Indie Untangled Everywhere Untangling: 29 Bridges Studio

By Lisa | September 23, 2020

This is the third in a series of blog posts featuring the fabulous sponsors of Indie Untangled Everywhere, taking place from October 15-17, 2020.

It’s always so fascinating to hear what people did before they took on the official title of Indie Dyer. While Mary of 29 Bridges Studio has a professional background — working in various positions a large, federal medical library — that doesn’t seem to overlap with her business slinging yarn, her college education was heavy on the fiber arts.

I got to meet Mary during the Business Untangled event that I organized back in January. This is my first time working with her through Indie Untangled and I’m looking forward to sharing her yarns in the marketplace.

Tell me about how you got started dyeing yarn.

I was very fortunate to discover the fiber arts program at my college. I was not pursuing a studio art degree but needed a creative outlet. The first time I saw a floor loom I was in love. I focused my program on weaving and learned to dye the yarn and fiber for my projects.

In my college program, after I completed the first two required courses I continued in an “independent study.” I did this for two years and also included textile history and a science-based class that included testing and analysis. My weaving work was shown in juried student art shows.

After college, I focused on my career, but in 2016 dyeing started calling to me. I jumped back in, was accepted to my first market in 2017, and I’m looking forward to what the future brings.

What’s the significance of the name 29 Bridges?

The name “29 Bridges Studio” is inspired by my hometown, Pittsburgh – the city of bridges. The bridges connect the diverse communities of the city and you can’t go anywhere in Pittsburgh without crossing a bridge. To me, my company name also symbolizes the bridges and connections we are building in our fiber community. Yarn and fiber have a way of bringing people together and I’m lucky to work with amazing people in this industry.

Do you have a favorite color or colors, and have they changed since you became a dyer?

My favorite color is a nice dark mustard. I will buy things just because they are mustard colored not because I need them. I am a neutral lover at heart which may seem incongruous with being a dyer but that’s my jumping off point for anything I dye. I start neutral and then add color.

Is there a color that you would love to dye, but that is challenging to create?

Anything really bright. Dyeing with bright colors stresses me out but I hope to conquer them someday.

Can you share some of your plans for Indie Untangled Everywhere?

We’re very excited to debut some new samples for project inspiration (with kits!) as well as a new Indie Untangled Everywhere-inspired color.

When and how did you learn to knit?

I was an artistic and crafty kid and making was always my happy place. When I was five, I pretended to be sick so that I could stay home from school and hang out with my mom. That day she taught me to knit with some 1970s gold-mustard yarn. This might be why my favorite color is mustard!

What are some of your favorite FOs you or your customers have made with your yarn?

I’m always blown away when I see something that a customer has made with my yarn. Fiber and yarn lovers are so creative and the combinations that they put together are as unique as they are.

I remember the first time that a customer came up to me at an event in sweater she had knit my yarn. I was speechless. It was an Alyeska sweater and it was gorgeous. I like to think that I make the colors and my customers paint the masterpiece.

What’s currently on your needles?

I’m working on the sleeves of a Felix sweater using my own DK MCN in Aubergine. So as not to embarrass myself, I won’t tell you how long I’ve been working on it! But I think my timing is going to be perfect because the leaves are turning and sweater weather is right around the corner.

What to stash this week: Dipping into fall

By Lisa | September 18, 2020

Heather of Sew Happy Jane has teamed up with designer Makenzie Alvarez of Hanks and Needles on the River’s Edge pattern collection, which is a beautiful compromise between full-fledged sweater and easy accessory. The collection is inspired by the quiet banks of a winding river, with a simple cabled design that showcases a tonal hand-dyed yarn. The seamless cardigan features a flowing cable panel down the back and has a unique construction that allows you to work the collar and the body at the same time. If you’re not in a sweater frame of mind, the one-skein River’s Edge Hat is a small taste of a similar cable pattern.

Both patterns are 25% off through this Monday, and Heather has dyed-to-order listings with suggested colorways at a discounted price on a choice of three DK base yarns.

⁣What’s more adorable than hedgehogs? Hedgehogs in Halloween costumes! They are 10% off in the WeeOnes shop through Sunday, no coupon code needed.

Deb of Spruce Lane Designs’ latest sweater design, Variation on a Twist, is a top down, short- (yes!) or long-sleeved DK-weight pullover with a simple garter and twisted stitch pattern that adorns the yoke.

Stefania and Giulia of Lanivendole are offering their very first Advent Calendar. They include 24 mini skeins plus one full skein of A Chic Blend, a fingering-weight blend of Italian wool, mohair and alpaca, and a set of hand-molded stitch markers from Carla of Laboratorio Indie.

Heather of Pumpkins and Wool has released 10 new multicolored tweed colorways and 10 new neutral tweed colorways, plus five new colorways of mohair/silk.

Sign-ups are open for the September installment of the Queen City Yarn Studio Series Yarn Club.

What to stash this week: To dye for

By Lisa | September 11, 2020

The new La Cave à Laine Aquarelle Collection consists of organic cotton that Sara sources from eco-conscious European suppliers and dyes with fiber reactive dyes in her atelier in Alsace, France.

The fall collection from Constance of Les laines Coco has a base of rich browns, soft yellows and deep reds, which are complemented by bright pink mohairs, as well as pops of orange moss green.

Emily of Kitty With A Cupcake is also celebrating fall today with the debut of her Autumnal Equinox Hat and Autumnal Equinox Mitts. Both designs are dotted by acorns formed by slipped stitch cables with seed stitch. Both patterns are being featured at Knits & Knots Tahoe for the Sierra Nevada Yarn Crawl.

Join designer Paula Pereira at Virtual Knitting Live, where she’s teaching a class on knitting her trademark Petite Boxy-style sweater, which features a fitted yoke, fitted sleeves, some ease on the body and a “kinda” cropped shape that is flattering on all bodies.

It’s time for tweed! the latest Eden Cottage Yarns update features new batches of her tweedy Keswick Fingering and Keswick DK. Use it for a revamped version of the Chromium scarf, designed by Mr. ECY, David O’Kelly.

Marny Kindness designed her Rhody Love Hat as a love letter to her home state of Rhode Island, ideal for exploring Providence or walking on the beach. The yarn is from fellow RIer Jill of Jilly and Kiddles.

Misfit Yarns’ fall colors — which include Lake Michigan Sunset, Fiery Foliage, Rustic Harvest, Monarch and PSL — are now available on two new bases: MCN and Merino Camel.

Fiberdog Fibers is having a yarn sale.

What to stash this week: time flies

By Lisa | August 21, 2020

Time has flown for Barbara of Spencer Hill Naturally Dyed Yarn, whose unique yarns are inspired by the authors or literary characters who inspire us. She’s about to celebrate 10 years in business. To mark the festivals and events where she’s gotten to meet many of her customers, she was planning to have an anniversary sale at her fall shows. Instead, she’s taking the sale online. Starting today and running through August 28, you’ll get 10% off every purchase in her shop and free shipping on purchases of $100 or more.

I’m extending preorders of Birch Hollow Fibers’ ethereal Stardust In Basin colorway through this Sunday. The yarn, available on Sylvia Sock and Phillis DK, is inspired by a photo taken by Eric Ritchie at Great Basin National Park in Nevada. 20% of sales will be donated equally to the National Park Foundation and the NDN COVID-19 Response Project (the NDN is an Indigenous-led organization dedicated to building Indigenous power).

The other day, I was reminded of Mina Philipp of Knitting Expat Designs’ Roadwipping Cowl, designed for the 2019 Where We Knit Yarn Club with Rebecca of Fuse Fiber Studio. Sadly, Rebecca is no longer dyeing, but the May 2020 colorway from Shani of Bleu Poussière, created with natural dyes, would be perfect for this one-skein design. The yarn is available to preorder on Indie Untangled only through this Sunday.

Mary Annarella’s latest design pays homage to the cute cardigans worn by the character of Bernadette in The Big Bang Theory. You can get the fingering-weight pattern at 30% off on Ravelry or Payhip with the code “feelthebern” now through Sunday.

Sample Dana’s yarn with the Un Besito Snack Pack. The packs come with a dozen 10g yarn balls of Smooches Fingering Weight Merino/nylon yarn peeking through the window of a fun bakery box. Many of these sets are limited editions, so grab them while you can!

Robynn’s Concrete Jungle is a simple lace knit that will help keep away the upcoming small chill. It’s available for 20% off until Sunday on Ravelry and Payhip.

Monica of Gothfarm Yarn is all about the gray, from a blend of Jacob Sheep wool and black mohair to Nebelung, a matte-steel blend of carbonized bamboo and Coopworth sheep locks.

Knit a tam from Sheepscot Harbor Yarns.

What to stash while you get ready for Indie Untangled Everywhere

By Lisa | July 31, 2020

Heather of Sew Happy Jane, who is one of our Indie Untangled Everywhere vendors, is opening preorders tomorrow for her 2020 Advent Calendars, designed to bring that cozy, comforting feeling we need right now.

Selena of Sweater Sisters is having a huge clearance sale to make way for fall yarns. Two of her luxury fingering bases are 40% off. It’s also time once again for her Mini Sweater Challenge.

The latest mystery box from Michelle of Crafty Flutterby Creations is totally pawsome. You have your choice of cat or dog, notions only, pin and notions, or cuff and notions. Subscribers will also be the first to get two new shapes of end minders inspired by our four-legged family members.

The latest design from Amanda of Handmaine Knits, the Floret Wrap, is a botanically-inspired brioche trapezoid that comes in a three-color version and a six-color gradient version.

The Mermaids in the Waves shawl MKAL from Softyarn Designs is no longer a mystery. Join in and chat along, and enter to win prizes, including a gift card from dyer Jilly and Kiddles.

Amanda of Wild Hair Studio has a Lord of the Rings-inspired spinning Advent calendar.

What to stash this week: Sweater architecture

By Lisa | July 24, 2020

Caroline of The Noble Thread was inspired by the architecture of this vibrant London neighborhood for her latest sweater design. Called Notting Hill, this short-sleeved, tee captures the geometry of the row houses with simple slip stitches. The sample is knit in a natural, undyed alpaca, Merino and silk blend, with a naturally-dyed contrast color in a non-superwash Merino held with a strand of mohair silk. There’s plenty of freedom to explore and customize the length of the sweater, which doesn’t require shaping, and the size inclusive pattern offers a finished bust circumference from 34” to 70”. To celebrate its release, Notting Hill will be free until today at 11:59 p.m. PDT and there are kits on Caroline’s website.

Stefania and Giulia of Lanivendole are taking lemons and debuting yarn with a literal new twist. Their new base, Twisty Chic — a batch of A Chic Blend spun with the wrong parameters by the mill — has a bit more twist, but that just means it has much better stitch definition and color saturation. The update goes live today at 8 p.m. CEST.

Jillian of WeeOnes is heading to the skies this week, with shiny raven and tropical toucan stitch markers, along with ocean-dwelling octopus friends.

7th Floor Yarn is collaborating with Michele Costa of 144 Stitches on East Bound, a new multicolored shawl that uses their DK Yak/Silk/Merino — and comes in both a knit and crochet version. Use the code INDIE for free shipping.

Emily’s new sock pattern, Happy Haunts, is inspired by the classically creepy decor of one of our favorite haunted mansions.

Augusta of ADKnits has new wildflower-themed items, including progress keepers with charms featuring dried flowers cast in resin.

The next Eden Cottage Yarns update on Tuesday features plenty of sock yarn, including Tempo 4ply for Vikki Bird’s Seed Head sock pattern, which is raising money for The Flower Power Fund.

Take care of your hard-working hands with Elderwood Apothecary’s Maker’s Hand Relief, which promises to provide healing nourishment to your skin without leaving your hands feeling oily.

Congrats to our Super Special KAL winners!

By Lisa | July 17, 2020

Back in March, I decided back to launch the Indie Untangled Super Special KAL so we’d have some fun knitting incentives. Not that we really need prizes, let alone a pandemic, to inspire our crafting mojo, but it is nice to have deadlines.

Over three months, there were 70 total entries, including 16 in the sock category and 15 in the sweater category (but only one in the new bralette category, which surprised me!). Last week, I selected 15 winners in eight categories via random number generator. Here are the winning FOs (please note that the links go to Ravelry).

What to stash this week: Scrappy and toasty

By Lisa | July 3, 2020

Crista Jaeckel just updated her online shop with several colorful, summer-ready project bags of various sizes, including popular notion zipper bags and quilted tote bags that utilize fabric scraps to reduce waste.

Kate of McMullin Fiber Co has opened signups for her July/August Sweater Quantity Discount colorway, in which she takes preorders for one colorway in order to offer a close to wholesale discount, making a hand-dyed garment more accessible. Called Black Magic, the latest colorway is a coal black with hints of purple and teal.

Monica of Gothfarm Yarn has introduced two more naturally-colored yarns: Arkose, a blend of Rambouillet Merino, white mohair and red Huacaya alpaca, and Muskeg, a mix of amber mohair and dark brown Rambouillet Merino.

What to stash this week: A woolly palette

By Lisa | June 19, 2020

Tavolozza is a collaboration between Stefania and Giulia from Lanivendole and Sara from La Cave à Laine. Kits, which are available to preorder through June 26, include a full skein of A Heavenly Blend in the natural gray of Aquilana wool, Italian alpaca and Italian cashmere, three minis of A Chic Blend (Brogna wool, Italian alpaca and Italian mohair) in a range of color choices and either a hand-sewn zippered pouch or a hand-dyed organic cotton tote bag that Sara prepared especially for this collaboration.

Celebrate summer with the Aleutian Fade, the colorway from Jenn of Cedar House Yarns based on a blue gradient forming the Kachemak Bay Mountains at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. This colorway is available to preorder through next Friday.

A portion of sales from this installment will support both the National Park Foundation and the NFC Momentum Fund, Neighborhood Fiber Co.’s donor-advised charitable fund at the Baltimore Community Foundation that will disperse contributions to a variety of organizations working for justice, empowerment and equality.

Jillian of WeeOnes‘ polymer clay stitch markers bring that extra bit of joy to your WIP. Her new rainbow sheep are at a special 15% off discount for the rest of June, and there’s a menagerie of adorable creatures.

Whether you hear Tiny Dancer or Tony Danza, you’ll want to sing along to Mary Annarella’s latest pattern. It’s designed to help you use up a skein or two of variegated sock yarn, minis, or even leftovers, and it’s 30% off through June 22.

Jennifer of Maelstrom Fiber Arts‘ latest colorways, Barefoot in the Grass, Bourbon & Lime and Luminous are inspired by her patio garden. Looking ahead, she’s also taking orders for an October Mystery Gift Box.

Amy of Amy’s Trinket Shop makes her glass beads stitch markers at her kitchen table, surrounded by her kids, husband and dogs, all waiting to see the new trinkets she’s created.

What to stash this week: Rainier redux

By Lisa | May 15, 2020

Heather of Earl Grey Fiber Arts’ Mount Rainier-inspired colorway is back in the Indie Untangled shop as a rare preorder to coincide with this week’s Virtual Knitting LIVE! event. Heather will be joining me in my virtual shop tomorrow at 6 p.m. EDT to discuss her colorway! To join in, you can get marketplace tickets here. The colorway is available to preorder only until Monday, May 18 and then it will go back into the Knitting Our National Parks vault.

Stephanie of SpaceCadet Yarns had been a little uncertain about the renewal for her InterStellar Yarn Alliance, which was scheduled to happen in mid-March. But, she began receiving emails from members asking if it was time to renew, and realized it was time to reopen sign-ups.

Sign-ups for the club — which includes yarn in an exclusive colorway every other month, a special gift, a coupon and access to an otherworldly community of members cheering you on — are open only through this Monday, May 18.

Selena of Sweater Sisters has collaborated with Tiam Safari of KNITSAFARI Designs on Viola, a modern V-neck sweater pattern. Tiam designed this sweater using Wayfaring Yarns Arcadia DK, a 100% Superwash extra fine Merino and there are kits available in four colors.

Session 2 of the Nutmeg Fiber Arts DyeSigner Alliance, which ships out in August, brings together Brooke Sinnes of Sincere Sheep and Julie Robinson, AKA Julia At Work.

Kate of McMullin Fiber Co. has opened up preorders for her May/June Sweater Quantity Discount colorway. She also has a few spots open for her very first literary Advent Calendar, “Dreaming of a Classic Christmas” inspired by the Penguin Clothbound Classics collection.

Emily’s Foul Temptress cowl is made for those tempting skeins you just have to buy, and uses just 200 yards of sport or fingering weight yarn.

Sweater

Knitting Our National Parks

Shawl

Cowl

Mitts

Socks

Bralette

Hat