’t seen it reflected in thousand pounds of wool. sales. But talk to me in April.” Because of how Harrisville had originally priced the yarn, it was What will the future bring? Stanley Strode, wool manager for Mid- able to absorb the extra cost of the fiber without raising the retail states Wool Growers Cooperative, thinks that in the near term, prices price of their 250-yard skeins. “If they raise the price more,” Colony will remain high. “Australian production is lower, and their sheep num- says, “who knows what will happen?” bers are down. Fine wool sheep market is down here, too. When you Stacie Chavez of Imperial Yarn has managed to absorb the $3.50 look at world numbers of sheep, fine wool sheep numbers are down per pound increases she’s seen since 2015 by changing some everywhere. It goes back to supply and demand.” YMJAN19Celeb.FINAL:Layout 1 1/24/19 5:47 PM Page 37
THE MASTERS JESSE MOLZAN
knitter and businesswoman I am now. After inspiration for our designs from the runways and working for The Sassy Skein for six years, I de- whatever location we choose for our photo shoots. cided to try something new, and I was hired as the manager of a local yarn shop. I am really ES: What’s the response been from customers? happy I got a chance to learn what works and JM: It’s been great! They are so happy someone doesn’t work in an LYS. This kept the yarns alive. They are also happy knowledge has really helped we are giving new life to some of their me—I understand what “WE PLAN TO FOCUS favorite yarns and patterns. shops need to move the ON YARNS THAT WILL yarn they order. STAND THE TEST OF ES: How did you learned to knit and crochet? TIME. I WANT TO ES: What made you decide JM: My grandmother Go-Go taught me to buy an existing com- CREATE YARNS THAT to knit, twice—first was when I was 10, pany rather than start your WILL BE STAPLES IN when I had absolutely no interest in it. own? YARN SHOPS. Fast-forward fourteen years. I had just JM: I had an opportunity to moved home from Australia and was buy the yarn shop I managed. I thought hard about“helping out at The Sassy Skein. I thought that When Hélène Rush of Knit it, and planned, with time, to create my own yarn since I was working there I should at least know One, Crochet Too was line to help support the shop. But then I got an how to knit so I wouldn’t feel hopeless if some- email from Hélène Rush, Knit One, Crochet Too’s one asked me a question. Go-Go was so excited looking to retire three years previous owner, saying she was about to sell her to teach me; she was such an avid knitter. From ago, she decided to seek company. I had always been a huge fan of TY-DY the moment she taught me to knit and purl the Cotton and Batiste, and I didn’t want to see them second time, I have not dropped my needles. a buyer rather than shutter go away. I knew that Knit One, Crochet Too had From that moment, I knew I’d found my thing. the company’s doors. She really amazing fibers; the company just needed some new life. So instead of building a brand from ES: What will Knit One, Crochet Too be found Jesse Molzan, who scratch, I chose this route. This way I had a good focusing on in the coming years? moved the company from support system to start with, and I had cash JM: We plan to focus on yarn lines that will coming in from the first day. It’s because of this stand the test of time. I want to create yarns that chilly New England to sunny that I am able now to bring in new yarns that I will be staples in yarn shops. The first yarn that Florida. YMN’s Erin Slonaker have been dreaming of bringing to life. I came out with as the new owner was Daisy, a gorgeous blend of linen, silk and hemp. I can’t spoke with Molzan about ES: What changes have you made since taking wait for people to see the seven new colors for the reins? spring. Our next new yarn will be coming out this what it’s like to take over an JM: We’ve come out with a brand-new logo, web- summer for Fall 2019, and I hope it will make an established brand. site and Instagram. Our yarns and designs have even bigger splash than Daisy. It is going to be been given new life with fun and bright photogra- called Snowdrops, and it is a stunner. ES: You’re a relatively new yarn company phy. We are slowly rebranding the yarns that might owner. Tell us what led you here? need a little extra TLC on the labels; we want each ES: What do you see for the future of the yarn JM: I was born and raised in Fort Myers, Florida. fiber to tell its own story. The first yarn we re- industry? I was an international studies major in college, branded is Nautika, a worsted-weight microfiber/ JM: Because of social media and the Internet, and I lived in China (trying to learn Chinese) for nylon blend. I had a graphic artist design the cutest more and more people are being exposed to so a year. After graduation, a friend and I moved to knitting octopus to put on the new band. I’m also many choices in yarns and in designs. I think this Melbourne, Australia, where I worked for a trying to bring fun and modern designs to our sea- a great thing, and I think that we will be seeing vintage clothing company. That’s where I was in- sonal collections. a lot more boutique yarn companies like mine in troduced to the wholesale industry, and I realized the coming years. I love helping create collections and products ES: What’s it like being a knitter who lives in to be sold in shops. After a year, my visa ran out Florida? How does that affect how you drive ES: What do you like to do in your free time? and I headed home to the States. My neighbor your company forward? JM: Free time? What’s that? When I do have growing up owned the yarn company The Sassy JM: I love how people are so shocked and sur- time, my husband and I like to travel. We make Skein. When I got home I contacted her to see prised I could have a Florida-based yarn company. mini trips out of our photo shoots for work. I if she needed any help around the office while I We have such large knitting and crochet com- am the model in all of our photos, and my hus- looked for something permanent. Over time, I munities here. I do tend to knit more lightweight band is the photographer. For our upcoming took on more and more responsibilities around projects, like fingering-weight pullovers and tanks. season we went to Corfu, a gorgeous island the office. And once I realized I really liked to knit But we live in air conditioning almost half the that has inspired an exciting collection of time- and could create fun and wearable art, I was year, and it gets chilly inside, so we like to bundle less designs in our amazing yarns. We look hooked. It was a wonderful company to work for, up in chunky cotton sweaters. I don’t think living in forward to continuing to travel and letting the and I was able to learn and really grow into the Florida affects the way I drive my company. I take world inspire many more collections.
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