A week ago I had an awesome opportunity: a golden ticket to see the Sweet Fiber dye studio! I got to see where Melissa works her magic and even help experiment with a new colorway!
The Studio
Checking out the Sweet Fiber dye studio was awesome. I got to see Melissa’s set up, check out the many skeins of freshly dyed yarn hanging, see her dyes all lined up in a neat row. I asked about a million questions (which she patiently answered) and here is my favorite quote:
“The important thing is that each skein is beautiful, that’s what really matters”
I think this really speaks to me as a knitter. Knitting, to me, is wearable art and we are trying to create something beautiful and unique. The fact that knitting is also often useful only adds to the greatness of it! Dying yarn for Melissa is the same way. Each skein is a unique piece and she dyes each skein by hand, making sure all of her yarn and colorways meet her high standards.
After talking a bit about her colors, I got to try some dying of my own! I mostly just gave a little input, throwing in my love of oceans, greens, and blues. Melissa took it from there!
The Yarn
I have long been a fan of Melissa’s subtle and beautiful colorways. As an Emily Carr graduate she uses her love of color and art to influence her pallette. I think of her colors as sort of a deep, mature, rainbow. I’m most recently obessed with her greens.
I can’t remember when I discovered her beautiful yarn, but I have been hooked every since. Her Cashmerino 20 and Cashmerino Worsted are currently some of my favorite yarns to work with. Buttery soft with an amazing depth of color. Our newest pattern Playdate is knit up in the Cashmerino 20 and let me tell you what a treat it is to knit with! I went a little Cashmerino crazy over Christmas so I’m also working on an Apple Pie hat and Hunter’s newest Flax sweater is in Olive.
The Designs
Melissa is also a designer, and while I rarely have time to work from other designers patterns (something I am always hoping to correct!), I made time for her Greystone hat and Bedford cowl.
It was great to get out of the ‘office’ and see yarn in the wild! It is nice to see where those beautiful colors come from and inspiring to think what patterns I will work on next in this lovely yarn! Thanks for a great day Melissa!
More great TCK pattern in Sweet Fiber yarn
April 7, 2015 @ 9:06 pm
How inspiring! What a wonderful day. That ‘moss’ colorway has me bewitched… I’ve been looking for the perfect yellow-green for a sweater and I think I’ve just found it. ;)
April 7, 2015 @ 5:23 pm
Just reading your blog as I am knitting with Melissa’s yarn in the denim color way. It is her fingering weight yarn and it is delicious! I am going to love wearing this cowl. Lucky you to get an inside look at the workings!
April 7, 2015 @ 11:13 am
What an amazing experience! Green shades of yarn just stole my heart… Chartreuse and olive are unbelievable!
April 7, 2015 @ 3:03 am
I am a big fan of her yarn too! Her colourways are beautiful. Lucky you visiting the dye studio. I would love that.
April 6, 2015 @ 3:26 pm
wow, that looks like it was an incredible day!! Dye studios are always so fascinating, and I’m really intrigued by that beautiful swirling green and blue yarn still brewing! Loving all those greens, too.