What to stash this week: Last call

By Lisa | August 16, 2019

Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks is sadly closing the doors on her indie dyeing operation after 18 years (!). She’s having one final shop update that’s going on now. The skeins are going fast, so head over to her site ASAP!⁣

Fellow sailors, Cooperative Press made a thing for us. A few things, actually. Their K1FU T-shirt, which particularly comes in handy when you’re counting, is available to preorder through August 31, along with two other fun designs. T-shirt sales go toward helping indie publishing thrive.

Judging by Heather of Sew Happy Jane’s dye pots, which are full of cinnamon, caramel, brown sugar, red wine, pumpkin, crunchy leaves and golden light, she’s ready for fall!

While we’re a ways off from Mardis Gras, Mardi Gras Nights is one of IU newcomer Jennifer of Bugbear Woolens’ favorite colorways. It’s available on any of her yarn bases or spinning fiber.

You have one more week to preorder Earl Grey Fiber Company’s peak purple colorway, inspired by Naches Peak at Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park.

Join Slipped Stitch Studios in the Upside Down today at noon Pacific time. Four indie-designed tributes to Stranger Things will be available for preorder through Monday only.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels is also in a fall state of mind and her Fall into Halloween Collection will debut on her website starting today at 10 a.m. Eastern.

Amanda of Handmaine Knits has debuted yarn and knitting-inspired mugs in three exclusive designs with original artwork.

Patricia of BeesyBee Fibers had her first shop update in a while with plenty of hand-dyed yarn and spinning fiber.

Join Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations for a Mystery Knit A Long inspired by a few favorite locations in her hometown. The KAL, which runs from September 2-30, includes cables, lace and slipped stitches.

As Lisa The Knitting Artist begins her fourth year of teaching art, she’s celebrating with a back-to-school yarn sale! All yarn and prints in her Etsy shop are 20% off through the end of August, no code needed.

Preorders for Stash Yarn Club’s September shipment, which features Forbidden Fiber Co., are open now.

Preorders for the Lambstrings Yarn Spooky Holiday Advent Calendars are now available.

What to stash this week: A sweater a day

By Lisa | May 31, 2019

Sheila of BigFootFibers is taking custom orders for the Olive Knits Four Day Sweater KAL. She is offering orders on BrilliantBritFoot Worsted (Superwash BFL) SuperSquishy Worsted (Superwash Merino) and the new, rustic SassyLassy Worsted (85% Superwash Merino/10% Donegal tweed).

Welcome Indie Untangled newcomer Beckie! This Canadian dyer named her yarn company Shirley Brian Yarn after her grandmother, a prolific knitter, and her late father. Beckie just had a shop update with 23 new colorways and old favorites on her Sailor Sock base.

Thao of Nerd Bird Makery, who aims to create inclusive products reflecting the multicultural diversity found throughout the fiber community, has a line of enamel pins that are a playful celebration of Asian culinary traditions (and if I were you, I’d grab one or two of those Woolsabi enamel pins, seen above posed with a certain La Bien Aimée exclusive colorway, before they sell out).

If you’re looking for a lightweight yarn to knit with this summer, try Fluffy U Fiber Farm‘s wool, linen and silk blend.

Preorders for project bags and accessories in steampunk designs from Slipped Stitch Studios go live today at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

Talk about a grab bag: Maker Heather of Beautiful Syster has a fun mystery club, for which members receive a bag in an exclusive fabric as well as a mini skein in a coordinating color from one of her favorite dyers.

Shanna of Lambstrings Yarn just had a huge shop update with more than 200 skeins, including plenty of Singles, Sock, DK, Bulky, Mohair Lace and mini skein sets. Plus, preorders for Caitlin Hunter’s Navelli Tee kit are still open.

Check out the new Kindred Spirits colorway from IU newcomer DiamondDyeworks.

What to stash this week that’s magical

By Lisa | May 3, 2019

All Points South is one of my favorite knits and all-time-favorite FOs, so I was excited to see that Casapinka’s design for LYS Day, Magical Thinking, was a very similar style. It’s a fun knit with varied stitch patterns that keep things interesting, but never too complicated. And I love the fact that I can make another one of these in a similar style, but that I won’t be knitting it all over again. Bronwyn has just kicked off a Magical Thinking KAL in her Ravelry group, so grab those three yarns that just look perfect together and fall in love.

If The Force is strong in you this weekend, then set your alarm for 9 a.m. Pacific today. Slipped Stitch Studios has bags and accessories in four Star Wars-themed fabrics, limited edition Millennium Falcon stitch markers and rare Star Wars Pattern Wallets. These items are limited and ready to ship.

If you’re the plan-ahead type, then you can order your yarny Advent Calendar from Marianated Yarns now to ship in November. Kits include 24 mini skeins in a few different base options, tons of goodies and a custom-dyed full skein.

Aimee of Pancake and Lulu is all about the purples and pale pastels, plus spinners can check out new batts with sparkly Stellina.

Sunshine of My Mama Knits has a variety of one-of-a-kind single batches available in various weights from lace to super chunky.

Lisa The Knitting Artist is having a clearance sale to make room for new bases and colors, with sock and worsted yarn $15 to $18 per skein.

Your indie shopping guide to the 2019 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

By Lisa | May 2, 2019

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival seems to have snuck up on me this year. While I don’t have a stashing plan in mind (which probably means I’ll do more damage than I planned), I’m looking forward to spending time with beloved fiber friends and meeting some of my favorite indie business owners.

To help you plan, here’s a roundup of the Indie Untangled vendors at both the pop-up at The Knot House and the Howard County Fairgrounds, and a peek at just some of the goodies they’ll be bringing.

THE KNOT HOUSE INDIE POP-UP

This is the fifth annual indie pop-up that Cathy and Heather of The Knot House are throwing. In the spirit of the Indie Untangled Rhinebeck Trunk Show, it brings together a collection of dyers and makers from around North America. Unlike the IU Rhinebeck show, it runs all weekend, with a preview party on Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m.

Dragon Hoard Yarn

A collage of yarn

Dragon Hoard Yarn is a one woman show run by Trysten out of Utah. Her style is inspired by pop culture, geeky fandoms, and witchy themes.

I’ll be bringing the entire Outlander collection, including:
Lallybroch (green), Red Jamie (Orange), Clan Fraser (blue), and Je Suis Prest. (Blue and brown). I’ll also be giving a sneak peek at a new design coming out in July! The Moondrip Summer Tee will be showcased, and I will be there to help people create kits!

The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers

A collage of yarn

The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers specializes in hand-dyed yarns inspired by dyer Candice’s cultural heritage and Montana roots.

Little Fox Yarn

Orange yarn

Aimee & Brian are the dyers of Little Fox Yarn, based just outside of Richmond, Virginia. Their subtle, wearable colorways are inspired by the Blue Ridge Mountains where Aimee grew up.

We will be at the Knot House Indie Dyer Pop Up this weekend. We will have all of our usual lineup of tonal yarns including our new Vixen Lace base.

Also at The Knot House will be ShelliCan and Nice & Knit.

THE FESTIVAL

See the festival map here.

Bare Naked Wools/Knitspot

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C28

A sweater, shawl, hat and yarn

Bare Naked Wools offers natural, dye-free, artisanal yarns in single breed and wool blends, wool and alpaca blends, and unique luxury blends.

• The hat is the “Happy Dog Cap” which we will be selling at MDSW as a kit with Betty King Natural Dyes Merino DK.
• The pullover sweater is “Multigrain”
• The lace shawl is “Harrier”
• The yarn is Better Breakfast DK, a luxury alpaca blend

Bijou Basin Ranch

Outside North, Booth N1

A collage of yarn

Bijou Basin Ranch provides sustainably harvested, high quality exotic yarns & fibers dyed by various indie dyers across the country. After 15 years of merchandising yarn, BBR will be closing its doors by the end of the year, so don’t miss your chance to see, feel and purchase at our last MDS&W Festival!

Pictured clockwise from the top left are:
Solids by MJ Yarns on Xanadu, 100% Mongolian Cashmere
The Valkyries Series by MJ Yarns on Gobi, 35/65 baby camel/Mulberry silk
The Mariposa Series by Colorful Eclectic on Himalayan Summit, 50/50 yak/Merino — brand new at the show!
Various colors by ModeKnit Yarns on Tibetan Dream, 85/15 yak/nylon

Dragonfly Fibers

Outside Lower Corral, Booth LC9

A collage of yarn and a tote bag

Dragonfly Fibers has been dyeing high-quality yarn and fiber in suburban Washington, DC, for more than ten years. We’re known for our vivid and saturated tonal and variegated colorways, and we have gorgeous neutrals, too! Come see all that’s new and beautiful in the Lower Outside Corral!

Our brand-new tote bag is free to the first 25 customers both days and all purchases over $125. Available for purchase for $12.

Our newest yarn, Faerie, an ethereal mohair-silk blend, is perfect for warm-weather knitting. The Jocelyn colorway (shown in Pixie, also in Jocelyn) makes for a beautiful spring Elton, by Joji Locatelli.

Our show exclusive colorway, Carroll Creek Park’s bright and happy colors make it perfect for spring! It will be available on multiple bases. Supplies are limited, so be sure to stop by early in the morning for the best selection.

We will also have three great kits for the brand-new Casapinka design, Magical Thinking, which made its debut last Saturday during LYS Day.

Fluffy U Fiber Farm

Barn 5, Booth 14

A collage of yarn

We specialize in British and U.S. rare and heritage breed sheep. We gain our inspiration from the sheep themselves and the beautiful countryside. For those participating in the Shave Em to Save Em and the 52 weeks of sheep programs we will have both natural spinning fibers and yarns produced from the sheep here at the farm.

KnittyandColor/Subterranean Woodworks

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B13

A collage of yarn and wood spindles

Knittyandcolor specializes in eye popping bright, unique pastel, and fun speckled yarn and fiber. Her husband, Subterranean Woodworks specializes in finely crafted, exotic wood and hand dyed Turkish spindles.

Toad Hollow

Outside Lower Corral, Booth LC18

A blue crab tote bag with blue speckled yarn

Created by sisters, Helen and Mary Beth, Toad Hollow makes project bags and hand dyed yarn. Our products all have a whimsical sense usually based on books and fandoms we love. Limited quantities of our Maryland 2019 color, “Crab Pickin,” will be available this weekend.

Wolle’s Yarn Creations

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B2

A collage of gradient yarn cakes

Wolle’s Yarn Creations will be at MDSW for the third year and we are bringing our amazingly soft and deluxe Cotton/Silk yarns as well as our new Cotton/Bamboo yarns. Also, new this year: DK Cotton yarns, perfect for all your summer tops. Stop by and touch our yarns — feeling is believing.

Also at the festival will be:
Backyard Fiberworks, Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C4
Crafty Flutterby Creations, Barn 3, Booth 5
Into the Whirled, Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B16
Middle Brook Fiberworks, Main Exhibition Hall, Both B26

What to stash this week: mini mani-yak

By Lisa | January 18, 2019

Stephania of Three Fates Yarn takes a different, less speckled path than other indie dyers, and her semisolids and gradients are perfect for colorwork projects that require the colors to stand out from one another. Enter her Helios mini skeins. Comprised of 60% Superwash Merino, 20% yak and 20% silk, they are a great match for items that require a bit of luxurious warmth with next-to-the-skin softness. Stephania has moved from Etsy to a new home on a new website, so step in and take a look around, and get to know her and her lovely yarns a little better.

Tamy recently debuted her Harpers Ferry shawl, which uses a main color contrasted with mohair and mini skeins (see above on where to get minis!). The result is a beautiful melding of high-contrast color, though you can also use a gradient for a more subtle look.

And speaking of minis… Jen of Porterness Studio has a new mini double-sided Yarn Life and stockinette motif sterling silver necklace. It’s designed to show flip as you wear it during the day to show off both sides. It normally retails for $125, but Indie Untangled readers get an introductory price of $95 with the code IndieYarnMini25 through January 24.

As the Outlander series comes to a close, so does Inner Yarn Zen’s Season 4 Outlander Unclub. Pictured is a photo of the yarn from Round 2, which is available on its own or as part of a package with all three rounds.

This is going to be Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks’ new view in New Mexico and it’s inspiring her New Beginnings yarn club. This quarterly club will ship in March, June, September and December and you can get one skein to up to four skeins per shipment.

Amanda of Wild Hair Studio has one of the few flocks of Romeldale/CVM sheep in the southeastern U.S. This breed, which is considered endangered, will be highlighted in her quarterly fiber club, which is now accepting members. Each club release will include roving, batts or smidgens (mini batts) of a Romeldale/CVM wool and/or Romeldale/CVM wool blend from her studio. If you’re more a knitter than a spinner, there is also a handspun option!

Slipped Stitch Studios is bringing you some enchantment under the sea. No, not the dance in Back To the Future, but a collection of project bags and other goodies featuring mermaids, sharks, narwhals and more. They’re on sale today at 9 a.m. Pacific time.

Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. hosting a winter make-along with prizes and loose rules. To enter, you can make a project using 50% or more of McMullin Fiber Co. materials and post about it publicly on social media. She’s kicking off the MAL with a sale: use the code TREATYOSELF for 25% off everything in the shop until January 24.

The latest October House Fiber Arts shop update includes a few colorful additions that should brighten up your dark winter days.

In time for the new year, Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations is releasing Tree of Life shawl pins, which symbolize rebirth and new beginnings.

Dye Is Cast Yarns has a limited edition Valentine’s Day 2019 colorway.

What to stash this week: Indie Goes West

By Lisa | December 28, 2018

If you’re local to Portland, Oregon, and free on February 2 from 5-8 p.m., then you should snag tickets to Indie Untangled’s first West Coast event! I’m teaming up with Thao of Nerd Bird Makery and we’re bringing together a select group of Northwest dyers and makers and also introducing a few indies from the East Coast. Click here for all the info.

If you miss summer camp, there are still spots open for the Pacific Coast Handmade Craft Camp taking place September 12-15 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Activities include knitting, sewing, embroidery, dyeing, block printing, weaving, mending and more. The fabulous instructors are: Sonya Philip (100 Acts of Sewing), Simone Kereit (Owlcat Designs), Michelle Russell (Left Coast Dyer), Cleo Malone (co-owner of Cast Away yarn shop) and Sarah Pedersen (The Dye Project).

Class up your 2019 with these elegant bags from Slipped Stitch Studios. Their New Year Elegance Party kicks off today at 9 a.m. Pacific Time and includes a limited number of ready to ship bags in sparkly fabrics.

Sign-ups for the 2019 Indie Untangled Where We Knit Yarn Club close this Monday, December 31! Don’t miss out on this quarterly club that brings together four dyer/designer teams that will collaborate on an exclusive colorway and accompanying accessory design inspired by where they knit.

Clockwise from top left are inspiration photos from Life In the Long Grass and Rizzaknits, Martin’s Lab and Justyna Lorkowska, Asylum Fibers and Woollywormhead and Fuse Fiber Studio and Knitting Expat.

Zen Yarn Garden is having a massive Boxing Day sale. Use the code 25OFF to get… 25% off yarn and knitting kits, including their lovely kit for Andrea Mowry’s What the Fade. There’s also free U.S. shipping on orders of $99+ and free international shipping for orders of $299+.

Learn more about Marissa of The Spun Bunny, a “bunny shepherdess” and creator of color for yarn and a variety of spinning fiber, which of course includes angora from her adorable bunnies. Marissa is offering 35% off items in her shop, excluding calendars, through December 30 with the code THANKYOU.

Patrick of yarn company Rosy Green Wool and designer Melanie Berg have teamed up to raise money for the Against Malaria Foundation, a charity that saves lives. Only $2-3 buys a bed net treated with insecticides that can protect two people from malaria for up to four years — much less than a skein of hand-dyed yarn. Please join me in making a donation. Additionally, I will be donating 10% of all sales of in-stock items in the Indie Untangled shop through January 31, 2019 to the campaign.

Your 2018 indie Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday deals

By Lisa | November 23, 2018

Here’s a list of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday deals from a whole bunch of Indie Untangled artisans. The list will be updated through the weekend.

For the first time, Jen of Portnerness Studio is having a sale on her Stitch Marker Necklaces and Double Sided Yarn Tag Necklaces. Get an additional 20% off with the code IndiePJ20 (because you can shop in your PJs!) through November 27. There’s also free USPS Priority Shipping on orders of $130 or more.

Slipped Stitch Studios has a new discount each day:
Today, get $5 off ALL small and medium project bags
On Saturday, get $10 off all large project bags
On Sunday, get $15 off ALL XL totes and hybrid bags
On Monday, get $5 off ALL needle nooks, zipper pouches and Tots

All weekend, get double reward points and free shipping on orders over $100.

Jennifer of Spirit Trail Fiberworks is making all week Giving Tuesday. Through November 30, she’s donating 25% of all sales in her shop to suicide prevention, in memory of her daughter’s friend, Emma. This 25% will be split equally between five organizations: the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Trevor Project, the National Veterans Foundation, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation and the Alliance of Hope.

Sew Happy Jane is offering 15% off from tomorrow through Monday with the code SEWTHANKFUL.

Now through Monday, McMullin Fiber Co. is offering 25% off any order over $50 in her shop with the code 25THANKS. She’ll also be updating the shop Monday with a new mohair/silk base and bringing back her much requested Fiber Balm.

Use the code INDIEEVERYDAY for free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more in the Indie Untangled pop-up shop through November 27.

Get 10% off fingering weight cotton yarns from Wolle’s Yarn Creations plus free domestic shipping through Monday.

Pandia’s Jewels has three days of deals: Today, there’s free U.S. shipping on orders of $100 or more and free international shipping on orders of $150 or more. Tomorrow is a free gift with a special collection purchase. On Monday, get an additional 15% off sale items. Click for the codes.

Through November 26, Knitspinquilt is offering free domestic shipping on all orders and discounted shipping on international orders. But that’s not all: if you buy four or more items, you get 25% off your order. This includes large and medium bags, box bags and DPN cases.

Buy three items from Baad Mom Yarns, get one free, plus get free shipping on all U.S. orders through November 26. There are also some special colorways.

Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations is offering 20% off two or more items from her shop, including shawl pins and progress keepers, with the code SHOPSMALL2018.

Use code SHOPSMALL18 for 15% off everything in the Lavender Lune Yarn Co. shop. The first 10 orders will also get two free mini skeins.

Use code CYBERSALE for 15% off everything in the Winemakerssister shop, including stitch markers and Knitter’s Chatelaines.

Cedar Hill Farm Company has a weekend full of sales, including free shipping to U.S. and Canada on orders of $40 or more through Sunday, 20% off all in-stock project bags through Monday, 15% off all in-stock Chiaogoo Red Lace circular needles on Saturday and 15% off all in-stock yarns on Monday. Also, get 20% off Keya’s patterns on Ravelry through Monday.

The Golden Purls are offering 25% off all yarn and kits through Monday.

All of Lisa The Knitting Artist’s yarn and prints are 20% off with free shipping, no code needed, through Monday.

Get 15% off today only from the The Humble Bumble Fibers Co. with the code HUMBLEBLK18.

Skeinny Dipping is having a Cyber Monday 20% off sale on all in stock yarn with the code CYBER20.

Round Table Yarns is holding a Tournament of Yarns with 26 mystery bags.

Farm Girl Fibers is offering 10% off orders of $75 or more through November 30 with the code SWEATERWEATHER10 and a 20g mini skein with every skein purchased today, plus free shipping on all U.S. orders for the rest of 2018.

Get 20% off all purchases from NanoStitch Lab through Monday with the code SHOPSMALL2018.

Enjoy free U.S. shipping on all orders from Dye is Cast Yarn through Monday.

Treasure Goddess Yarn is offering 25% off everything plus free U.S. shipping through Sunday.

Buy three skeins of yarn or art batts, or a combination of both, from Purple Lamb Fiber Arts and get one for free.

Into The Whirled is giving 30% off yarn and fiber with the code THANKFUL through Monday.

Get 15% off your entire purchase of Little Fox Yarn through Tuesday with the code SOTHANKFUL.

Today, order 1-3 Skeins from Once Upon a Corgi and use Code “YARNGIVING15” for 15% off your order. Tomorrow, orders 4+ skeins and use code “HOLIYAY” for $25 off.

What to stash this week: trail yarn

By Lisa | October 12, 2018

For the latest installment of Knitting Our National Parks, Bijou Basin Ranch takes us to the Croy Creek Trail System in southern Idaho, originally constructed for motorcycle riders and mountain bikers. Here, you can take in a gorgeous winter sunrise like this one from Bullion Gulch, captured by Ace Hess from the Bureau of Land Management, which operates the trail system.

BBR called on Jonathan Berner of Seattle-based MJ Yarns to capture the subtlety and brilliance of the image with the colorway they’ve named Resplendence. It will be dyed on Tibetan Dream sock yarn, a luxurious blend of 85% yak and 15% nylon that is warmer than wool and softer than Cashmere, perfect for your next hike (or just a nice, cold winter).

The yarn will be available to preorder on Indie Untangled through Friday, October 26. If you’ll be at Rhinebeck, you can see and pet the yarn in person at the Bijou Basin Ranch in booths 13 and 14 in Building C. It will also be on display at the Indie Untangled Trunk Show on Friday.

Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. is celebrating the start of fall (finally!) with her new Sweater Weather Collection. The collection includes Merino/Cashmere/nylon DK weight yarns and 80/20 Merino/nylon sock mini skeins in a few new colorways, including Hunting Tartan, La Vie En Rose and Vintage.

Shauna of Farm Girl Fibers just started dyeing yarn from her husband’s family farm in Alpine, Tennessee. Many of her colorways are inspired by nature and her life on a farm.

Indie Untangled newcomer October House Fiber Arts decided to post in an appropriate month, during its fifth birthday. Dyer Robin also designs knitting-themed cross stitch.

Jean of Midmitten Designs has teamed up with Splash of Color Yarns on a holiday kit that includes a project bag, with a vinyl window for a peek at what’s inside, and five Merino/nylon mini skeins.

Softyard Designs’ Saxony Hat is perfect for a cable lover! This unisex design comes with instructions for working flat or in the round and knits up super fast in aran-weight yarn.

Indie Untangled newcomer 7th Floor Yarn is marking “tweed season” with this Aran Tweed Superwash 85% Merino/15% Nep.

Wild Hair Studio has a limited number of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans 12 Days of Christmas Advent Calendars.

What to stash this week: Go for the green

By Lisa | August 10, 2018

For the latest installment of Knitting Our National Parks, Wendee of Hazel Knits is taking us on a road trip to Olympic National Park, just a few hours from her Seattle studio. Photographer Adam Jewell captured this stunning image of sunlight filtered through the trees at the park’s Sol Duc rainforest and Wendee perfectly picks up the bark peeking through the moss and greenery in her colorway, which is available to preorder here on two bases hrough Friday, August 24. As always, 10% of sales will be donated to the National Park Foundation.

If you’re a planner like me, then you know it’s almost Halloween. Slipped Stitch Studios has special Nightmare Before Christmas treats and other ghoulish delights on sale today at 9 a.m. Pacific time. They will only be available through Monday at midnight and will ship in time to tote around your fall projects.

Speaking of Halloween, Wild Hair Studio is creating a bag of fiber treats inspired by the sweets that Hogwarts students procured during their special Hogsmead Weekends. Hogsmead Treat Bags will include an assortment of limited-edition fiber — a combination of batts, smidgens and custom-blended roving — inspired by candy from Honeydukes. Preorders will be open until September 20.

Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations is hosting a MKAL of a shawl called In The Rough. She encourages you to polish your knitting skills with cables, lace, beading and slipped-stitch techniques. You can preorder the pattern, yarn, beading tool and beads now before the first clue is released on Labor Day.

Julia of Pandia’s Jewels has once again teamed up with designer C.C. Almon of Java Purl Designs to bring you an Outlander Wrap Kit. The kit, inspired by book 4 of the Outlander series, will include a skein of Bauble Heavy Lace in the colorway Nothing is Lost, a tote bag, a spiral notebook, stitch markers and a Ravelry pattern download code. Preorders are open until August 19.

One of Melanie’s (and my!) favorite movies growing up was The Sound of Music. In honor of the classic musical, she’s teamed up with Lina from Lina Knits to create a My Favorite Things Cowl kit. The cowl, and kit, features colorways inspired by popular scenes from the movie. Each kit comes with one 50g skein and five 10g skeins, along with the pattern.

Marianated Yarns will be at the Lancaster Fiber Festival next weekend. She also has a giveaway with prizes that include a day pass, class or mini skein kit for Casapinka’s Crown Wools MKAL going on now.

IU newcomer Heather’s Yarn Barn has plenty of fun fall colorways, including Fall Fusion, pictured above, with teal covering one half of the skein and specks of teal, plum, mustard and golden orange on the other.

Your indie shopping guide to the 2018 Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival

By Lisa | May 3, 2018

I’ve always thought of the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival as the more low-key fiber festival. Aside from the fact that I’m not organizing a massive Friday trunk show (I leave that to Cathy and Heather, the owners of The Knot House), there’s no “Maryland sweater” to knit because it’s usually not sweater weather, last year being the exception.

However, as I’ve been putting together the shopping guide for the weekend, I’ve realized that the stashing temptation is anything but low key.

Here’s a roundup of the Indie Untangled vendors at both the pop-up at The Knot House and the Howard County Fairgrounds, and a peek at just some of the goodies they’ll be bringing.

I plan to be at the festival on Saturday, sporting a new shawl by Deb Gerhard that she designed with Into the Whirled’s Bryce Canyon-inspired Knitting Our National Parks colorway, which you can see below. I’ll be at the ITW booth at 12:30 p.m. for an Indie Untangled meetup, and you can see the yarn and the design in person. Hope to see you there!

THE KNOT HOUSE INDIE POP-UP

This is the fourth-annual indie pop-up that Cathy and Heather are throwing. In the spirit of the Indie Untangled Rhinebeck Trunk Show, it brings together a collection of dyers and makers from around North America. Unlike the IU Rhinebeck show, it runs all weekend, with a preview party on Friday night from 5 to 9 p.m.

Duck Duck Wool

Sandra, who is based in nearby Virginia, will have some of the Indie Untangled Knitting Our National Parks colorway, Glaciers and Wildflowers (pictured above), on hand, along with her famous speckled skeins.

Julie Asselin

Julie hails from Montreal, with a beautiful palette of dreamy semisolids and subtle speckles.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are Good Morning Fredrick, an event exclusive, a Nuances set (five 28-gram mini skeins of Leizu Superwash Merino/silk fingering) in Pivoines, and a selection of colorways.

The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers

Candice will be coming to the show all the way from Montana, bringing her soft, Western-inspired colorways.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are Half Breed, Heartbreak Hotel and Paul Newman in Foxy Lady (70% Merino/30% silk), Monarch in Mighty Mo (70% kid mohair/30% Mulberry silk), and Gary Cooper and Are You Sure Hank Done It That Way on Foxy Lady.

Little Fox Yarn

Aimee is another Virgina-based dyer, known for her beautiful semisolids.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are Old Favorite, Loganberry on Vixen (Superwash Merino and silk fingering), various colors of Vixen, and her Blue Boy, Silver Birch and Deep Water colorways.

That Clever Clementine

Vicki sews her adorable and functional project bags in Maryland. She will bring a variety of zipper bags, including some made with a sparkly linen fabric that is perfect for showing off your fiber flare.

There will also be yarn from South Carolina’s Autumn and Indigo, Connecticut’s Nice and Knit, Periwinkle Sheep from Albany, N.Y., and Swift Yarns from New York City.

THE FESTIVAL

See the festival map here.

Backyard Fiberworks

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C4

Alice, who is based in Silver Spring Maryland, will be bringing her popular semisolid and speckled colorways and mini-skein kits.

In the first image, pictured clockwise from the top left are Backyard Fiberworks Sock in Urchin, Stormcloud, the Spiced Cider mini skein set, and Mallow.

Bare Naked Wools/Knitspot

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C28

Famed designer Anne Hanson will be bringing stunning samples made with her line of custom-milled yarns that show off the natural creams, browns, and greys.

Pictured above is the Deep Dive sweater knit in Better Breakfast Fingering (55% Merino, 35% dehaired alpaca and 10% nylon), the Polypore shawl knit in Chebris lace (60% Merino/40% mohair), and a selection of Better Breakfast Worsted (65% Merino, 35% dehaired alpaca).

Bijou Basin Ranch

Outside North, Booth N1

Based in Colorado, this mom and pop operation specializes in yak blends and in the last few years they have begun collaborating with indies on hand-dyed colorways.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are the Gobi base (baby camel and silk) in the Valkyrie-inspired hand-dyed colors, Shangri-La Lace (50/50 yak and Mulberry silk) in the Explorer collection, new stickers that they will be handing out, and variegated Shangri-La Lace.

Dragonfly Fibers

Outside Lower Corral, Booth LC9

Also from Maryland, Kate and her crew are MDSW veterans, bringing a huge selection of colorful yarns.

Pictured above is the Maryland Mini color pack and Andrea Medici’s Calverts and Crossings Cowl, along with Dragonfly’s show exclusive colorway Boardwalk Lights, named after Ocean City, Maryland, at night.

Fluffy U Fiber Farm

Barn 5, Booth 14

Shepardess Katrina Updike has been raising British and rare breed sheep, including Blue-Faced Leicester, Gotland, Leicester Longwool and Teeswater, for the past 18 years on a farm in Pennsylvania.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are a selection of her BFL fingering, a sample of Katrina’s Spring Lilac colorway, Merino Bulky in Tropical Breeze, Pebble Beach and Lilly Pad, and beads strung for spinning.

Into the Whirled

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B16

New York-based dyer Cris is known for her semisolid and variegated colorways, and she has recently moved into speckles, including her colorway for the Indie Untangled Knitting Our National Parks series.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are the new speckled colorways, batts in various colors, Shokan Singles single fingering in the Bryce Canyon-inspired Hoodoos colorway (which you can see in person in her booth and preorder here), and braids of fiber.

Knittyandcolor

Outside North, Booth N12

Sarah, who is based in Georgia, is known for her eye-poppingly bright colorways. Aside from yarn and fiber she’ll also be bringing Turkish spindles made by her husband under the name Subterranean Woodworks.

Pictured clockwise from the top left are new colorways Smoky Quartz and Neon Lotus, along with the spindles and fiber braids.

Middle Brook Fiberworks

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B26

Anne offers yarn blends made with the fiber from the sheep on her New Jersey farm as well as stunning handspun. At the festival, she’ll be debuting her Vintage No. 4, organic Polwarth coordinating sets, and lip balm.

Spirit Trail Fiberworks

Main Exhibition Hall, Booth A30

Jennifer, another Virginia-ite, is a master of dyeing a variety of colors on both rustically sheepy and luxurious silk bases.

Pictured clockwise from the top left is a set of Aurora (single-ply fingering Superwash Merino), Selene (DK-weight, non-shrink organic wool), stitch markers from Katrinkles, and Jennifer’s new enamel mugs.

You can see more goodies in Jennifer’s sneak peek post.

Other vendors

Here are some other vendors I’m looking forward to visiting:

The Buffalo Wool Co.
Outside Upper Corral, Booth UC1

Jamie Harmon
Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B9

Jill Draper Makes Stuff
Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C31

Julia Hilbrandt
Main Exhibition Hall, Booth B29

Madder Root
Outside North, Booth N2

Neighborhood Fiber Co.
Outside East, Booth E7

North Light Fibers
Main Exhibition Hall, Booth C9