Steph Gorin, Loop

1. What is your website?
www.loop.etsy.com

2. Your Ravelry username?
loop

3. Where are you located?
Riverdale Park, MD

4. What do you make?
I specialize in one-of-a-kind batts for art yarn spinners called "Spontaneous Spinning Batts". I also make handspun yarn.



5. Do you make fiber/yarn/etc. full-time?
Yes! :)

6. How did you get into making stuff?
I've always been "creative" but it manifested itself in my life through dance and creative writing as a kid and young adult. I'd always envied artists who made something tangible, but never seemed to find my medium. Years later, my mother-in-law tried to teach me how to knit and instead of being a good student of knitting I became obsessed with yarn. I googled spinning lessons in my area and found my spinning teacher and mentor.

7. How long have you been doing this?
I've been selling for almost three years, but started getting into spinning and carding almost four years ago.

8. Where do you find inspiration?
Making batts is like developing photos in a darkroom but it's better. As I card the different colors onto the drum, the batt appears to me slowly, like a photograph. But the real hook for me with batts is three-dimensional. I love texture and am fascinated with the variety of textures found in different animal and plant fibers. Making batts is an endless experiment in combining color and texture. I'm inspired by each discovery.

9. Any funny stories, words of wisdom, something else to share about you or your business?
My goal is to make hand-carded batts and handspun yarns that are as beautiful as the finished objects produced by those who use them. By focusing on supplies, and not on the end product, I feel like I'm able to share my affinity for fiber with many other crafters. This artistic collaboration is what drives my work. Nothing motivates me more than seeing my customers' finished projects.



Loop was with us in 2008 too! See her bio here.