Andrea and the Woolen Women are celebrating Women’s History Month with the Claire’s Cabinet box, inspired by Claire Beecham in Outlander and her pioneering of medicine in both the past and the present. Boxes include seven 20g minis and a sheep lotion bar, with options to add on a project bucket bag from Aggie’s Bags and herb and alchemical-inspired charms from SamsTinyTrinkets.
Sharon of Garage Dyeworks has put together kits for the Sundae Funday shawl from Chic and Regal Knits. It uses four different colorways of Auto Sock and features sections of simple stockinette and lace with a picot edge.
Keep your stitches smelling sweet and let your inner teenager chuckle with Yank Your Yarn’s Li’l Smelly Ball Sack (Bonnie means yarn balls, of course!). These progress keepers feature light bronze filigree “sacks” with a little ball of fluff that can accommodate your favorite essential oil.
Shelly of Daisy Stitch Co has kits for the Out-Stranding Shawl pattern by Christie Archer. Kits include one 100g fingering weight skein, one 50g fingering weigh skein and three 20g minis in your choice of three color palettes.
Dyer Courtney launched Silly Goose Yarns just this week! She has a new Spring Collection featuring bright colors on a variety of bases from mohair to bulky, as well as a collection of limited OOAK colorways.
Victoria of Eden Cottage Yarns just had an update of her popular Titus 4ply, a blend of extrafine Superwash Merino and mulberry silk. While some of the most popular colorways sold out quickly there are preorders available so you don’t miss out.
The second issue of Yedra Knits launched around Indie Untangled last year and I’m thrilled to be a stockist! The issue is inspired by tarot cards, and is filled with patterns for shawls, sweaters and other accessories in vibrant colors, stunning and creative photography and features on Barcelona and Madrid LYS Miss Kits and a great interview with dyer Aimée Gille of La Bien Aimée.
Debbie of Murky Depths Dyeworks has new colors of her Caspian Fingering, a Merino, alpaca and nylon fingering that was a hit when she debuted it at the Indie Untangled show last year.
I’ve finished and finally blocked my Pressed Flowers Shawl with Botanical Yarn and it’s easily become one of my favorite knits! There are still a few kits left with this beautiful color combination from Sophie, who recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help her fund a new shop on wheels.
Shellie has released two new designs, ZENA and LA GRAND, a shawl and wrap that create a cozy cocoon of slipped stitch broken rib.
To get ready for warmer weather, Anastasia of Cashmere & Coconuts has released the Summer Lovin’ Collection, bright colors available as a set or individually.
Join the Purl Scouts! Augusta of AdKnits recently released a new collection of camping- and scouting-inspired products, including merit badges, stickers, T-shirts, totes and a knitter’s compass keychain.
The Plies & Hellhounds Wicked Seeds monthly club is inspired by poisonous plants and their lore. The first colorway, Lily of the Valley, will be released and ready to ship tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET.
Natalie of Fiberdog Fibers has released new fleece-to-skein yarns, including Purple Stars, a sportweight Corriedale that is part of what will eventually be a rainbow collection.
David, the owner and dyer behind Crafter Gamer Geek, has merged longtime passions for old school video gaming via Colecovision and Atari, anime and board games with a love of yarn. The Crafter Gamer Geek shop includes a variety of colorways on a mix of weights and wools, including Merino, BFL, and Polwarth. While David isn’t trying to turn all of us into gamers — in fact, the yarn and fiber above are one of his only non-gaming colorways, inspired by the spotted lanternfly — but he hopes to share his interests with all fellow fiber enthusiasts.
The Woolen Women are living their version of a storybook ending, and so can you with the Woolen Fairytale collection. Colorways come with matching charms and project bags.
Sharon of Garage Dyeworks has collaborated with designer Helaina of Chic and Regal Knits to bring you two shawl design kits. Pictured above is Blissed Out, which uses three skeins of Sharon’s Auto DK.
Jill of Jilly & Kiddles has created kits for the Fairy Correspondence Shawl, the project for the Softyarn Designs annual winter Mystery Knit-a-Long. They include special postcards Jill designed just for the MKAL and the opportunity to connect with other knitters via snail mail.
Paola Albergamo’s latest design, Silky Lavender, is a crescent-shaped shawl worked up in DK-weight yarn. It features a slipped cable pattern in three colors on the border that Paola promises is much easier to work than it looks. It’s 15% off with the code “silky15” until Sunday.
We’re used to most people underestimating the knitting community.
A perfect example of this is when non-knitters experience the Rhinebeck Trunk Show. They take in the extensive displays of indie dyed yarn, the range of handmade products for sale, the diverse shoppers wearing colorful sweaters and shawls that took months to design and hours to construct. They see those shoppers enthusiastically scoop up armloads of artisan skeins. I can tell by the looks on their faces that they’re thinking: Wow, I had no idea that knitting was like this!
So, when I learned about the two non-knitting men who purchased the domain knitting.com for $80,000, looking to earn $7.5 million from it within four years, it seemed like the epitome of every person I’ve met who has no idea what knitting is actually about.
Except it’s even worse.
These serial entrepreneurs plan to fill the site with keyword-rich content, presumably knitting patterns and instruction from underpaid designers. They plan to use this content to sell their yet-to-be-revealed but supposedly “incredible” products. (Judging by their previous endeavors in off-roading and adult coloring books, this likely means slapping their own label on yarn and needles already being manufactured overseas.) And they actually refer to knitting tools as widgets in an episode of a podcast aimed at aspiring tech millionaires.
They want to swoop into a community they don’t even care about and take whatever they can.
Sexism and ageism in knitting
Of course, it didn’t take them long to invoke a tired, sexist and ageist knitting stereotype. They claimed on their podcast that current knitting content comes from either 10 large companies or other “unsophisticated competitors” like “grandma, who has a little blog that she’s run for the last 20 years.” Dudes, do you know how much valuable knitting knowledge grandmas have?
So, the knitting community is super complicated and intense. These dudes think they’re marketing to Rose from Golden Girls when they’re actually trying to sell stuff to the anthropology professor from Community who blow darts the students she doesn’t like. https://t.co/3HIQcH6t1S
— disasters! sustainability! cats! (@erin_bergren) February 24, 2022
Unsophisticated? How would you know what sophisticated knitting content even is if you barely know how to knit?
Why would you insult the very customers you’re looking to reach before you even launch?
In another eye-opening segment of the podcast, they talked about China-based sellers on Amazon. Those sellers do a “terrible job” of creating knitting content because “you can’t really have Chinese models in your videos.”
The knitting community certainly needs to do more work to be truly inclusive. But these people think their business has an advantage because their content will only include “Western models.” Way to bake racism and xenophobia into your business from the start!
Support handmade knitting businesses
This duo certainly has no regard for the thousands of small business owners, most of them women, BIPOC, LGBTIQA+ and people with disabilities, who have spent years working in the knitting industry. The ones who raise sheep, dye yarn, design sweaters and socks, sew project bags, craft stitch markers and manufacture knitting needles. We buy these products because we want to support the people in our community. These two don’t care about us — except for the fact that they think there are millions to be made! Of course, those of us in the industry do this work because of our passion for knitting and yarn, not to make a quick buck.
I'm getting more annoyed the more I think about this, you know.
I mean, these two have multimillion dollar businesses already, and now they want to come in, disrupt incalculable small businesses run by marginalised and disabled folk?
They don't need our incomes. We do.
— Aoibhe Ni – Where There's Wool, There's a Way (@AoibheNi) February 24, 2022
For their market research, the pair apparently visited a big box craft store and browsed knitting products on Amazon. Michaels and JOANN in no way represent the vast array of knitting yarn and knitting tools out there. And many small yarn companies and local yarn shops supplement their revenue with Amazon storefronts.
Did they even think to visit their local yarn shop? You know, those “unsophisticated” business owners, who actually deserve the eight-figure revenues these two think they can earn in a few years? No mention of WEBS, whose owners snagged the coveted URL yarn.com way back in 2003 (when keyword-focused URLs mattered much more)?
How we shop as knitters
Do they even know how knitters shop for yarn? When I’m ready to cast on a new project, or add to my ever-growing stash, I definitely don’t head to the search field on my browser. They may think they can influence crafters on social media, but they’ll need to spend a lot of money on Instagram and Facebook ads to make up for their clear lack of authenticity.
They probably hope this backlash will support their get-rich-quick scheme by bringing more traffic to their sites and increasing the possibly over-inflated value of the knitting.com domain.
Welcome, new knitters!
So, if you came across this post as a new knitter — welcome! Maybe you’re looking for knitting instruction, or the best way to cast on, or the best knitting needles or yarn to buy. There’s a wonderful world of designers who turn knit and purl stitches into wearable works of art. There are yarn dyers who lean over steaming pots to create colors that make your heart flutter. And there are creative, knowledgeable knitters who won’t hesitate to recount why they love their interchangeable needle set. Indie Untangled brings together all these talented people. We’re so glad to have you as part of our community!
After the success of her holiday Advent set, based on the Great British Baking Show, Anastasia of Cashmere & Coconuts is putting together a Summer Knitting Box! You can either count down to or celebrate summer with 24 20g mini skeins, one full size 100g skein and a couple of small gifts inspired by geodes, crystals and agates. You can choose from among three bases: a 75/25 Superwash Merino/nylon sock, an MCN sock or a theme-appropriate Sparkle Sock. You can preorder your box until April 1 or until all spots are filled, with boxes shipping between by April 30.
This Sunday is your last chance to snag full skeins of the A National Parks New Year colorways, which come together in kits for the Natural Wonders shawl by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich. This was a special installment of the regular Knitting Our National Parks project and I don’t want you to miss out on these stunning skeins.
David and Jackson of El Robledal de la Santa have a new base! Moherino is locally sourced, made from the fiber of their Mohair goats blended with Spanish non-Superwash Merino, and spun in Spain. Each fingering-weight skein comes with 437 yards.
If you’re a fan of The Princess Bride, then you’ll find twue wuv in Mary Annarella’s latest mystery knit-along, “a shawl designed to get you through the fire swamp of the the past few years.” Like most of Mary’s MKALs, this will be a shawl with a series of stitch patterns that play with color, in this case four skeins. As with any MKAL, you’ll have to wait, just wait, for the clues to be revealed starting on February 22 — and the shawl is on sale for 25% off, no coupon code needed, until the 21st.
Robynn has designed the Mutzi hat and mitts set using what she calls “deceptive knitting”: stitches that look intriguing, but are really simple to execute.
Forbidden Fiber Co.’s next Treasure Trove box is a celebration of all things reading. The Knitting and Crochet Treasure Trove boxes will include a full skein DK-weight yarn, three coordinating mini skeins and a knit or crochet pattern. The Cross Stitch Treasure Trove will include a fat 1/8 yard of fabric and at least six skeins of hand-dyed floss, along with a pattern.
Laura of Created 4 U By Laura has a contest to guess the album cover inspiration for her March monthly colorway based on music of the ’70s, and the winner gets the colorway.
There’s a new batch of Pendle Aran up on the Eden Cottage Yarns website, along with three patterns that utilize this 100% Superwash Extrafine Merino yarn.
I’m excited to debut kits for the Natural Wonders Shawl, designed by Kristen Ashbaugh-Helmreich with full skeins of the A National Parks New Year trios. Each trio contains a speckled, semisolid and variegated colorway that fade together in a blend of textured stitches and eyelets to evoke the beauty of U.S. national parks in winter.
Augusta of adKnits was inspired by sunsets at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, creating this pin for the A National Parks New Year box. I’m doing a preorder on Indie Untangled. It’s a great accompaniment to your Natural Wonders Shawl kit!
Maureen of Charming Ewe used the mild weather in Texas to get a head start on her spring colors. Because we’re still in winter, she also has a Valentine Bundle that includes five mini skeins and one full-sized skein inspired by the Sweethearts conversation heart candies.
Debra of Spruce Lane Designs’ Astrum cowl provides a pop of springy color. Deb used Marianated Yarns for her sample of this Fair Isle pattern, which is 15% off on Ravelry and Payhip with the code “ASTRUM” until February 28.
Eve of Holly Dyeworks has opened sign-ups for the next installment of her Great British Baking Show Yarn Club and it’s Victorian Week! The sets include a mystery skein of fingering-weight MCN and a matching progress keeper made by Little Bitty Delights.
Speaking of yarn that’s good enough to eat, Sara of La Cave à Laine is collaborating with Deborah of Penny Lane Yarns on a three-installment sock club that celebrates Israeli-born British chef Yotam Ottolenghi. You can purchase one or all three of each box, which will contain a skein of yarn from Deborah, a sock pattern and bag from Sara and other surprises.
The Yarnover Truck’s Super Nerdy Yarn Club, which takes inspiration from strong female nerdy characters across a variety of fandoms, is once again open to new members.
My Mama Knits’ latest colors take inspiration from peacocks and benefit an animal-assisted activity and crafting center in the UK where the colorful animals reside.
Celebrate all kinds of love this Valentine’s Day with the MAB Elements Love collection, which includes her original circle shawl pin adorned with a single rhodonite heart.
Natalie of Fiberdog Fibers has introduced two new yarn colorways, both made from the same Corriedale fleece that she washed, combed, spun and dyed herself.
Anastasia, the dyer behind new indie yarn company Cashmere and Coconuts, first learned to crochet 16 years ago, but wasn’t truly bit by the making bug until the pandemic forced everyone inside and she went on a mission to knit her first pair of socks, while, naturally, also accumulating a stash of sock yarn. Then she tried to dye her own sock yarn, and a new passion was born.
Here’s another winning combination: Wool and chocolate. Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. is celebrating Valentine’s Day with three Valentine-inspired sock sets, including two that come with gourmet chocolate.
La Cave à Laine’s special January Bundles of Joy promotion now includes Sara’s entire bag collection! Choose any two items from the collection and the least expensive will be 50% off, no code needed, through this Sunday at midnight CET.
Andrea of WoolenWomenFibers is evoking feelings of love with the A Woolen Darling collection celebrating that upcoming holiday in February. Special sets include True Love’s Kiss, a seven-mini-skein Cashmere fade set “inspired by the frogs we kiss before true love blooms,” and Dripping in Diamonds, with a Tiffany blue that fades into a bronzed gold, available on a silvery lurex or gold Stellina base that’s exclusive to this set. The collection also includes the fun Photobooth Kisses and Retro Galentine’s Day Slumber Party sets, as well as striking black-and-white sets evoking Love and War.
Week two of La Cave à Laine’s Bundles of Joy collection, a curated selection of Sara’s bags that are bundled together to bring you joy, is inspired by Swimming in the Sea. When you choose two items from the collection, the least expensive will be 50% off, no code needed, through this Sunday at midnight CET.
It’s summer in Cape Town so warm up with Cowgirlblues’ January theme of Starting Fresh with green. This limited-edition collection is inspired by beach time in Pringle Bay and Rooi Els, swimming in the St. James tidal pool, exploring the coastal dunes and taking gentle afternoon strolls.
Gabby’s releasing the five colors from the Plies & Hellhounds Dark Academic Yarn Countdown as the Winter Break Collection. This warm and moody collection captures “the deep tones of mahogany office tucked behind stacks of books in the library on a dark winter day, the only illumination from the cackling fire warming your outstretched legs as you rest another leather bound book down.”
If you’d rather “feel the warm sunshine on your face as we journey through a spring meadow,” Jill is opening sign-ups for the third year of the Jilly & Kiddles SOS Club, a mystery club that brings you a full skein of yarn in an exclusive colorway, a sock pattern, goodies curated just for each package and an invitation to a Virtual Makers Social the week after kits ship.
Mary of Lyrical Knits looked to one of her (and my) comfort watches, Schitt’s Creek, for her latest sweater design. A follow-up to her Fold In the Cheese hat, The JazzaGal is a top-down pullover that features a round yoke with a cascading, teardrop lace pattern. It’s designed to be knit with a strand of fingering yarn held together with a strand of laceweight mohair, or if, unlike David Rose, you can’t pull off mohair, you can use a heavy DK/light worsted yarn. The JazzaGal is available on both Ravelry and Payhip at 30% off with the code preciouslove through this Monday, January 17.
Chantal runs a small batch indie-dyed yarn company called Je Laine Yarns in Montreal. While it’s not a new operation, the pandemic has shifted her in-person-shows-only approach to the development and launch of an online shop. Bases include the popular Bella, a luxurious single-ply made with Merino, Cashmere and silk.
Eve of Holly Dyeworks has released Eden, an appropriately-named gradient cowl inspired by the Garden of Eden, and beauty of creation. It’s knit holding two strands of sock/fingering weight yarn or one strand of DK. The sample pictured here is done in Eve’s Eat, Drink, and Be Merry Mini Skein Set.
Bring some sparkle to your winter with Anzula’s Lunaris base, a luxurious blend of 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere and 10% Stellina.
Show off your love of indie yarn with these new project bag fobs from Katrinkles, made custom for Indie Untangled! And get a fob for free with a purchase of $50 or more from the Indie Untangled shop through February 14. Just put the fob in your cart and the discount will be applied automatically.
Lauren of Miami Fiber Co. just had a shop update with new colorways and fades, including this beautiful purple one that would be perfect for a Comfort Fade Cardi.
Cowgirlblues has colorful yarn bundles for the Sweet Dreams Shawl by Jane Renton, with recorded Zoom knit-along sessions for step-by-step support.
Sara of La Cave à Laine is starting the year with her Bundles of Joy. Each week of January she’s releasing a curated collection of bags that are bundled together with a 50% discount to bring you joy. The first bundle is inspired by (much-needed) sunshine.
Natalie of Fiberdog Fibers is running a clearance sale on her handspun yarn and spinning fibers.
