When I launched Indie Untangled in 2014, the goal was simple: to create a space where knitters and crocheters could discover talented indie dyers, makers, and fiber artists in one place.
At the time, the indie yarn world was growing quickly. New dyers were popping up on Etsy and Instagram, and makers were building small businesses around beautiful hand-dyed yarn, project bags, stitch markers, and other accessories. It felt difficult to keep track of everyone or discover new makers beyond your own social media feed.
Indie Untangled began as an online marketplace and weekly newsletter designed to help “untangle” that world and connect fiber fans with independent businesses. Not long after, my idea for an in-person event also started to take shape.
Today, the Indie Untangled Show has become a beloved kickoff to Rhinebeck weekend for thousands of knitters, crocheters, spinners, and fiber enthusiasts. At its core, it’s about connection, creativity, and celebrating the indie fiber community.
The Early Years
I hosted the first few Indie Untangled shows in the meeting room of the hotel where my fiber friends and I stayed for the New York Sheep & Wool Festival, better known as Rhinebeck, which takes place in the Hudson Valley over the third weekend in October.
I came up with the idea because so many indie dyers and makers were already traveling to the area, and it felt like there was an opportunity to create an additional space that focused specifically on the indie side of the fiber world, and for those who couldn’t get into the larger festival. I loved when some of the dyers and bag makers in our friend group would bring their products to share with us before we headed to the festival, and I thought there should be a more official way for them to do that. The show also gave some of my friends a way to help offset the expense of the trip.
In those early years, the atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and grassroots. People found out about it through my newsletter, on Ravelry, through friends, or simply by staying at the hotel and stumbling upon it. It added to the feeling that weekend of gathering with others who shared the same passion for beautiful yarn and connecting with the makers behind the supplies we used to create things ourselves.
Growth Over Time
Over the years, Indie Untangled grew alongside the indie fiber industry itself.
As more knitters discovered hand-dyed yarn and social media helped small businesses reach larger audiences, the show expanded significantly. More vendors wanted to participate, and more attendees began adding Indie Untangled to their Rhinebeck weekend plans. We expanded our space at the hotel, but it couldn’t safely hold everyone who wanted to attend.
In 2018, after four years at the Best Western in Kingston, we moved the event slightly north to the charming town of Saugerties, which is also home to The Perfect Blend Yarn & Tea Shop. The welcoming shop has been a wonderful partner in helping promote and support the show over the years.
As attendance continued to grow, we eventually outgrew our new event space, too. Our current venue is HITS on the Hudson, a spacious equestrian venue surrounded by views of the Catskill Mountains that has allowed the event to continue growing while still maintaining a relaxed, community-centered atmosphere.
Changes for Vendors
Putting together the vendor lineup has become one of the most challenging parts of organizing the show, especially as so many new indie dyers come on the scene. I receive far more applications than I can accept, and every year I have to make difficult decisions.
I’ve always wanted to keep the show intentionally small so it remains manageable and profitable for vendors while still complementing, rather than overshadowing, the festival itself.
That means being thoughtful about creating a balanced mix of businesses, from well-established indie brands to newer makers who may be exhibiting at a large event for the first time. I’m always looking for vendors with a strong creative point of view, whether that comes through distinctive color stories, thoughtfully sourced yarns, unique accessories, or a clear sense of personality and identity behind their brand.
Changes for Attendees
The attendee experience has changed quite a bit as well.
When we moved to Saugerties, we started a timed-entry system so that we could keep the crowds manageable and the shopping comfortable. This year, instead of having two-hour time slots for shopping, attendees can enter the three covered marketplaces at their ticketed time and then come and go throughout the day.
The event has also evolved beyond shopping. There are now more spaces and opportunities for gathering, relaxing, and connecting with fellow makers throughout the day.
One of my favorite things about the show is still seeing people sit together with their knitting, reconnect with online friends in person, or meet someone new while waiting in line. Sometimes I’ll quietly sit down in the lounge with my lunch and chat with attendees who don’t realize I’m the organizer, and it’s always rewarding to hear them talk about how welcoming the atmosphere feels.
Connection to Rhinebeck
It’s impossible to talk about Indie Untangled without talking about Rhinebeck.
The New York Sheep & Wool Festival is one of the most important weekends in the fiber world, bringing together knitters, crocheters, spinners, dyers, farmers, and fiber enthusiasts from across the country and around the world.
From the beginning, Indie Untangled was designed to complement that experience. Over time, it became part of a larger Rhinebeck weekend tradition that includes meetups, trunk shows, local yarn shop visits, and fiber events happening throughout the Hudson Valley.
For many attendees, Indie Untangled now serves as the unofficial kickoff to the weekend.
There’s a special energy in the air during Rhinebeck weekend that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. People arrive wearing their handknits, excited to see friends, discover new yarn, and immerse themselves in the fiber community. Indie Untangled has grown alongside that excitement while helping create even more opportunities for connection.
Pandemic Disruption and Adaptation
Like so many in-person events, Indie Untangled faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When large gatherings became impossible, the focus shifted to finding ways to continue supporting indie vendors and keeping the community connected online.
Virtual marketplaces became an important part of that effort. Vendors were able to showcase products digitally, and customers could continue discovering and purchasing from small businesses even when traveling and in-person shopping weren’t possible.
While nothing fully replaced the feeling of gathering together in person, those online experiences helped many businesses navigate an incredibly difficult time and reminded all of us how strong and supportive the fiber community could be.
Some of those digital elements have remained part of Indie Untangled even after in-person events returned, creating additional ways for people to participate no matter where they live.
The Show Today
Today, Indie Untangled has grown into a highly curated event featuring more than 45 indie dyers, spinners, producers, and makers of fiber-related accessories.
The show is still committed to supporting independent makers and small businesses while helping them connect with passionate crafters. Each year, I make sure there’s a mix of returning and new vendors, giving attendees the chance to reconnect with beloved makers while discovering a new favorite.
There’s still that same excitement of discovering a new dyer whose colors speak to you or finding a project bag that feels perfectly “you.” There’s still the joy of seeing internet friends in person for the first time or bonding with strangers over shared knitting projects.
And despite the larger crowds and bigger scale, I want people to feel welcomed when they arrive. Even after all these years, one of my favorite moments is watching people walk into the show for the first time and seeing their smiles and excitement.
My mom has been a huge supporter of the event since the beginning, and now she spends the day driving attendees around the grounds in one of our golf carts, which helps make the event more accessible. Along the way, she chats with visitors and tells stories about knowing me as a precocious kid, moody teenager, and now passionate entrepreneur.
Join Us for Indie Untangled 2026
The 13th annual Indie Untangled takes place on Friday, October 16, 2026, at HITS on the Hudson in Saugerties, New York.
This year’s event will feature more than 45 carefully curated vendors, including indie yarn dyers, fiber producers, and creative makers of project bags, stitch markers, jewelry, pottery, and more.
The 10 a.m. tickets and noon session have already sold out, but one of the nice things about our timed-entry system is that attendees entering later in the day can still fully enjoy the event. Guests are welcome to arrive early to relax in the lounge, grab food, meet up with friends, and enjoy the atmosphere before entering the marketplaces at their ticketed time. After entering, you’re free to stay and spend the rest of the day shopping and connecting with fellow fiber friends.
We’re also working on a few new community-focused additions for this year’s event, which I can’t wait to share soon.
If Rhinebeck is part of your annual tradition or you’re finally planning your first trip to the Hudson Valley, we hope you’ll join us!
