November 1st, 2013 was the day I officially joined Brooklyn Tweed in a professional capacity – this day marks the beginning of what has been for me a deeply rewarding journey. I am filled with gratitude as I write about this personal milestone of 10 years with BT, and I want to take this opportunity to share with you a few memories and observations I have made along the way.
Brooklyn Tweed's design coordinator Lis Smith is also a natural dyeing enthusiast! With all of the beautiful Fall colors around us this season, we asked Lis to share her suggestions for folks wanting to try natural dyeing at home with Brooklyn Tweed yarns.
In late 2021, G.J. Littlewood & Son, Inc., the historic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dye house that stock dyed the wool used to make Shelter, Loft, Quarry, Tones and Imbue, permanently closed due to severe flood damage sustained in September's Hurricane Ida. Suddenly, two-thirds of our yarn lineup was out of production, during an already challenging time for manufacturing – and the long-term loss of resiliency in our domestic supply chains meant that there was no back-up option to call on. The loss of Littlewood reverberated through the U.S. wool industry – and our small team needed to find a solution, fast....
Each time I add a new skein of yarn to my stash or a new pattern to my library, I am confronted with the question of “why?”. Why do I buy new yarn and new patterns when I already have so many that are ready to be used to create socks or shawls or sweaters or… whatever? The closest I can come to an answer that feels “right” is to say that I do it because of the idea of possibility. As a maker, when I see a skein of yarn my mind fills with the possibility of what that...
Clothing is wearable art that can tell thousands of stories without a single word being spoken. As knitters, crocheters, and fiber artists, we have the power to proliferate possibility and infuse our most authentic story into our creations stitch by stitch. Whether intentional or unintentional, decisions chosen when crafting a handmade creation compose all of the little puzzle pieces that influence the larger-picture and story called fashion. [Melodia Shawl by Janina Kallio] Makers have a special connection to fashion because every fiber industry role can influence dominant styles or trends within the culture - yarn companies creating fresh yarn, manufacturers...