Hello lovely fiber folk!
Ever wonder what a typical day looks like for someone who spends their time coaxing rainbows into skeins of yarn? While "playing with color all day" sounds like an absolute dream (and don't get me wrong, parts of it truly are!), the reality of running an indie dyed yarn business is a wonderful, chaotic, and surprisingly physical dance between artistry, science, admin, and a whole lot of washing up!
No two days are exactly the same, but let me give you a little peek into a recent "dye day" here at [Your Business Name], perhaps with a cup of Coeur d'Alene coffee in hand if you're local, or your favorite brew wherever you are!
6:30 AM: The Early Bird Gets the... Undyed Yarn? My day often starts before the sun has a chance to peek over the mountains. There’s a quiet magic to the early morning that’s perfect for planning. I’ll review orders, check my inventory of undyed yarns and dye stock, and map out what colorways I’m tackling. Today, it’s a mix: a restock of a popular variegated called "Forest Canopy," a custom order for a sweater quantity of a soft tonal blue, and two new experimental colorways I’ve been dreaming up, inspired by a recent hike.
8:00 AM: Prep & Soak – The Unseen Foundation Before any color hits the fiber, there’s prep. This means hauling out heavy bags of natural, creamy undyed yarn – merino, perhaps some Bluefaced Leicester, maybe a luxurious silk blend. Each skein needs to be carefully weighed and tied to prevent tangling. Then, it’s into the soaking tubs they go, with a bit of citric acid to help the dye take beautifully. This soaking time is crucial; it ensures even color absorption. While they soak, I’m mixing dye stocks – a process that feels part chemistry, part alchemy. Measuring tiny amounts of potent dye powders, dissolving them carefully, and creating the exact shades I’ve envisioned. Yes, my hands are already probably a peculiar shade of blue or pink.
10:00 AM: Let the Dyeing Commence! This is where the real fun begins, and also where things can get delightfully messy! Depending on the technique, I might be:
- Kettle Dyeing: Gently simmering yarn in a large pot with layers of dye for those gorgeous, subtly shifting tonals.
- Hand-Painting: Laying out skeins and carefully applying dyes with squirt bottles or brushes for those unique variegated or speckled effects. This is where "Forest Canopy" comes to life, with layers of deep greens, earthy browns, and surprising pops of chartreuse.
- Immersion Dyeing: For solid or semi-solid colors, ensuring the yarn is fully submerged and the dye is evenly distributed.
Each method requires patience, careful temperature control, and an eye for how the colors are interacting. It’s a very hands-on process – stirring, turning, adding a speckle here, a drizzle there. Music is almost always playing in the background!
1:00 PM: Lunch Break & The Waiting Game While some yarns are "cooking" or setting, it’s time for a quick lunch and a chance to catch my breath. This is also when I might tackle some of the less glamorous but equally important tasks: responding to emails, planning social media posts (got to show off those pretties!), or even wrestling with the never-ending joys of bookkeeping.
2:00 PM: Rinse, Rinse, Repeat (and Rinse Again) Once the dyes have set, it’s time to rinse. And rinse. And rinse. This is a critical step to remove any unabsorbed dye particles. It’s also very wet work! Each skein is carefully rinsed in cool water until the water runs perfectly clear. This ensures that when you wash your finished projects, you won’t have any unfortunate color surprises.
4:00 PM: The Great Squeeze & Hang-Out After rinsing, excess water is gently squeezed or spun out. Then, every single skein is hung up to dry. My studio (or sometimes, on a beautiful North Idaho day, a sheltered spot outside) transforms into a colorful gallery of dripping yarn. It can take 24-48 hours for yarn to dry completely, depending on the fiber and the humidity.
5:30 PM: Winding Down (Sort Of) As the day winds down, there’s the cleanup – oh, the cleanup! Dye pots scrubbed, a rainbow of spills wiped, tools cleaned and put away. I might also take this time to admire the nearly-dry skeins, already imagining what they’ll become in your talented hands. Perhaps a quick photo session if the light is good.
Evening: The Other Side of the Skein Evenings often involve more computer time – updating the website with new stock (once it’s dry, twisted, and labelled, of course!), engaging with our wonderful online community, or planning for the next market. And yes, sometimes, I even get to knit or crochet with my own yarn!
It’s a labor of love, truly. From that first spark of inspiration to a beautifully labeled skein ready for its new home, every step is infused with care and passion. So, the next time you pick up a skein of indie-dyed yarn, I hope you’ll have a little glimpse into the colorful, busy, and incredibly rewarding world it came from.
With colorful wishes,
Heather