9th Annual Thank You Post!

Thank you for another great Yarn Party!

We had a really great time today and want to thank everyone who came and participated, despite the chilly weather! We had visitors from as far away as Louisiana, California, and the Philippines! Especially awesome this year: almost no line, and a nice steady stream of visitors throughout the day - thanks for your patience in accommodating the event before ours; everything went super smoothly.

Our generous sponsors:

• Cloverhill Yarn Shop
• Knit Locally
• The Knitting Boutique
• The Knot House
• Looped Yarn Works
• Nature’s Yarns
• Charm City Yarn Crawl
• Feel Good Yarn Company
• Second Story Knits
• Woolstock Knit and Sew

Door prize donors:

• Bonaparte Breads
• Nature’s Yarns
• Unicorn Fibre
• Woolstock Knit and Sew
• and all of our vendors (double thanks to those of you who also provided a volunteer door prize)

Our talented vendors:
All of our vendors make their own products in some way, whether that means raising the animals, dyeing the fiber, spinning the yarn, or crafting bags, jewelry, or pottery by hand in small batches. You can find profiles of each of the vendors on our blog, with links to their websites.

• 222 Handspun
• A Mermaid's Harvest
• APH Designs
• Claymonster Pottery
• Crabapple Yarns
• Dancing Leaf Farm
• Dragonfly Fibers
• Duck Duck Wool
• Fairy Tale Knits
• Feederbrook Farm
• Flying Goat Farm
• Folktale Fibers
• Greenbridge Pottery
• Kim Dyes Yarn
• Lattes & Llamas
• Metis Industries
• Middle Brook Fiberworks
• Neighborhood Fiber Co.
• Rajkovich Designs
• Snallygaster Fibers
• Space Cadet
• StarKnits
• Taylored Fibers
• Tempting Ewe Yarns Inc
• That Clever Clementine
• The Ross Farm
• Threeravens Fiber Studio
• Unplanned Peacock Studio
• Wandering Wool
• Wild Hare Fiber Studio
• Wolles Yarn Creations
• Yarn Hero

Our wonderful volunteers:
We couldn’t do this without you and truly appreciate all your hard work helping spread the word and ensuring everything comes together on the day of show.

• annewswissknits
  
• beppygirl
  
• BK-knitter
  
• claireleah
  
• cwashing
  
• darymaid
  
• dntzkat
  
• EmpirePhoenix
  
• feldmanknits
  
• geniap
  
• heiressknits
  
• imjustlori
  
• jhankie
  
• KatMacPet
  
• Klevitan17
  
• laurenhaiken
  
• LiisaB
  
• ljhaynes
  
• LuckbeaPanda
  
• marseille
  
• miscellaneaarts
  
• mizzleahmae
  
• moniz
  
• MtownKnitGuy
  
• pef1996
  
• pelageyka
  
• PhDelicious
  
• quest2knit
  
• Sandrag08
  
• selmer1958
  
• shawnknitter
  
• Su1282
  
• Tanno
  
• tcknit
  
• textilegeek
  
• TheManny
  
• TipsyTarsier
  
• vaacosta
  
• xavyor
  
• and some helpers whose ravnames I don’t know (sorry!): Cheryle, Elizabeth, and Lisa
  

Our teachers:

• geniap, ClaireLeah, TipsyTarsier, pelageyka, and laurenhaiken

Our selection committee, who have the difficult job of narrowing down the applicants to fit our space.

TAPS and Alternative House project and yarn donors and everyone who stopped by the charity tables to work a few rows on our scarves.

And everyone who came to shop and socialize and learn and be awesome together!

Please share your photos on Facebook and Ravelry!

We’ll see you next year for big # 10!

-Jess, Paula, Corrine, Lindsay, Theresa, and Cybele

9th Annual Homespun Yarn Party - Today's the Day!

Roads are clear and it's warm and dry inside the mill.  Come party with us!

Here's a round up of information about this year's event:

Where: Historic Savage Mill - 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763

When: Sunday, March 20, 2016 from 12-5pm

Admission is FREE!

Maps and venue information to plan your shopping

Classes, door prizes, HYP swag, spinning contest

2016 charity event at Homespun Yarn Party

As a reminder, there will be another event happening at the Mill before ours - carpool if you can and come later in the day to avoid the crowds.  We promise there will still be great yarn, fiber, prizes and other treasures.  We recommend parking in the West lot (at the far end of the mill), and you can usually find street parking in the neighborhood within a few streets.

We're excited and we hope you are too.  See you soon!

 

2016: Yarn Hero!

(Formerly Yarn Rescue)

I like to call myself a free-spirit crafter. I don't follow the rules, take notes, or let the technical aspects weigh me down. My subconscious takes over when I'm in creative mode. However at the same time, my yarns are practical, ready for you to create your own masterpiece.



Yarn Hero

2016: Wolle's Yarn Creations!

I am making beautiful Color Changing Cotton yarns -- the original gradients. My yarns are 100% cotton and super soft against the skin all year round. The nice drape, along with exciting colors, makes the yarn perfect for lacy shawls and summer tops alike.



Wolle's Yarn Creations

2016: Wild Hare Fiber Studio!

Color! Texture! Wow! Hand dyed yarns including black light reactive and gradient colorways. Textured handspun yarns. Fiber for spinners and felters including gradient braids, custom blends, batts, even 'vegan' fibers and linen blends. NEW this year: Weave-a-Round Circle looms, developed by Wild Hare Fiber Studio for easy portable weaving.



Wild Hare Fiber Studio

2016: Wandering Wool!

Wandering Wool sells a variety of wool and wool blend yarns, linen yarn and spinning fiber. In addition to semi-solid and variegated colorways, I specialize in gradient colorways with long color changes. All of my yarn and fiber is dyed by hand in my home studio.



Wandering Wool

Sponsor Profile: Knit Locally

1. What is your website? Email?

www.knitlocally.com    
Peggy@knitlocally.com

2. What is your Ravelry name/group?

knitlocally


3. Where are you located and what are your hours? 

We're located in a historic house nestled among the rolling hills of northern Montgomery County's beautiful agricultural preserve.  

Currently, we are open:

Thursdays: 12 - 6:30; Fridays 3 - 9; Saturdays 10 - 5; Sundays 12-5. We invite you to sit 'n stitch with us on Fridays from 6 - 9 and Sundays 2-5.  We will have expanded hours during the Metro Yarn Crawl, from April 1st to 10th.  

We also welcome knitting groups with a group discount, goody bags and refreshments, and will schedule special hours to accommodate your group. 

4. What kinds of things do you carry? 

We carry a large selection of American's finest artisan yarns, select international yarns, and hand-made jewelry.  Our yarns cover all your fiber needs, from basic to luxury yarns.

5. How long have you been in business, and what inspired you to open your business? 

Knit Locally recently celebrated its first anniversary.   I have finally fulfilled a lifelong dream of opening a yarn store. 


6. What's your favorite thing about having a LYS? 

The celebration of color and texture which envelopes you the moment you walk into the shop. It is instantly calming and uplifting. 

2016: Unplanned Peacock Studio!

Unplanned Peacock dyes yarn and fiber in unique colorways.  We also have patterns, forged shawl pins, drop spindles, and clay buttons.  Our products are all natural and exceptional quality.  Our favorite part of making our product is having delighted customers who show us the items they make with our products.



Unplanned Peacock Studio

2016: ThreeRavens Fiber Studio!

I am a former DJ who now spins yarn! I blend amazing fibers, colors, and textures into a tactile rainbow of awesome. I name my colorways after the music that I love. I also offer handmade tools and objects made from my yarn and fiber.



ThreeRavens Fiber Studio

2016: The Ross Farm!

We produce lovely minimally processed, natural fibers into roving and yarn from our flock of nearly a dozen Heritage an Rare Breeds of sheep. We raise 100 sheep on our Century Farm that's been in our family for over 120 years and bring their wool products to you in gorgeous natural colors!



The Ross Farm

2016: That Clever Clementine!

Got things to tote? Try my handmade project bags of all sizes and shapes, zipper wristlet clutches, snappy little notions pouches, and reversible fabric yarn bowls.

Customer comments? Got 'em!

"They are well made, attractive ... practical"

"The fabric's divine ... workmanship is absolutely superb ..."

"Best cootie catchers ever."

That Clever Clementine

2016: Tempting Ewe Yarns!

Tempting Ewe Yarns explores the rainbow with beautiful hand painted, kettle dyed yarns and fibers in a variety of weights. People knit, crochet, weave, spin and felt from our products. We've got a large local following in the Baltimore Metro area and we've also been featured on the Knitgirllls podcasts.



Tempting Ewe Yarns

2016: Taylored Fibers!

We offer fine hand dyed yarns and fibers and are known for our rich, vibrant colors. We're also known for our dyed fine alpaca yarn.



Taylored Fibers

2016: StarKnits!

I create what I call project support. Quality project bags in very useful shapes and sizes and fun attractive fabrics,  stitch markers (both knitting and crochet) and custom crochet hooks. I love helping to organize and protect your projects as you carry them around.



StarKnits

2016: SpaceCadet!

At SpaceCadet, we hand-dye yarn and fiber for knitters, crocheters, and spinners, with colours that we hand-mix from dyes in only the primary colours.  We focus on luxury yarns in merino, silk, cashmere, bamboo, and linen, and take our customers with us on a journey of colour exploration!



SpaceCadet

2016 Maps and Venue Info

(Click the image to enlarge)

Savage Mill is a super cute old complex that was once a fiber mill. It's got spinning areas, carding areas, weaving areas, and a cotton shed. You can read more about the history and renovation here. It's the perfect venue to hold us and our fiber fanatics!

Savage is just north of Laurel - get directions from your location here. It's pretty convenient from I-95, right off Rt 32. For your GPS, the address is 8600 Foundry Street, Savage, MD 20763.



Once you're at the mill, we'll be in the Great Room. There are maps around once you're in the door, so it shouldn't be hard to find us! Parking is easiest in the west lot - it gets pretty crowded in the closer lots!

This year, the Mill is holding an Easter Egg hunt at 11 am, so the Mill will be busier than usual at the start of the event.  Those activities are in the New Weave building; more information is on their events page.  Please be considerate of families/kids in the corridors and parking lot. We’d like to encourage the folks that tend to line up outside the room to come a little later this year, if you can, and carpool if possible! We promise you there will be tons of great yarn to check out all afternoon, and we will encourage vendors to hold back some of their best sellers until later in the day!  We'll be announcing new door prizes every 30 minutes.

Also, take some time to check out all the great antiques and furniture! There's a used book store, craft and scrapbooking stores, a bead shop, a game shop, and more to see! Save room for a delicious french pastry at Bonapartes or lunch at the Olive Leaf Bistro! The rest of the Mill is open until 6pm.  If the weather is nice, go for (or send your family on) a walk on the Savage Mill Trail or take a self-guided tour of Savage!

2016: Snallygaster Fibers!

We specialize in pooling sock yarns. This creates spiraling stripes as the sock is knit. Sometimes we dabble in hand-carded batts. This year we focused on 2 fingering weight bases: a superwash merino/nylon blend for durable socks and a luxe blend with a touch of cashmere for extra snuggle factor.



Snallygaster Fibers

2016: Rajkovich Designs!

I create unique accessories for fiber artists.  I use my jewelry making training to create beautiful shawl pins, earrings, knitting and spinning tools, and stitch markers. I make a wide variety of tools for the Portuguese knitter too. I am knitter making tools and jewelry for other fiber enthusiasts.



Rajkovich Designs

Classes, Prizes, HYP Swag, and the popular Longest Thread Contest!

For the last few years, we've run The Longest Thread Competition at Homespun Yarn Party. Its been such a hit, that we’re doing it again!

Bring your favorite drop spindle and 10g of the fiber of your choice. Everybody gets ten minutes to spin as much singles yardage as they can. The longest singles wins GLORY, and a prize.

Hope you join us!

Don't know how to spin on a drop spindle? We will teach you! We'll offer classes on knitting, crochet, and drop spindle throughout the day.  If you're a beginner looking to pick up a new craft, loaner needles and hooks and yarn will be provided for intro to knit and crochet lessons.  For the spinning lessons, you can purchase some fiber and a spindle from one of our lovely vendors or bring your own.

We're excited to bring you a new knitting class this year.  Bring a 3"x3" stockinette swatch on large needles with you and we'll teach you how to easily pick up a dropped stitch, add a yarnover when you realize you've missed it on a later row, and fix a twisted or accidentally purled/knitted stitch.  Bring a crochet hook appropriate for the yarn used in your swatch if possible. Picking up stitches will be easier with one.  

Classes are held at the center tables.  Space is limited and classes are first come, first served.

1:15 - Intro to Knitting

1:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)

2:15 - Intro to Crochet
2:45 - Intro to Drop Spindle (bring fiber & spindle)

3:15 - Advanced Beginner Knitting - Fixing Your Mistakes (bring your swatch, needles, and a hook)

3:45 - Longest Thread Contest (bring fiber & spindle)
4:15 - Intro Knit or Crochet or Sock Machine Demonstration

We'll have fantastic door prizes throughout the day, courtesy of our vendors and sponsors. You'll get a raffle ticket as you enter, and we'll draw winners every half hour. Prize packages will be on display at the HYP Door Prizes table - place your ticket in the jar for the prize you'd most like to win but make sure you'll be in the room when that ticket is drawn - you must be present to claim your prize.

Don't forget to bring your comfort monsters and scarves for TAPS and Alternative House and if you have any extra yarn you'd like to donate, Claire will be happy to take it off your hands at the Knitters and Crocheters Care table. Donors will be entered into a prize drawing.  Some hats and scarves will be started if you'd like to stop by and add a few rows.  You can read more about this year's project here.

We'll have Homespun Yarn Party bags, stitch marker boxes, key tags, tape measures, and buttons for sale at the HYP swag table just inside the door. If you don't have a swift and ball winder at home, or if you just can't wait to start working with your new purchases, we will offer winding for $2 a skein at the HYP Winding Station. All proceeds support future Homespun Yarn Party events.

Here's a preview...

Weather permitting, the adjacent deck will be available to hang out and socialize if you need a break from shopping.  If the deck is open and it's warm, we may also have some fun demos of wheel spinning, batt making, and an antique sock machine.  Keep your fingers crossed for lovely weather, but our vendors are all indoors so we are mud-free and dry, rain or shine!

2016: Neighborhood Fiber Co!

Neighborhood Fiber Co. began in the kitchen of a basement apartment in the LeDroit Park neighborhood of Washington, DC. Stirred by her surroundings, Karida Collins set out to provide the world with hand-dyed yarns inspired by and named to reflect the natural beauty and diverse neighborhoods throughout the nation’s capital. Since then, she has added many more colors to reflect a multitude of neighborhoods, both inside and outside of DC. Now based in Baltimore, MD, Neighborhood Fiber Co. continues to offer vibrant, one-of-a-kind colors inspired by urban landscapes.



Neighborhood Fiber Co