Today we have Khris from Chewy Spaghetti in our Loopy Limelight. The first thing that drew me to Khris’ line was the fun name for her company! But of course it’s her beautiful yarn that took over from there. We’re glad to have her in our indie-dyer line-up, and I know you all are glad we have her, too.
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Loopy: Hi Khris! So speaking of that fun name, how did you come up with that for your business?
Khris: When my son was little, he loved the old movie The King and I (the Debra Kerr/Yul Brenner musical, not the animated version). He began repeating lines from it, and one day he told me that I was a “very difficult choomon”. My husband and I laughed and laughed at his proclamation, and his mis-pronounciation of the word “woman”. In fact, my husband thought that it was so funny that he began calling me choomon (because I *can* be a very difficult woman at times LOL). It became a nickname, and I started using it as my user name online. When I started my knitting blog, I wanted to incorporate the user name and also reference knitting or yarn somehow. I had seen a photograph online once, of a bowl of yarn with a fork sticking out of it that had stuck in my mind. I sort of rolled that all together- with the idea that yarn would be really chewy to try and eat, and came up with Chewy Spaghetti.

Loopy: That’s a great story! How long have you been knitting and who taught you to knit?
Khris: I never actually wanted to learn to knit. When my son was about 6 years old he wanted to learn to knit . I didn’t know anyone who could teach him. So, I picked up a kids knitting book from the library, got some yarn and needles, and went to work. After three weeks of spending an hour each day trying to figure out the cast on, I finally figured it out. I spent another week or so mastering garter stitch, and then sat down to show my son. Of course, he was no longer interested in knitting. I showed him anyway, and started him on a scarf. He knit on it in the car some, but he never did finish that scarf. By that time, I saw knitting as a challenge. I was going to figure this out if it killed me. I didn’t enjoy the process, or the end product, but that didn’t matter. I started knitting toy balls for the children. They were a great first project because the kids didn’t care what they looked like, the type of yarn didn’t really matter, and I learned increases and decreases. I spent a whole year knitting nothing but those balls. Eventually, I began adding stitch patterns, cables, and stripes to them. Only after I knit all of those balls did I ever cast on for my first scarf. I moved right on to sweaters, and I knit my first one in a knitting class taught by Joan McGowan Michael. She was a wonderful teacher, but I never did finish that sweater.

Loopy: It’s ok to have an unfinished sweater in your UFO pile. We understand. What is your favorite item to knit?
Khris: My favorite item to knit is socks, of course. They are a very addicting pastime. I think it’s because they are so portable, so quick to knit, and also that you can easily change patterns from the way they’re written. I also love knitting dancewear for my daughter. I’m working on a Hew for her right now. Anything written in a top down fashion is fun knitting to me.

Loopy: We had to go to Ravelry to find out what a Hew was. So it’s a type of shrug. (Here is the Ravelry link, if you’re on Ravelry!) So what is the most challenging thing that you have knit so far?
Khris: My most challenging project to date was probably a Fair Isle vest that I knit a few years back. I had never used that technique before, so it was a learning process.

Loopy: Some of us still haven’t tackled Fair Isle. (ahem) You were reluctant to start knitting but then learned that you loved it. What took you into dyeing yarn?
Khris: When I started knitting socks, I started with self striping sockyarns. They were not that exciting to me, but they were functional. Then, I discovered the beautiful hand dyed yarns that are available. Those were very attractive to me, but the price difference was off-putting. I saw an article online about dying yarns with Kool Aid, so I thought that I’d try it. I’ve always loved color, so I was hooked after the first time. It was a new challenge, and one that I loved.

Loopy: We love some of the color combinations that you have come up with. Where do you get your ideas, and do you have a favorite one?
Khris: I take color inspiration from everything around me. Color is everywhere- and not just in nature. I try to be open to the combinations when I see them. I take a snapshot with my mind’s eye so that I will remember later. My favorite colorways are always changing. Every time I think that one is my favorite, I come up with a new one that I like even better.

Loopy: It’s probably good that your favorite is always the next thing that you come up with! What is your favorite thing about your job? And your least favorite?
Khris: My favorite things about my work are also my least favorite things about my work- the actual dying process, and coming up with new colorways. When I have a large batch of yarn to dye, I get into a zone where my hands are busy with repetitive motion, and my mind can wander. It’s a little bit like mindless knitting in that way. It’s also a wet and dirty job, and my workshop is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. We’re working on making improvements to eliminate that problem. I love playing with color, and coming up with new combinations. But it’s stressful when I feel “blocked”, or can’t get the color to match my idea of what it should be. I guess that dyer’s block is a little like writer’s block.

Loopy: Dyer’s Block would be frustrating! I guess that’s the time to walk away from the workshop and enjoy doing something completely different for awhile. Tell us about your family!
Khris: I’ve been married to The Rusty Knight for 14 years this month. He’s a Geologist (which means that we have lots and lots of rocks around the house and yard), and a wonderful partner and parent. We have two kids, a dog and three cats. The Boy Wonder is 12. He amazes us daily. He has Asperger’s Disorder, which is like mild Autism. When he was little, we didn’t know if he would ever really fit in with his peers. He’s found an amazing group of kids who appreciate his unique personality, and who accept him just the way he is. Princess Stomping Foot is 9. She has found her calling in the world of dance. She fell in love with ballet at an early age, and that love affair is still going strong. She has an amazing amount of perseverance when she sets her mind to something. At the age of three, she gave up all meat except fish. She just made the connection between the animals that she loved and the food that we eat. She remains a vegetarian, even though the rest of the family is not. Sometimes it’s difficult to plan meals, but we are very proud of her for sticking with her decision. The Princess overcame a rough start, spending her first week of life on a heart/lung bypass machine called ECMO. Except for the scar on her neck, you’d never know it now. We’ve chosen to educate the children at home, and I love being able to watch them grow and learn each day.

Loopy: We love the names that you have given your kids in blogland! They sound like great kids. Does anyone else in your family knit?
Khris: My mom is a very crafty lady. She does a little bit of everything- from toll painting, to cake decorating, sewing and quilting, knitting and crochet. It’s funny that I didn’t learn to knit as a child, although I do remember being taught crochet (which I can’t do now). I have taught both of my children to knit. The Boy Wonder did not keep it up, but his sister occasionally pulls her knitting out and works on it. Her first project was a scarf. It took her 4 years to finish it, and she gave it to her father for Christmas. He wears that brightly colored, wobbly scarf very proudly.

Loopy: With all of that beautiful yarn around the house, it would be unusual if it didn’t inspire other people in your household to knit from time to time! Thanks for being in the Limelight today. Anything else you’d like to add before you go?
Khris: I feel really fortunate to have found this little niche in the fiber community. It’s really full of amazing people, wonderful artists, and generous patrons.

Loopy: We agree! (And for those of you waiting on our next batch of Chewy Spaghetti, it ought to be up sometime this week.)
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Sheri drivingbackfromFloridatodayandknittingawayinthecar

Today we have Beth Casey, owner of Lorna’s Laces, in the limelight. We have carried Lorna’s Laces since the very beginning and I remember this being the first line that we began getting in GREAT quantities - pounds and pounds of their yarn coming through the door at once! (Do you remember the blog post where I told you about the delivery guy leaving a 125 lb. box of it on my front porch and then helpfully yelling at me from his truck to “watch out - that one’s really heavy”? I had to call him back from his truck to use the dolly and at least put it inside the door, FPS.) I know you love their beautiful colors and will enjoy learning more about the woman behind the company.

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Loopy: Hi Beth! Thanks for joining us in the Limelight today. How long have you been a knitter and who taught you to knit?
Beth: I learned to knit in the late eighties. I had just moved to Kansas City from St. Louis. I didn’t know a soul there and I had a sales rep job where I worked from home. Because of that work environment, it was really hard to make friends. There was none of the built-in socializing that goes with a traditional office job. “Wanna go to lunch?” or “Let’s go to happy hour.” I had two colleagues that lived in the area and they were both knitters. I’d never done much in the way of crafts but it seemed like a good idea. So, I signed up for a beginning knitting class at The Yarn Barn of Kansas and never looked back. Not only did I find a life long love of knitting, but I also found a community and friendship.

Loopy: That’s fun that you lived in our hometown! You’re right - not a lot of inner-office socializing when you’re the only one in the office! We’re glad that you found the knitting community. So what is your favorite thing to knit?
Beth: I probably like knitting sweaters the most. I find it so gratifying to hear “I love that sweater” and be able to tell them I knit it myself. I have to admit that lately I’ve been doing more small projects, like socks. I need the gratification of a finished product and I don’t have as much time as I used to.

Loopy: Well socks are good too, you know. We’re kind of partial to them around here. What is the most challenging thing that you have knit so far?
Beth: The most challenging? That’s a toughie. I can tell you what the most challenging project I STARTED was. Right after I moved to Chicago, I bought the yarn for a Kaffe Fasset Tumbling Blocks blanket. There were over 45 colors in it! I got the first few rows knit and then put it aside. It sat in a basket and made fun of me for years. One day I saw an article in Vogue Knitting that gave the address where you could send unused yarn that would ultimately end up overseas to underprivileged women. That article allowed me to let go. I packed up that yarn the next day. It felt so good to have it behind me. You’d have thought I’d lost twenty pounds. That experience taught me a lesson. Knitting for me is about relaxation and enjoyment. I have enough challenges in my life. Knitting shouldn’t be one of them. I like simple patterns and texture. I’ll do a bit of fairisle, but I’m not a fan of intarsia or lacework. And that’s OK. We should all knit what makes us happy.

Loopy: Absolutely! What did you do before you were with Lorna’s Laces? And then how did you end up there?
Beth: I worked in college textbook publishing for eleven years. It was a great job for a long time, but after awhile I got bored. In order to move up meant I would either have to travel about 25 weeks a year or move to NJ. Neither was an option. My unhappiness got so bad that one morning as I was starting my daily ritual of whining and complaining, my husband stopped me and said “I’ve had enough. One of us is going to call your boss today to tell him you are resigning. Do you want to do it or shall I?” So I put on my big-girl pants and made the call. I spent the next couple of years bouncing around, trying to figure out what to do next. I studied bread baking at the French Culinary Institute in NY. I walked dogs, I watched way too much daytime TV. One evening I was thumbing through a knitting magazine trying to decide on my next project and I noticed a small ad in the back. You know those little half inch want ads? It said something about a hand-dyed yarn company being for sale. And it mentioned that it could be relocated. So, I emailed for more information. That was in August 2002. I flew out to meet Lorna Miser and see the operation in October. We negotiated the terms of the sale over the next several weeks and I was introduced as the new owner of Lorna’s Laces at TNNA in January 2003.

Loopy: Wow - what a story! It’s a good thing you had someone who could encourage you (tell you?) to leave the job that was no longer right for you. In your role at Lorna’s Laces, what is your favorite part of the job, and what are the parts that you like a bit less?
Beth: This is probably going to sound corny, but the thing I like most about what we do here is the idea that we create something beautiful with our hands that in turn is transformed by hand into another beautiful thing. I believe that we knit for people we love (even if it is ourselves) and that the positive energy that comes from all the hands that touch the work along the way it what makes it special. The thing I dislike the most is the everyday grind of running a company. There are bills to pay, email to answer, phone calls to return. I’m much happier playing in the dyepots.

Loopy: I like that idea of the chain of hands working together down the line. How do you come up with the names for your colorways, and do you have a favorite?
Beth: The colorways come from so many different places. Much of it comes from keeping my eyes open and paying attention to the world around me. For example, Glenwood was inspired on an autumn walk. One of my neighbors had a big terra cotta pot of yellow and orange mums on her front porch. So, Glenwood has orange, yellow, green and a brick-ish color. Another example of pulling things from every day events is Irving Park. I was in a store to pick up some new bath towels. Instead of walking in and just picking out the color I needed, I really looked around at the way the different colors played against each other. Some of them spoke to me and the next day I went in and fiddled around until I found something I liked. One last example just to show you that sometimes things just happen. We had a batch of a color that turned out badly. Some yellows and purples got mixed up and looked just awful. They were so bad that I didn’t even want to throw them in the millends box. I had some leftover dye from another color I was working on. I just poured them all together and tossed in the ugly yarn. Lo and behold, Lakeview was born. I had to do a little reverse engineering to figure out how to recreate it, but it was worth it. Lakeview is always one of our top 10 best selling colors.

Loopy: So you really do get ideas from all over! Does anyone else in your family knit?
Beth: I have an older sister who knits pretty regularly. She is very talented with needles. She knits, does needlepoint, sews. She even made her own wedding gown!

Loopy: Yes, I’d say that qualifies her as very talented with needles! Are there other hobbies that you enjoy?
Beth: Does running count? I get up most mornings a little after 5 am to run. If these old bones hold up, I’ll be running the Chicago marathon this fall. I also really enjoy cooking.

Loopy: ….. wait a minute ….. I’m still trying to get past the 5 am thing….. (yawn). Well good luck on the marathon! If you had the day off, what would be your favorite way to spend it?
Beth: On a perfect day off, I’d take a long walk on the lake with my husband and dog, find time for an afternoon nap and have friends over for cocktails and dinner.

Loopy: That sounds like a nice day - we hope you get one of those soon!
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Sheri notenjoyingtheheatinFloridabuthavingfunknitting!

Today, it’s all about more bags. (I did warn you that I have a wee bag problem. As in, I like them too much.) Many of you have enjoyed collecting the different fabrics and sizes of BigBags, BabyBags and NeedleBooks from Lawre’s Laine, and I thought you’d have fun learning a bit more about this indie artisan that you have supported. Her work is top notch and it’s always fun to unpack a case of her bags when new orders come in.

Loopy: Hi Lawre! We like having your wonderful bags here. How long have you been sewing and do you remember the first thing you made?
Loopy: My mother taught me and my 2 sisters to sew when we were 7 or 8 years old. I do not remember what it was I first sewed, I just remember ripping seams, again and again, until they were RIGHT!! I hated it then, but am very thankful now! I sewed funky clothes during the 60’s (that never fit) and clothes for my daughter in the 70’s (which did) I don’t like fitting clothing - I’d much rather sew home furnishings and decorative things. I really liked sewing teddy bears from an old mink coat!

Loopy: All of that attention to detail when you were young really paid off. Your workmanship on your bags is beautiful. What made you get into making bags as a business?
Lawre: First I took an early retirement from the telephone company and needed a little more income and something to keep me busy. I am a hand-spinner, so decided to sell hand-spun sweater kits with hand-made buttons and stitch markers. Way too time consuming and not enough knitters ready to dive into knitting with anything hand-spun, much less a whole sweater! But the yarn is the reason for the business name- “Laine” is French for “wool”. While spinning all the yarn for the kits, I found that I did not have a bag big enough to carry 1 1/2 pounds of “fluff” and the bobbins and all - so I made myself a BigBag. Other people liked them and before I knew it I had a few orders for bags. With the help of my sister Jane and my group of spinning friends, I developed the final design: the pockets, beads, length of handles, firm bottom, you name it.

Loopy: That’s funny, because the first bag I bought from you became my spinning bag (spindles, oil, scissors, etc.) and then of course I needed another one for my knitting projects right away. What is a typical day like for you. Do you sew all day long?
Lawre: I have a part-time job with Strauch Fiber Equipment Company making drum carders, ball winders and swifts, so I only work on Lawre’s Laine Thursday through Sunday. I usually get up around 6, make a BIG pot of coffee, feed the family (I can wait, but the dog will not!!!), take care of the e-mail stuff, and then get down to the real stuff around 7:30 or 8. I will sew until I have all the sewing done on the order I am working on and then do the finishing on all of the items - put in the grommets, cut the leather for the handles, etc. My husband is great - he does most of the house work and cooking. How lucky am I?! I will work till 5 or 6 and then usually braid the leather handles while watching TV at night.

Loopy: Your husband does the housework and cooking? Yes, that sounds pretty darned lucky on your end! Do you have a workshop where you create? What things are “must haves” for your sewing room?
Lawre: Our largest bedroom has been converted into my sewing room and most of the basement has been fitted out with the tools for processing the leather and finishing everything. I would love to have a bigger space because I am always juggling the areas and moving stuff around. Have I mentioned I am a dreamer? The “Must Haves” are:
A: my industrial leather sewing machine - I needed a machine with a “high-rise” pressure foot to sew the many layers of tapestry. It turned out to be a walking-foot leather machine, so I can sew the leather as well.
B: my 4′ x 8′ measuring and cutting surface. I actually could use a larger cutting space so I could lay out a whole hide for cutting, but this one works fine. I would love another 4′ x 8′ table for ironing- plus a professional steam iron, but no space for that!
C: I found this cool leather slicer, so I can cut a 1.5″ length of leather and then just pull it through the slicer to achieve the four pieces needed for braiding. I was cutting each little strip separately - what a pain. Leather stretches and isn’t really flat to start off with, given that cows are round and a bit lumpy! A good rotary cutter is also needed.
D: All the other tools - grommet and rivet setters.
E: Last, but maybe the most important are my Ott Lights. Good color matching is impossible without good light.
And, oh yea, F: the computer - I do almost all my shopping on-line, and I love it!

Loopy: I’ll bet there are some seamstresses out there who think your work area and equipment sounds wonderful. Are you a knitter? If so, how long have you been knitting and what do you like to make the most?
Lawre: Yes, I am a fluff-a-holic!! I love the look, the feel, and the smell of fiber….Wool, silk, alpaca, cotton. even the fluff from my dog, Vanny. My mother started this, too. She taught my Brownie Troop to knit and I spent more time by the frog pond than I really want to think about, but that was my mom - do it over and over until it is RIGHT! I started knitting sweaters and they are my favorite. Cable work is so much more fun for me than color-work, but right now I am working on the best sweater. I got a kit at Maryland Sheep and Wool that has seven colors. It is fabulous and is done with slip-stitches, so all one color is used on any row. I also love socks - great carry-with-you and pick-up any where projects.

Loopy: We’re glad that you knit, and really glad to hear that you like to knit socks, in addition to sweaters. For any other artisans out there, do you have any advice in starting up a business and marketing yourself?
Lawre: Do what you know and love and don’t be afraid to experiment. Use the internet as much as you can. It is a wonderful resource, especially for those of us who live in rural areas. I buy almost all my equipment and supplies from on-line stores and almost all of my fabric comes from online sources as well. I can shop at 3am in my PJ’s, from all over the world. And the shipping costs are less than the time spent driving all-over. As for marketing, I am not sure I can help much there. I was very lucky - a sales rep saw my Bags at Holly Spring Home Spun in Powhatan, Virginia, and contacted me. I also did a few craft shows, and soon discovered that it can be a good advertisement, but it is good to be selective and choose venues that attract the people who will ultimately be your customers. So I guess figuring out who your customers are and where they will be found is a good thing.

Loopy: Good advice, Now, any mistakes that you made along the way that you want to share?
Lawre: Boy, oh boy - that is a loaded question! I have done things that I might now do differently, but this whole thing has been such a learning journey for me. I sometimes am not as aggressive as I should be and have let others steer me in a direction I would not have chosen and regretted it. My husband says that I don’t push my business enough. I think I tell him too much!! There is one thing that is a continuing challenge - the web site. I have a very hard time getting around to updating it. I first tried to blog frequently - yikes. And, I am not gifted in the record keeping area, so come tax time, I have major stuff to do. Every year I vow to be better. One year I just might get there.

Loopy: Well I think most creative people have way more fun doing the creative end of things than the business end of things. You sound very normal! Tell us about your family.
Lawre: My husband Michael, and I live in Blacksburg, Virginia with our fiber producing dog, Vanny (yes I do spin her fur into the most wonderfully soft yarn!). We moved here about 12 years ago and feel we came to heaven. A small college town in a rural setting in the mountains - who could ask for more? Gardening is my 2nd love, but finding the time is a challenge. Right now I am enjoying the strawberries that have just started ripening and it looks as if the apples, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes are also going to have bumper crops. The rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks share the bounty too. I have become the garlic queen - there is nothing better than fresh garlic from your own garden. If you haven’t discovered the joy of home-grown garlic, give it a try. Plant in the fall and harvest in mid-summer, Yum!

Loopy: Home-grown garlic? That sounds like a fun plant for the garden! Anything else you’d like to add?
Lawre: I would love to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged me in the past 3 or 4 years. It is hard to believe that Lawre’s Laine is so young and has grown so. This could not have happened without all of you! AND Life is an adventure - try to enjoy the RIDE!
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Sheri whohas3Lawre’sLaineBagsandoneNeedleBookand
willattempttodoablogpostonWednesdaywithoutoncementioningtheword”bag”…

Today’s Loopy Limelight features Heather, of “All Things Heather” indie fame! Heather was one of our first indie dyers and remains one that we all love. I have always admired her sense of color combinations, and the names she comes up with that seem to really capture each colorway. Last fall she moved cross-country from NC to CA, so we had a lull in ATH orders for a bit. But now that she’s settled in and set back up, we’re getting her wonderful yarn in regularly again! (Two more big boxes arrived today - woohoo!)

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Loopy: Hi Heather! First of all, how long have you been a knitter, and who taught you?
Heather: I really don’t feel like I’ve been knitting that long compared to many folks - on and off for about 10 years, more seriously for the past 5. I taught myself to knit from a book and then after the birth of my first daughter Amelia, I decided to take a class at the LYS. It just clicked and I’ve been a maniac ever since.

Loopy: Well for those who have just begun knitting in the last year or two, ten years makes you a veteran knitter! Do you have a favorite thing that you like to knit?
Heather: My favorite thing to knit is really just anything for myself. Although I’ve been known to knit an occasional gift for my mother or for charity, I’ve found that I like to knit just for me. Knitting is the one thing in my life that is truly all about me. I work hard to guard that and it helps me keep my sanity.

Loopy: What’s the most difficult project you’ve attempted?
Heather: I really can’t think of any project that stood out as particularly difficult but I will say that finishing any knitted projects is a tough one for me. I literally have 15+ WIPs stashed in various parts of my home - 6 sweaters, 3 pairs of socks, 1 vest, 1 shawl, 2 scarves and a rug are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. It’s incredibly difficult for me to finish projects but now that I’ve embraced the fact that I’m a process knitter rather than a product knitter, I sleep better at night.

Loopy: That’s a good way to get rid of the guilt! So what made you look into dyeing your own yarn, and how did you learn to do that?
Heather: The first thing I dyed was a skein of worsted weight silk yarn, dyed with green and blue Kool-Aid in the microwave, no less. Oh, the horror of it! I still have that yarn tucked away in my stash and I keep it as a reminder to when it all began. I am a completely self-taught dyer. I’ve read about 50 books on dyeing and have spent more hours than I like to admit, pouring over information from the internet. It has worked out well for the most part. I’ve had my dozy of mistakes, but trial and error is often the best way to finally get results that work for you. Anything that is truly handcrafted is bound to have some little nuances here and there. If you want it to be “perfect”, buy something commercially made and even then you don’t normally get what you pay for. My colorways are far from mass produced and every once in awhile I get a little over dye here, or a little blip there, but I stand by my work and every skein is unique. I’ve yet to receive any major complaints (knock on wood) but if I did I would be sure to learn from it, correct the problem, and move on.

Loopy: Well I know we’ve only heard the best of things about your yarn, and we’ve had it almost since we opened up! How do you come up with your colorways? And do you have a personal favorite?
Heather: Many dyers get inspiration from nature, fabric, and the world around them. My approach is a bit more simplistic. I normally just wing it. I love color, I love playing with color, I love mixing color, and I love using colors together that you would not normally see. The colors in my home and in my wardrobe tend to be a little more on the earthy and conservative side, so dyeing really allows me to express the other side of my color personality and go a little wild. And what better medium is there than sock yarn? Socks can be as crazy or as conservative as you would like and they allow you to take color risks in your knitting without dominating your time like a handknit sweater or shawl would. So they are a great opportunity to experiment with something out of your norm.

Loopy: That’s so true! Our first Quarterly Challenge here at The Loopy Ewe involved getting people to knit with colors that they were different from what they normally would choose. (And The Loopy Lady used one of YOUR wild colorways as her challenge sock!) Back to dyeing - there are a lot of dyers out there these days, how do you stay fresh and unique in what you do?
Heather: It does seem that dyers are a dime a dozen nowadays, but I think we all have something unique to offer and I try to support all fellow artisans when I can. This is not to say that I didn’t feel a tiny ping of insecurity when I came back from my fall hiatus and found that The Loopy Ewe had picked up about a gazillion new dyers. I was definitely afraid that I was out of a job! I try to stay fresh by staying true to myself and by continuing to put 100% of my effort into each and every skein I create. Some colorways are definitely more inspired than others and all may not be crowd pleasers, but they are all dyed lovingly and with care because this is what I love to do. I’m not here to get rich or make a quick buck. I’m not really looking for that 15 minutes of fame, and I don’t ever go out of my way (or even any way at all, normally) to “tout my wares”. I’m here because I enjoy it and I think slow and steady does win the race. As long as The Loopy here and all you fellow knitters out there continue to support me by using my yarn, I’ll be around for some time. (Goodness, I’m starting to sound like a cheeseball. Next question please!)

Loopy: Well I have to say that we try to pick indie dyers who will bring something unique to The Loopy Ewe, so even though we have a lot of dyers (and we need that many to keep indie yarns arriving every week!), no one will ever take your place. Each of you has a special spot here with us! Now, I know you have other hobbies. Tell us what else you like to do.
Heather: Hobbies - a better question would be what hobbies do I not have! I’ve been known to dabble in quite a few things - scrapbooking, beading, papermaking, candle making, soap making, any sort of toiletry making, sewing, knitting, spinning, dyeing, embroidery, polymer clay, needle felting and more. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I have an entire corner of my tiny house dedicated to these hobbies. Of all those various hobbies, my other real crafting passion besides knitting and dyeing of course, would have to be sewing. I began to sew about the same time I started knitting, and much like knitting, I just kind of took to it. Funny enough, sewing is the exact opposite of knitting for me. It’s my way to do for others and 99% of my projects are either clothing for my children or gifts for someone else. I have yet to actually sew something just for me, but that’s ok. I balance it out with lots of handknit sweaters.

Loopy: That is a lot of hobbies! You had to move all of that from one coast to the other last year. How has that gone?
Heather: Our move … I’d like to just say ugh. Actually, I had my moments but generally everything went fine. My husband deployed the day we got here so thankfully my father was able to fly down from Seattle to help me with the heavy lifting. Moving 13,000 lbs. of household goods into a 12oo sq. ft. house with 2 toddlers and a giant dog, is not a good time. Surprisingly enough, I think one of the most challenging things was just leaving Charleston itself. Although there were many things about the east coast I did not like (namely hurricanes and giant cockroaches), it really did feel like home and it was hard to leave when I was just starting to get into my niche. Southern California is beautiful but incredibly expensive, so I doubt I would ever consider living here for longer than this tour. We are barely able to afford it now! The plus side of all this moving is that I’ve been shown that sometimes less is more and although I’m not living in the house of my dreams, we have made it work and I’ve been thankful to know that my identity and self-worth is not tied up to my square footage.

Loopy: That was move a big undertaking for you and your family. Tell us about your family.
Heather: I am lucky to have a very supportive husband who, thankfully, allows me to do my own thing and only occasionally gives me crap about all the yarn I seem to accumulate. His job in the military has him deployed overseas for much of the year so I’m left at home to tend to my girls - Amelia is 5, Makenna is 3, and Maya is 15 months. I have my hands fully, especially with Maya who happens to be an 85 lb. American Bulldog and is probably 3 times as high maintenance as both my girls combined. We also have a wide variety of plants and fish that somehow manage to survive in all the day to day chaos.

Loopy: I’m glad to know that Maya is a dog. I thought we had somehow missed you having another baby! Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Heather: One thing I’d like to add is that I’m pretty excited to be going back to school in the fall. I’ll be working on my Montessori teaching credential. So from now until then, all yarn proceeds will go directly to my outrageously expensive tuition bill! (I know, shameless plug, but I should get at least one in a year!) On a more serious note, I would like to say that it has been an honor to work with The Loopy Ewe and I’m thrilled that you have given so many indie dyers an opportunity to share their love. The loyalty and patronage of this store is just so well deserved and I’m truly grateful to be a part of that.

Loopy: Aww - well thanks! We’re so glad to have you here.
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Sheri myDC-KALsweaterisdone!photoinWednesday’sblog

This week we have Cheryl Potter, owner of Cherry Tree Hill Yarn, in the Limelight. Cherry Tree was one of the first companies I ordered from when I was setting up The Loopy Ewe. My first skein of their sock yarn was in the Green Mountain Madness colorway and I was hooked as soon as I saw it. We started with just a few of their colors (I don’t remember how many) but now of course we have all of them for you. (As well as a lot of exclusive colorways from them in the past year.) Cheryl is a delight to work with and a great business woman. I know you’ll have fun getting to know her a bit today!

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Loopy: Hi Cheryl! First of all, how long have you been a knitter, and who taught you?
Cheryl: I began knitting at the age of 8 with some Dazzle yarn my mother bought me at Woolworths. It was sparkle yellow and lime green and I knit myself a t shirt top. Remember this was the 70’s so I was really hip. It was my first FO with my mother’s help of course!

Loopy: Sparkle yellow and lime green? Actually, The Loopy Lady’s first sweater was in a yellow and lime green, back during that time, too. That’s funny! Do you have a favorite thing that you like to knit?
Cheryl: Large multi–directional garments are my favorite. I hate to finish a project so I make sure it’s something big like a rug or an afghan or a large shawl or jacket knit with fingering weight yarn.

Loopy: You hate to finish a project? That’s interesting! What’s the most difficult project you’ve attempted?
Cheryl: I’m knitting a large tapestry shawl out of Supersock right now and I must say it is daunting. It took me 2 weeks just to graph the motifs with Stitch and Motif maker and there are no repeats. But the color combinations are just amazing and you can use so many in a tapestry.

Loopy: You’ll have to put a photo on your blog when it’s done. We’d all like to see that. When do you find time to knit?
Cheryl: I like to knit nights and weekends. On trips to yarn shows I make my husband drive so I can knit in the truck. When the weather is really bad in winter it gives me a great excuse to knit while watching a movie during snowstorms. Of course we have a generator so that I do not have to knit by flashlight when the electricity goes out.

Loopy: What made you take the next step and look into dyeing your own yarn, and how did you learn how to do that?
Cheryl: Back in the dark ages when I was in college, handpainted yarn was in its infancy and Kaffe Fassett was new to the knitting world. I took one look at his book Glorious Knits and knew I did not have the patience for all those bobbins but I did want all those colors. So in true Indie Dyer style, I space dyed my own yarn and called it faux fairisle. I must have knit every garment in that book twice. I did not know then that there even was something called handpainted yarn. In graduate school I took it a step further by visiting the Navajo Indian reservation while pursuing my fine arts degree. At that time Navajos were hand dyeing Brown Sheep yarn for their rugs and wall hangings. I established an account with Brown Sheep and began dyeing and selling my own yarn. It was my very first handpainted effort and with this yarn I was “discovered” by Interweave Knits magazine.

Loopy: No doubt you were one of the first true “indie dyers”. How do you come up with your colorways? And do you have a personal favorite?
Cheryl: We live in the wilderness of Vermont and most of the colorways are inspired by nature. This rural pastoral area is pretty much untouched by technology–no cell towers, for example–and the lush and vivid colors of the Green Mountains are breathtaking. Whenever we visit some exotic place we come up with a color: Misty Moor from visiting Scotland two years ago, Caribou Creek from camping in Alaska last year. My favorite is still Wild Cherry because it was such a joyful discovery. While walking property to buy land up here in the Northeast Kingdom, we came upon a forgotten orchard in a clearing in the woods. The berries and cherries and apples were delicious shades of burgundy and mulberry, russet and scarlet. It was like walking into a fantasy land that time forgot. That clinched it for me–I had to move up here into what the locals call God’s Country and the less reverent just call The Kingdom.

Loopy: I am particularly fond of Wild Cherry, too, as that is what my socks are knit from. (And that’s the colorway that we send out in “Loopy’s Red Sock Kit”. You know we order more bags of that colorway than any of them!) There are a lot of dyers out there these days, how do you stay fresh and unique in what you do?
Cheryl: I like dying custom colors, like the ones I do for you. It takes you away from production work and into a more ethereal place. I started small and sometimes it is just so much fun to dye small non repeatable batches. This is why we do Potlucks and Lottery, just to keep on experimenting and pushing the color envelope.

Loopy: Tell us about the Maple Syrup your family does! We’d also love to hear about your family. (Love the photo of the Sugar Shack!)
Cheryl: My family is totally involved in the business. My husband makes his very cherry Maple Syrup only for yarn stores. It is the fanciest grade available and he does it all with horses and bucket the old fashioned way. His sugar house was built in the 1700’s and some of his maple trees are 150 years old. My older daughter just graduated from college and among other things is an Indie Dyer. She has a blog and a website and loves to talk about dying on Ravelry. I have seen her dye sheets and overdye sweaters she did not like the color of, and recently we did a project together involving a horse blanket. Her big thing now is helping other small dyers find ways to buy small amounts of yarn and dyes inexpensively. I wonder where she found her contacts? My younger daughter is only in 8th grade but she works for CTH all summer. Last year she earned enough yarn money to purchase her own Quarter Horse. He is the horse pictured wearing the handpainted saddle blanket my other daughter designed on our CTH homepage at www.cherryyarn.com

Loopy: How fun that your daughter has turned dyeing into a business, too! You have a new book coming out soon - can you give us a bit of information on that?
Cheryl: It is called Skein for Skein and it is all about substituting one yarn for another and making it work. I’ve teamed up with 3 friends who work for other yarn companies and we’ve all picked 4 designs to show you what works and what doesn’t work. This is the first time I’ve been allowed to publish designs that don’t work. I hope knitters will enjoy our bloopers.

Loopy: We always like to know about bloopers. Anything else you’d like to add?
Cheryl: Thanks Sheri, for being so adventurous with your sock yarn. I think your customers must love it that you are not afraid to get unique colorways from us and they must love the fact that you name them yourself. I enjoy visiting your website because it is so interactive. Some day we should do a dye class together!
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Sheri happyhappybecauseWebGuyishomefromcollegeandmum-in-lawhascometovist
andKnittingDaughtergraduatesfromhighschooltonight!Woohoo!!

Today we’re talking with Monica Jines, pattern designer behind all of our “Monica Knits” patterns. (She was also the designer for our March Sock Club, which you all loved.) Monica lives in Indiana, and I know you’ll enjoy learning more about her. (Here’s a photo of her most recently finished design - a baby dress and socks.)

Loopy: We love your patterns here at The Loopy Ewe! What was the first thing that you designed, and what gave you the courage to try it?
Monica: I really don’t remember the first thing I designed. I have always tweaked patterns and added something extra to them. After awhile I decided if I could change necklines and add or take away from a written pattern, I could make something from start to finish on my own. Once you get the technical stuff figured out, anyone can do it. And I had a great teacher, which helps.

Loopy: Do you think up designs in your head and knit them, or doodle on paper first, or just start knitting? What is your process?
Monica: I see the stitch patterns in my head. I have been accused of being obsessed with knitting by my family, and it may be true. I dream about yarn and designs all the time. Once I get a pretty good idea of what I want, I usually will write out the stitches and see if the pattern will work in a sock. Sometimes I just start knitting, just depends on how bad I have an urge to start something new. And I suffer terribly from start(itis).

Loopy: I think a lot of knitters can relate to being a bit obsessed with knitting! Have you been a knitter for a long time? Who taught you to knit?
Monica: I don’t remember not knowing how to knit. My mother, whom I think was the best knitter around, taught me. Since I don’t remember actually learning I must have been fairly young. I thought she was a magician; she knit so fast and could fix mistakes in no time flat. I was in awe of how fast she could knit up Aran sweaters, and I think that is where I get my love of all things cable.

Loopy: I hope you inherited her fast knitting skills! Does anyone else in your family knit?
Monica: We are a family of knitters. I think as children we all learned. With some of us it “took” and others it was a while before the knitting fever hit. I have 2 other sisters who are avid knitters, Karen and Marjorie. I have taught all three of my children to knit. My eldest is my knitting daughter. Together we knit fingerless mitts for all of her friends for this past Christmas. They were all different and all original designs. She enjoys knitting with BIG needles and BIG yarn though, she likes the instant gratification. The boy child knows how to knit, but would much rather play the X Box, although he did help one of his teachers with a knitting project this year. And the youngest has been working on the same Madeline bag for the last 2 years. She is a high energy child and just can’t sit longer than a round or two. And the Husband just doesn’t “get it.

Loopy: That’s so fun that you share this with your whole family! (Well, except for the Husband.) What is your favorite thing to knit, and do you have a favorite yarn that you like to knit or design with?
Monica: My favorite thing is by far, socks. I love the portability of them; I love small needles and skinny yarn. And I want to have a different pair for each day of the year, even though I can only wear them for 4 or 5 months out the year. I am so spoiled; I hate to wear commercially made socks. I also like to make children’s clothing. My kids are all getting older now, so it is not as fast to knit for them … and they expect everything yesterday. The older two are adult sized now, so when I get the urge to make something baby or toddler size I will make it for charity or keep it for a baby shower gift. Favorite yarn, Oh my goodness there are too many too choose from. The list of the ones that “aren’t” my favorite is much shorter, but I don’t want to mention names. As far as favorite to design with, I like yarns that don’t have drastic color changes, like the nearly solid yarns. But I do love to knit with the brightly colored ones too. It really just depends on the design.

Loopy: We don’t tell favorites around here, either. How do you find time to knit each week? Any hints for the rest of us?
Monica: I have been accused of knitting in my sleep. Once I knit a set of sleeves together while I was “dozing.”(I knit my sleeves at the same time). As far as finding time, I take knitting with me everywhere I go. I have a pair of socks that live in the van for knitting emergencies, waiting in traffic, waiting for the kids at after school functions, the endless wait in the Allergist office while all three of them are getting there allergy shots. But most of my knitting is done in the evening after the kids have gone to bed. Only working part –time helps too.

Loopy: A knitter should always be prepared with knitting to do. It sounds like you have that down pat. (And we loved the story of you knitting your sleeves together in your dozing…) So - Stash - do you believe in it? If so, do you find you have more sock yarns, lace yarns, sweater yarns? And do you have a good place to store it all?
Monica: Stash ??? Some people worry about retirement funds, I worry about not being able to afford yarn on my pension when the time comes, so I need to be a “Collector” of yarn now, that way I won’t run out in my lifetime. I start to get a bit twitchy if I use up too much yarn from the collection, and don’t have more yarn coming into it. I can never join those “Knit from Your Stash KALS”, they are just not for me. As for the largest amount by type of yarn, by far, sock yarn. I have yarn for several sweaters and a few shawls, but I need 365 pair of socks you know, so the majority is sock yarn. And storage, ahem, that is a sore subject in this house. According to Hubby my storage area is the “entire” house. I don’t see too much wrong with that, but he has other ideas. It is something I plan to work on in the near future.

Loopy: You’re right - not being able to afford yarn in retirement would not be good. Another great reason to collect now. Would you like to tell us about your family? And what do they think of your knitting?
Monica: My husband Tony and I have been married for 19 years this coming June. He tolerates the knitting obsession because he knows it makes me happy. He unfortunately learned years ago, that knitting does not save us any money; I remind him it keeps me sane and that is more important. I think he agrees esp. since the tools of the trade are very sharp, pointy sticks. My children don’t know any different and they think the other moms are different, you know, the ones that don’t knit. We call them “muggles”. Anyway, we have 3 children; 2 girls ages 16 (driving … yikes) and 10 and the boy child is 14 and they are the most wonderful kids around.

Loopy: You have some fun new patterns in a book that just came out on Cables. How did you get patterns in that book?
Monica: Yes, that was very exciting for me. I kept toying with the idea of submitting some designs to magazines and online magazines, but for some reason was just dragging my heels. My #1 cheerleader is my sister Karen, and she encouraged me to send in the designs. I had asked for submission guidelines and editorial calendars from several places, and the one from Vogue just really caught my attention. They were asking for cable patterns for a new “Knitting on the Go” book. I think it was at the end of December 2006 that I submitted them, and then waited and waited and waited and then finally in April I heard back from them. I had submitted 2 designs and they accepted both of them. I was so excited; I think I was smiling for days. It was a wonderful experience that I hope to repeat. The book was released earlier this Spring and is “Cables, Mittens, Hats & Scarves on the go”.

Loopy: We had to buy that book because you were in there! (Well, and we like cables.) Do you have any good movie or book recommendations for us to knit to?
Monica: The last movie I went to see was The Bucket List and I loved it. It is one I will definitely purchase and watch again. As far as books, I really haven’t had much time to read, what with all this knitting I have been doing. I will have to fix that as reading has always been a relaxing thing for me. Can you recommend any good books for me to look into?

Loopy: Oh, I’m sure people will leave some comments with some good book suggestions for you. Anything else you’d like to add?
Monica: I have a story to tell you Loopy. I think I have shared this with the Loopy Lady, but I want to share it with you too. I was taking a box of patterns to the Post Office to mail The Loopy Ewe. Waiting in line, knitting my socks, minding my own business, and a gentlemen behind me asked, “Aren’t ewe’s female sheep?” And I replied “yes they are”, thinking he must have been referring to the mailing label on the box. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes, and then he asked, “Well what exactly is a Loopy Ewe, is that some kind of farm for sheep that have gone crazy or something?” My youngest was with me and she started giggling, she looks at me with tears running down her face from trying not to laugh as I explain about the yarn shop. She whispers to me, “Can you believe he hasn’t heard about The Loopy Ewe, where has he been?” Kids are the greatest. Many thanks to the Loopy Lady for a great yarn shop and for giving me the opportunity to share my patterns with knitters around the world.

Loopy: I think I have to be offended that he called me a female. FPS.

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Today is Web Guy’s Birthday! May 12th has been one of my favorite days of the year for the past 21 years, just because of him. Happy Birthday, Favorite Son!

Sheri didsomespinningovertheweekendandboywasitfun!