The dust bunnies under the bed

Continuing my behind the scenes look, I thought I'd share what my "studio" really looks like. Actually, I guess "studio" is apt, since I do live in a studio apartment!


Above we have my couch, which is where I knit, lots of books, and the winding station. The large winder is standing on top of an antique stacking dim sum box which my boyfriend gave me. It holds yarn. The cubbies in back were an Urban Ore find by him, and store yarn and fibre to be sold. The artwork on the walls is mine.


Spinning wheel, shipping station, clothes. I moved my clothes out of my closet so I could have more storage room for wool. Top down sweater in progress on dress form...um, it's been in progress for a while.


Where the alchemy happens. Did I mention I don't cook? My entire (tiny) kitchen is devoted to dyeing. The post-its are dye recipies I haven't typed up yet.

I would really like to be able to say that normally my apartment is way more tidy, but, um, no. I'm kind of messy. Or, well, as I had a button as a kid saying, "I'm not messy, I'm just creative!" The truth it, I'm totally maxed out on space, but I'm not exactly sure what my ideal dyeing studio would look like.

Anyways, I thought I'd disclose this embarrassing look into my "studio" because I think a lot of people think that us dyers have these fabulous dyeing spaces. I know I secretly always think other dyers have a way better set up than I do, even though probably a lot of their spaces are like mine!

behind the scenes

Above you see my very technical drying rack. It sits outside my very well equipped dyeing studio, with ample counter space and storage....

sigh. I wish! I have a bit of studio envy right now, after going to Kristine's (A Verb For Keeping Warm) anniversary party at her studio at Activspace in Berkeley. Even though I'm not sure I really want a studio at Activspace, there's no denying that I've pretty much maxed out my studio apartment space wise. I adore my apartment, and it's not super small-- I've definitely lived in smaller studio apartments that were more like glorified closets-- but when you try to run a business out of it as well as live in it, it can get pretty crowded. However, it'll do for now. Or until I smother myself in wool.

I called this post behind the scenes because I often wonder what other people imagine my workspace to be like. I wonder myself at other dyer's studios-- what does Sundara's workspace look like? Probably not like my tiny kitchen that has been totally converted into a dye area and very rarely sees any real cooking...but then again, you never know!

I also just wanted to say a big thank you. Recently I've gotten in the post some delicious caramels and some lovely honey from customers as a thank you for my yarn and fibre. This display of kindness and affection just blows me away, because, really, I feel like I should be sending them delicious treats as thank yous for being my customers! I'm just really, really touched, and it means more to me than I can say. So thank you, Ann and Ulli, from the bottom of my heart. And thank you to everyone else who buys from me. I'm a single-income household (I haven't quite figured out how to make the cats go to work yet, unfortunately), so I really do support myself by my yarn and fibre, and I couldn't do it without such wonderful customers. thank you.

finished and in progress

The Circe socks are done and I'll be writing the pattern up soon. I'm really happy with them, and the yarn. they would be longer, if I hadn't been so inept at winding the yarn using the ball winder and swift. Some people are really gifted at this task-- they wind perfect little yarn cakes. Not me. I ended up with several "burped" looking balls, and lost quite a bit of the yarn in my attempts to fix the tangles I'd created with the ball winder. Not the skein's fault, just mine. Then, of course after I'd finished the socks, I discovered an additional burped ball on my boyfriend's desk. Apparently it had fallen under the desk. Ah well.






I also ressurected an old project-- stripey socks. I will shamelessly admit that i was inspired by Knitterly Things' wee skeins socks. My old base yarn often left me with left overs, so I started knitting up some socks from them. I kinda have the urge to make knee socks, but I'm not sure if I have the patience for these. I kind of just want to finish them and move on to something new. They're quite fun, though! I love stripes!




And, as regards my last post-- man, I have some sensible readers and customers! Thanks for weighing in on the topic. And many thanks for all the kind words on my yarns and fibres! I didn't post on that topic to have my ego stroked, but it was really, really nice to hear that you guys like my yarns and fibres. Without you, I wouldn't have a business, so I thank you.

still knitting....and knitting...

The kusha-kusha inspired wrap/shawl is still growing. Because I want it to be a shawl/wrap rather than just a scarf, it's taking a long time; I'd almost call it a slog-along project except that I really love the fabric. Plus, being knit on size 13 needles really just means that I need to knit on it more. I was getting quite efficient mileage on it while summer modelling jobs were in session, but i've been pretty much exclusively knitting on my Circe socks recently.

However, a nice thrilling action movie (Death Match) provided an hour and a half of nice knitting time, so I'm in love again. Nothing like blood and gore to make those needles move a little more quickly!

And yes, I have terrible taste in movies.



more pretty shots of fabric

On a completely different topic, I wanted to bring up something for discussion. I personally get fascinated by all the drama that surrounds Sundara yarn and Wollmeise, and was wondering what all you guys think? Not about the yarn itself; although I've never tried Wollmeise, I do love Sundara yarn, but about the intense feelings that surround the yarn. I mean, the fact that The Loopy Ewe now has to limit customers to two skeins of Wollmeise at a time is rather hilarious, don't you think?

I started thinking about this when I noticed that Sundara will no longer be offering individual skeins for sale but will rather be doing subscription based sales. I'm not entirely clear on how this will work, but the concept is interesting to me. I myself would never do that, for many reasons, but I do support any decision Sundara makes in order to keep her sanity. But that's a minor point. Rather, I mean the people who seem to get incensed when they think that the buying options are not "fair" to them, or who get upset because they think other customers are "hogging" all the yarn. (my quotes, not any quotes in particular.) It gets very dramatic! Not to mention the conspiracy theories that start popping up....

So, I'm curious as to your opinions. I would be hypocritical if I didn't say I wouldn't mind a bit of that frenzy, but I'm certainly not complaining. My customers are fantastic. And I'd rather not have any drama surrounding my yarn, frankly. I don't always send out updates for my yarn or fibre because I like the average person to be able to stumble across my yarn or fibre and be able to buy it. It's also easier for me. I don't do custom orders any more because I don't want to promise anything I can't deliver and have people be disappointed. Hence the "want list"- if I have it in stock, I'll dye it for you! But if I don't, well, I'm not going to promise anything. I try to keep it fun for me, which I think translates into a better product.

A disclaimer-- I am not in anyway critizing Sundara yarn or Wollmeise yarn or the way they do business! I have the highest respect and admiration for them both. I just have a hard time understanding why so much drama surrounds them! As a dyer, sometimes I want to say to all the people who criticise the way they do business is: it's hard work having a yarn company! Sure, it's fun, but those of us who do it full time work all day, every day. Not that we should be pitied, but, you know.

Discuss!