55% BFL , 45% Silk 875 yds. 100 gm Pairs the natural lustrous qualities of Bluefaced Leiscester and Silk. This blend has been deeply combed so that no fiber will rise to the top. Perfect for that special shawl or for use in your next weaving project. This blend makes a great warp.
400 yds, 100 gms. 80% SW Merino, 20% Silk A luscious blend of superwash merino and silk. The sheen of the silk shines through, adding depth to the colors. The softness of merino with the sheen of silk makes this perfect for that special pair of handknit socks or the special project that screams luxurious.
75% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon, 5% Stellina 438 yards, 100 grams A sparkling superwash merino, nylon and stellina blend that is soft and glittery. This plied yarn has excellent stitch definition while providing a sparkle to any of your knitted or crocheted projects.
100% Superwash Merino 246 yds, 100 gm This is a heavy DK, Light Worsted yarn. The softness of merino wool is perfect for next-to-the-skin knits. Perfect choice for that next sweater or cardi project. This plump yarn makes great hats and mittens as well. This yarn is a 4-ply, round yarn with a great twist.
100% Superwash Merino 181 yds 100 gm This is a traditional Aran weight yarn. It is a 3-ply, superwash and is round and springy. It is perfect for sweaters, cowls and hats.
55% BFL , 45% Silk 875 yds. 100 gm Pairs the natural lustrous qualities of Bluefaced Leiscester and Silk. This blend has been deeply combed so that no fiber will rise to the top. Perfect for that special shawl or for use in your next weaving project. This blend makes a great warp.
400 yds, 100 gms. 80% SW Merino, 20% Silk A luscious blend of superwash merino and silk. The sheen of the silk shines through, adding depth to the colors. The softness of merino with the sheen of silk makes this perfect for that special pair of handknit socks or the special project that screams luxurious.
75% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon, 5% Stellina 438 yards, 100 grams A sparkling superwash merino, nylon and stellina blend that is soft and glittery. This plied yarn has excellent stitch definition while providing a sparkle to any of your knitted or crocheted projects.
100% Superwash Merino 246 yds, 100 gm This is a heavy DK, Light Worsted yarn. The softness of merino wool is perfect for next-to-the-skin knits. Perfect choice for that next sweater or cardi project. This plump yarn makes great hats and mittens as well. This yarn is a 4-ply, round yarn with a great twist.
100% Superwash Merino 181 yds 100 gm This is a traditional Aran weight yarn. It is a 3-ply, superwash and is round and springy. It is perfect for sweaters, cowls and hats.
I am a Black woman who is the mother of two young adult Black men. My husband is Black. In addition to teaching our boys to be contributing members of society, we had “the Talk” with them when they reached adolescence. “Be careful how you carry yourself outside of the house.” “If you get stopped… View more
What are you doing while on lockdown? Are you cooking more meals for your family? Are you pulling out those old WIPs and trying to finish them off? Are you replenishing your stash through online shopping at your favorite LYS or indie dyer? Are you just spending more time with your family? I hope you… View more
Hello Fiber Friends, Chicken Coop Dyeworks has been fairly silent since the Covid-19 pandemic hit our shores. Like many of you, we have had to adjust to the new normal, working remotely and hunkering down in our homes to help stop the spread of this awful virus. Getting set up to work from home… View more
The holidays are completed for 2019 and a new year has begun. I look back on this past year and realize that even with several tragic losses, my family and I have so much for which to be thankful. One of the things I’m most thankful for are you, my customers, who constantly encourage me… View more
It’s been some time since I’ve posted on this blog. Life has been so hectic! Within the past year, we have acquired a number of sheep, all ewes! They are just the sweetest animals imaginable. They are also hilarious. I have named them after comediennes: Lucy, Ethel, Phyllis, Gilda, Wanda, Tiffany, Laverne and Shirley. Lucy… View more
The dust has been cleaned out of the Coop! I’m happy to be back live. In case any of you were wondering what has been going on, many things! As you know, I still work full time and have been involved in many fiber festivals this past year. I have been blessed to obtain two wholesale accounts and I’m planning on obtaining a third in the near future. Currently, in brick and mortar, you can find my yarn at A Sheep at the Wheel in Georgetown, Texas and at Quixotic Fibers in Whitesboro, Texas. I have also been in the process of moving away from Etsy onto this site, where I have more control of how my products appear and have the ability to reach out to my customers easily.
I have been experiencing what I call Dyer’s Block. Vague ideas of new colorways die (no pun intended) in the dust, half visualized. I usually get my inspiration from music, music lyrics, poetry and sometimes prose. Many times the colorways spring to mind when I’m tending the chickens, the dogs or the sheep, just feelings I feel when the sheep are jumping around or baa-ing for the alfalfa and sweet feed in the bucket I’m carrying. Sometimes I get inspiration from something that I see – usually a fleeting glimpse of something strange or unique. Usually I can conjure something in my mind from my surroundings. Hasn’t been happening lately.
It’s the holiday season and Christmas is fast approaching. I usually have a problem this time of year: last minute emergencies on the 9-to-5 that gobble time, finding the perfect decorations for the house because last year’s decorations are so…last year! Trying to figure out that special gift for the special people in my life – leaves my brain feeling like mush. And the malls!!! I abhor shopping during the Christmas season, too many people and too few registers open for check out! Let’s just say, I’m not one of those people who has their holiday shopping done by Halloween. Thank goodness for ordering online — if you order early enough to get delivery before Christmas, that is! These headaches are enough to make my addled brain fallow soil for planting the seeds of any spirit let alone the Christmas Spirit.
But inevitably I see something that brings that Christmas spark to life, strong and warm enough to plant that seed of the Christmas spirit in my fallow brain, and not unlike the Grinch, my heart swells three times larger full of Christmas cheer. This year, it was Christmas trees – a particular tree that I saw on – of all places – Facebook:
A friend of mine, who has lived in Italy, posted a picture of a tree from Tornino, Italy. This tree moved me: I love the design. It reminds me of mosaic knitting or of a cowichan sweater – knitted in colors rather than in neutrals and I see the hints of a colorway forming in my brain.
This led me to take notice of other unique trees, and there are many out there. The one that resonated the most with me is this Grinch tree. So perfect in its imperfections. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about? The beauty of humanity’s imperfections, the love we should have for each other, despite our faults and differences because He loved us enough to become imperfect to make great His creation.
I realized I already had the perfect colorway for this holiday: Christmas Cedars. It is a colorway that I dyed in a limited amount last year. It reminded me of my childhood – lying in snow under an evergreen tree being decorated outside with Christmas lights. You could see the lights twinkling among the boughs of evergreen and snow. So I’m bringing it back, again, in a limited run. It will be dyed only on my Twinkle Toes base. After all, Christmas trees must have sparkle! You can custom order this colorway from now through the end of the year. Just send me a message through this website with the number of hanks you would like and I will send you an invoice within 24 hours. I will ship the orders I receive beginning the week of December 17th. Because it is Christmas, there is no minimum order size for this base. Shipping will be free for orders of 3 hanks or more. Lastly, with the movement to my own website, you have the ability to purchase Gift Cards for those knitter friends of yours. For a knitter, a gift card for yarn is the gift that keeps on giving! You can find Gift Cards in the Shop and they are sold in $25 increments. You can purchase as many as you like!
I hope this Christmas season will be filled with happiness and wonder for all and that the New Year brings new adventures and more happiness to each of you. I know for Chicken Coop Dyeworks, some new things are coming. In the first quarter of 2019, I will be announcing the first subscription plan, among a few other fun things coming to the Coop. Stay tuned! I promise it won’t be a year before my next blog post!
Hi Fiber Enthusiasts! My name is Carol and I’m a yarnaholic. I love yarn – almost all types: yarns that are highly plied and yarns that are singles; bulky through lace-weight; tonals, solids and variegated, and all types of blends. I created Chicken Coop Dyeworks to enable my yarn addiction and to also share my… View more