Time definitely flies when you’re having fun. I was in New Orleans last week celebrating my mom’s birthday, after coming down from the high that was Andrea Untangled, and I completely forgot that Indie Untangled turned FIVE YEARS OLD a week ago!
When I sent out my first newsletter on April 4, 2014, in order to spread the word about indie dyer shop updates, I never could have dreamed what Indie Untangled would become: events like the Rhinebeck Trunk Show, Indie Goes West and Andrea Untangled, a place for exclusive colorways and a way to raise thousands of dollars for the National Park Foundation.
In honor of this milestone, I figured that a few giveaways were in order. Here’s how to enter:
Newsletter giveaway
Subscribe to the newsletter by midnight Eastern time on Thursday, April 18 and you’ll be entered to win an Untangled shawl bundle with the exclusive colors from La Bien Aimee.
Blog giveaway
Comment on this blog post by midnight Eastern time on Thursday, April 18, with your favorite Indie Untangled dyer/designer/maker discovery and you’ll be entered to win a Rainshadow shawl bundle with the exclusive colors from La Bien Aimee.
Keep your eyes on the Indie Untangled Instagram account next week for a separate giveaway there.
2018 Indie Untangled holiday newsletter giveaway
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In what has become an Indie Untangled holiday tradition, I am thanking the knitters who invite me into their inboxes each week with a special holiday giveaway.
For the 2018 Newsletters to Santa and Hanukah Harry giveaway, I’ve gathered together some amazing prizes from several artisans, some who were new to the Indie Untangled community this year and others who are favorites, and doing a string of giveaways (eight plus one) starting this Monday and running through Christmas Day.
Here are the rules: Sign up for the Indie Untangled newsletter by 9 p.m. EST and you will be eligible to win that day’s prize (anyone already on the mailing list is entered to win). After 9 p.m., I’ll pick a winner via random number generator and send out an email. The winner will arrange shipment with the dyer/artisan. The grand prize will be a very special package of yarn and knitting stocking stuffers that I will ship out to the winner.
PLEASE NOTE: Winners must respond within 48 hours of when the notification email is sent to claim the prize. If not, another winner will be selected.
Here’s the schedule:
December 17: A skein of the winner’s choice from McMullin Fiber Co.
Congrats to winner Donna!
December 18: A skein of the winner’s choice from Hazel Knits
Congrats to winner Kathy!
December 19: A sterling silver double sided “Yarn Life” and stockinette stitch motif necklace from Porterness Studio
Congrats to winner Janet!
December 20: A skein of the winner’s choice from Murky Depths Dyeworks
Congrats to winner Natalie!
December 21: A skein of the winner’s choice from October House Fiber Arts
Congrats to winner Cheryl!
December 22: Two skeins of yarn and a project bag from Lady Dye Yarns
Congrats to winner Rhianna!
December 23: The winner helps hellomello handspun create a custom color.
December 24: A Birds of a Feather kit from Junkyarn
Congrats to winner Shelagh!
December 25: A project bag from Woodsy and Wild, yarn from Magpie Fibers, pins from Shelli Can, project bag tags from Katrinkles and a Stash Rabbit pin from Indie Untangled.
One other winner will also receive a set of four OOAK skeins of DK-weight Selene from Spirit Trail Fiberworks and swag from this year’s Indie Untangled Rhinebeck Trunk Show.
Congrats to winners Jody and Patricia!
What to stash this week: good friends
After the success of last year’s La Bien Aimée colorway for Indie Untangled, Automne á Rhinebeck, I knew I had to find a way to top it. So, earlier this year, I asked Paris-based Aimée to dye up a speckle and a complementary semisolid. I also asked her if there was a designer she wanted to collaborate with on a shawl that would incorporate both colors. When she chose Melanie Berg, I knew that they would come up with something special.
The result is Rainshadow, a garter and lace shawl that uses Aimée’s teal/green/gold speckle on a cloudy gray background, called Kingston, and a coordinating olive green that she named Hudson, after towns in the Hudson Valley, near Rhinebeck.
The Indie Untangled shop is now stocked with Rainshadow shawl kits in these exclusive-to-Indie Untangled colorways, along with a limited amount of single skeins. The shop is also stocked with a ton of goodies, including a very limited number of Indie Untangled tote bags, Stash Rabbit enamel pins and T-shirts and an exclusive colorway from UK-based Black Elephant.
Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. is marking her favorite month with her annual Socktoberfest Celebration. This means a big sale — everything in the shop is 25% off till October 31st — and some fantastic giveaways, including a Lykke needle set and a plum Fringe Field Bag.
Today is your last day to preorder this stunning interpretation of sunrise over Bullion Gulch in southern Idaho’s Croy Creek Trail System, dyed on Bijou’s Tibetan Dream sock yarn.
If you have a bit of a yarn hangover, Jen of Porterness Studio has gorgeous new Stockinette Stitch Swatch and In Case Of A Stitch Marker Emergency necklaces. There’s also a new bronze shawl pin design and new additions to her Space Age line of 3D-printed steel shawl pins and rings.
Today at 9 a.m. Pacific time, Slipped Stitch Studios will debut 30+ yarn sock designs that will be ready to ship while supplies last!
Didn’t get to Rhinebeck this year? There is still plenty of fall yarn fun to go around! Sheila of Big Foot Fibers has dyed up these fall-themed mini sets, called Something Wicked This Way Comes, on Superwash Merino DK, inspired by their family reading of MacBeth this month.
West Green Loft Yarns has new bases and colors for fall.
What to stash this week: Color depth
Debbie recently launched Murky Depths Dyeworks, a great name to describe her passion for color and dive into the dye pots. Her bases include Harbor Singles — shown above in Girl Gone Mad, Jubilee and Neopolitan — as well as a Deep Sock (80% Superwash Merino/20% nylon), Triton MCN DK (80% Superwash Merino/10% Cashmere/10% nylon) and Sanctuary Worsted, a non-Superwash Merino.
If you’re local and want to see this new talent in person, Debbie will be vending along with yours truly tomorrow at Knitty City’s Moms and Makers Market, a great shopping event that will also raise money for Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America.
Jen of Porterness Studio has done it again! She’s expanded her line of gorgeous sterling silver and bronze jewelry to include a stitch marker bracelet, stitch marker necklace and a shawl/scarf ring. Indie Untangled readers get 20% off with the code Indie20.
The Sunrise Over Bryce shawl was a huge hit at Maryland Sheep & Wool this weekend — I didn’t want to take it off! Deb of Spruce Lane Designs used two skeins of Into the Whirled’s speckled Hoodoos colorway for Knitting Our National Parks, which is available to preorder only through next Friday.
Kara and Katie of Nice & Knit have updated their shop with their popular 2,175-yard kits for Ambah O’Brien’s Adventurous Wrap. To celebrate Mother’s Day weekend, they’re also giving one away.
Michelle’s new cabled shawl pattern, Warwick Reflections, is inspired by the crenellations, towers and medieval arched windows of Warwick Castle. Kits with the pattern, two skeins from Fairy Tale Knits and a shawl pin are available to preorder, while the pattern is 50% off until May 28, when a KAL begins.
Mama need a brand new bag? Laura and the Slipped Stitch Studios crew has released a limited line of Mother’s Day bags, with hilarious sayings, including, “The joys of motherhood are experienced when kids go to bed.” Today, at 9 a.m. Pacific time, Slipped Stitch is also releasing their adorable Mama Llama & the Cactus collection.
Marian of Marianated Yarns will be vending along with yours truly tomorrow at Knitty City’s Moms & Makers Market in NYC. She’ll have yarn and color ideas for projects like the Pero Shawl by Katy Carroll, Your Slip is Showing by Casapinka and Chevron Cloud by Espace Tricot.
2017 Indie Untangled holiday newsletter giveaway
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As I have done for the past few years, I am giving back to the knitters who let me into their inboxes each week with a special holiday giveaway. For the 2017 Newsletters to Santa and Hanukah Harry giveaway, I’ve gathered together prizes from several artisans who were new to the Indie Untangled community this year and doing a string of giveaways (eight plus one) starting this Sunday and running through Christmas Day.
Here are the rules: Sign up for the Indie Untangled newsletter by 9 p.m. EST and you will be eligible to win that day’s prize (anyone already on the mailing list is entered to win). After 9 p.m., I’ll pick a winner via random number generator and send out an email. The winner will arrange shipment with the dyer/artisan. The grand prize will be a package of knitting stocking stuffers (with special Indie Untangled yarn) that I will ship out to the winner.
PLEASE NOTE: Winners must respond within 48 hours of when the notification email is sent to claim the prize. If not, another winner will be selected.
Here’s the schedule:
December 17: A skein of the winner’s choice from any in-stock color on either Nona, Sunna, Birte or Verdande from Spirit Trail Fiberworks
Congrats to winner Lynne!
December 18: A skein of the winner’s choice from any in stock yarns from Baad Mom Yarns
Congrats to winner Patricia!
December 19: One skein in the base and colorway of the winner’s choice from Old Rusted Chair
Congrats to winner Cassie!
December 20: A skein of 400-yard fingering weight, 80% Superwash Merino, 20% nylon in colorway Borealis and an enamel pin from Lavender Lune Yarn
Congrats to winner Christine!
December 21: “Last Christmas” on New Wave DK (75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon) from I Would Dye 4U
Congrats to winner Wendy!
December 22: One skein in the base and colorway of the winner’s choice from BigFootFibers
Congrats to winner Lynn!
December 23: A skein of DK weight yarn in the colorway Copper Lake from Color Craze Yarn & Fiber
Congrats to winner Joan!
December 24: One skein of Element Number Five on Shokan Singles (100% Superwash Merino fingering) from Into the Whirled
Congrats to winner Amy!
December 25: A mystery package of yarn and knitting stocking stuffers.
Congrats to winner Pat!
What to stash this week: Holiday knitaways and sales
Each day for the next 24 days, Alice of Backyard Fiberworks will be posting an Advent giveaway on Instagram. This year is even better than last year, as Alice is partnering with two dozen designers — including Kirsten Kapur, Alicia Plummer, Ambah O’Brien, Mary Annarella, Laura Aylor and Bristol Ivy — and matching up her yarn and their patterns for the ultimate prizes. Some designers are even offering some discounts around their giveaway, so you can still score something for sale even if you don’t win.
Sheila of BigFootFibers has the right idea. Instead of adding to the list of Black Friday weekend deals, she’s offering a much more laid-back sale. Use code indie15 for 15% off your purchase through December 8th. Be sure to check out Sheila’s kits for Joji Locatelli’s Gradient Band Cowl.
Speaking of post-Black Friday sales, the folks at Bijou Basin Ranch are offering save 15% off two of their most popular yarns, Lhasa Wilderness (75/25 yak/bamboo) and Shangri-La (50/50 yak/silk). There is no coupon needed, but orders must be placed by midnight Mountain time tomorrow, December 2nd.
We’ve officially entered Holiday Shopping Season, so you might want to let Santa or Hanukkah Harry know about the 2018 Indie Untangled Where We Knit yarn club. Next year, four indie dyer/designer teams — Hue Loco & SweaterFreak Knits, Pandia’s Jewels & C.C. Almon, Little Fox Yarn & Caitlin Hunter and Dark Harbour Yarn & Amy van de Laar — will collaborate on an exclusive colorway and accessory pattern inspired by the places they knit. You have until December 31st to drop hints — or just buy it for yourself.
You have until next Friday to reserve your skeins of La Bien Aimée’s Automne à Rhinebeck, available in both Merino Singles and Merino DK. Make sure your yarn arrives in the big box from Paris I’m expecting from Aimée in a few weeks!
Christine of Skeinny Dipping has dyed up her special Rhinebeck 2017 colorway on Journey Worsted and it’s now listed in her shop.
What to stash this week: Indie yarn Black Friday weekend deals
This list will be updated with new deals throughout the weekend.
With all the amazing Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday yarny deals being posted to the Indie Untangled marketplace, I didn’t want to be left out! I’m offering 15% off all in-stock yarn from The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers (including new Squish Bulky Superwash Merino for your holiday gift needs!) and Dark Harbour Yarn, as well as Stash Indie enamel pins and tote bags in the post-Rhinebeck pop-up, through Monday with the code INDIEFRIDAY. (Offer excludes La Bien Aimée preorders.)
Spirit trail is offering free U.S. shipping and discounted international shipping through Monday using the code CYBERMONDAY.
Everything in the Invictus Yarns shop, including new confetti skeins, is 15% off, no coupon code needed, through Tuesday. The sale will be valid for purchases over $20.
All yarns from McMullin Fiber Co. are 20% off through Tuesday. In addition, clubs are 10% off. PLUS, there’s a clearance section of discontinued bases and colorways with hefty savings of 40% off the regular price.
Bijou Basin’s Black Friday weekend sale reminds me of those Crazy Eddie commercials — INSANE. Not only is there free U.S. shipping, but they’re giving away free yarn with certain purchases.
Every item you purchase from Never Enough Thyme during the month of November will enter you into a giveaway for a set of Christmas mini skeins, an adorable project bag and some extra goodies.
Sarah of One Hand in the Dyepot is offering 15% off all full-sized skeins, no coupon needed, through Monday. Most of Sarah’s yarns are dyed as single skeins and therefore not repeatable. Perfect excuse!
Robynn of Studio Miranda is participating in the Indie Design Giftalong, so her patterns are 25% off on Ravelry. Click to learn more about this fun event!
Susan of With Pointed Sticks is having her annual Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale. Everything in the shop is 25% off through Monday, no coupon necessary.
Get free shipping from Marianated Yarns for Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday with coupon code GIVETHX. Use it for Knitmas Kits, Christmas colors or super jumbo bulky yarn for those last-minute gifts.
Lisa The Knitting Artist is offering 20% off with code SBSSALE starting Saturday, November 25, and running through midnight Central time on Tuesday. You’ll also receive a free watercolor greeting card, handmade and handpicked by Lisa.
Here’s a sale and a very cool New Dyer Alert. Brianne and Maureen of I Would Dye 4U create yarn inspired by the best music. Look for colorways such as True Colors and Take On Me on bases such as New Wave and Hair Metal. They’re also offering 20% off all ready to ship yarns in her Etsy shop on Monday!
It is stall fall, despite the music playing way too early, everywhere. Casapinka’s Crunching Leaves Cowl uses two colors of bulky yarn to create a woven effect. It’s a perfect addition to your fall (and, yes, winter) outfit — and a perfect quick gift.
Kim Dyes Yarn has teamed up with this Brew City Yarns to create a tribute to the Republic of Gilead. The 10 Handmaid’s Tale colorways go on sale tomorrow for Small Business Saturday, five at Kim’s website and five via Brew City Yarns. Limited quantities of mini skein sets of all 10 colorways will be available for purchase at both websites starting at 8 a.m. Eastern Saturday.
Katrina and her crew are offering 10% off yarn purchases and free shipping for orders over $100 through Monday, November 27 with the code GobbleGobble.
Everything in the JuneBug Fibers shop is 20% off through Monday.
Lavender Lune Yarn Co. is offering 20% off in her shop through Tuesday with code BLACKFRIDAY17. Indie Untangled readers get first dibs before Saturday!
Everything at in the Stitchjones Etsy shop is 25% off with coupon code HELLOFALL.
Little Fox Yarn is offering 15% off with the code THANKFUL15 through Tuesday.
Introducing: Knitting Our National Parks (plus a giveaway)
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Last fall at the Indie Untangled trunk show at Woolyn in Brooklyn, I was chatting with Alice of Backyard Fiberworks about collaborating with dyers on exclusive colorways and doing something to raise money for a good cause. This was a few weeks after the election and just before the holidays, so many of my knitting and non-knitting friends were feeling compelled to give back.
Alice asked me if I followed the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Instagram feed, which features gorgeous images captured by park employees and both amateur and professional photographers. She then came up with a brilliant idea: have dyers create colorways based on photos from the feed and donate a percentage of the profits to the parks.
I’m excited to finally debut this latest project, Knitting Our National Parks. Over the next year, several indies will get inspiration from the natural beauty found across the U.S. Dyers who have signed on for this year include Pigeonroof Studios, Jill Draper Makes Stuff and Duck Duck Wool, with others to participate in 2018. Vicki of That Clever Clementine will also be creating project bags with fun national parks-themed fabric. 10% of all yarn sales will be donated to the National Park Foundation.
Since this was Alice’s suggestion, she has kicked off the project with a colorway based on the above photo of North Cascades National Park in her native Washington State (fittingly, her father once worked in the park through the Youth Conservation Corps). The yarn is available to preorder now through June 30.
Another exciting part of this project was getting to work with the talented Erin Kate Archer, a fellow Brooklynite, on the Knitting Our National Parks illustration. I discovered Erin’s work while I was browsing knitting art on Etsy. Erin creates both travel watercolors and knitted landscapes, and I knew right away that her work would be perfect for this.
Erin has made prints of the illustration, inspired by Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State, available for sale. She has also generously donated a couple of her 8×10 prints as prizes, so I will be hosting a giveaway on the blog. To enter, comment here with your favorite U.S. national park, either that you’ve visited or hope to visit. The giveaway will run through midnight EDT on Friday, June 30 (which is also when preorders for Alice’s colorway close). A winner will be chosen via random number generator.
This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to winner Marie!
I hope you enjoy coming along with us on this fun journey through the parks!
Celebrating three years of Indie
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I’m sure you agree with me that time flies when you’re knitting. I can be doing the most mundane thing, including inching across the Manhattan Bridge on the Q train and, if I’m working on my latest WIP, I can almost (almost) forget the nonexistent “train traffic.”
Time has also flown for Indie Untangled, which officially launched three years ago, on April 4, 2014. Since then, I’ve sent out 157 weekly newsletters, published 766 Marketplace posts and welcomed hundreds of fellow fiberphiles to three Rhinebeck Trunk Shows. I’ve also given away countless skeins of yarn and, of course, some prizes are in order to mark this special occasion.
Today through Saturday I will be giving away three skeins on Instagram. Check the feed each day to learn about that day’s prize and how you can win.
Thanks so much for coming along on this yarn-filled journey with me!
What to stash this week: Anybody want a peanut?
It’s inconceivable that there are still Princess Bride bags and accessories available from Slipped Stitch Studios.
You bullet journalers will appreciate the new base from With Pointed Sticks. Fountain Pen, named after the height of luxury in writing instruments, is a blend of 70% Superwash Merino, 20% silk and 10% Cashmere. Susan’s also running an Instagram giveaway that ends today.
Just in time for the official start of baseball season (meaning spring training) Lindsay’s Pitch Cowl is a blend of triangles and parallelograms that recalls baseball stripes. A video tutorial is available for the more challenging bits.
Margaret of French Market Fibers is closing shop (::sob::) and is having the first of her final updates today at 11 a.m. Central.
Check out the new Sand Layers Shawl kit from Bijou Basin Ranch.
IU newcomer Andre Sue Knits creates artsy painted sock blanks that provides a beautiful yet unpredictable colorway for your project.
So many indie dyers. One email.