A Magazine of Many Arts

Stories in Yarn

Creating art yarn is an abstract exercise, using only strokes of color in a thin strand (and the texture of those strands) to create something new, something a knitter can fall in love with. Yet, for me, color has the possibility to recall stories, personalities. As a lover of stories in general, this keeps me exploring the medium of this most basic of the fiber arts.

Bad Girl Maleficent

“Bad Girl Malificente”

I started spinning because all the kids were doing it. No, really–my homeschooling younger siblings and their peers were all learning how from a close friend. Not being a kid, it was a little embarrassing to be the last to pick it up. It would be more embarrassing to never learn, though. A lot of secret practice later, and I actually got a job at a tourism-focused sheep farm because of this skill.

It was there I got a chance to explore the dimension color could have in a yarn. One of the sheep breeds on the farm is Jacob Sheep, who are spotted and have a naturally two-tone fleece. Spinning up a roll of that wool, watching the balance of black and white shift to create texture was fascinating. Like dominos falling, was the thought that crossed my mind, or moonlight on cobweb by night. Not long after, I was given some beautiful dyed wool. I spun the soft blue up with gray and white natural wool I had, like clouds against sky. When I was finished, the colors were strongly reminiscent of Haku, in the film Spirited Away.

Memories of Haku

Memories of Haku

It was ridiculous—it was enthralling.

I’ve since realized that I associate things strongly by color palette, be it movies, places, or even the ones imagined from the descriptions in a book. When setting up my yarn shop, and checking out the competition, I found that I wasn’t the only one doing this. Not by a long shot–artisans crave inspiration.

Arabian Nights by Weird and Twisted:

Arabian Nights

Weird and Twisted Etsy store

Mei from the Totoro Tribute series by quovadishandspun

Mei

quovadishandspun Etsy Store

I’ve always been a fan of Impressionism, using broad streaks of color to invoke an image and mood, and treat my yarns as that sort of canvas. In the end, my work is not even a finished product. I just take colors, focused by stories I love, to makee material for yet another artisan to create with.

As my skill catches up with my ambition (never for long, but it does happen) I try to create skeins that use not only the multiple plies for dimension, but also the length, the texture. My Phoenix Spiral yarn is one of my best so far, and it followed a very specific narrative arc, each step from death, rebirth, maturity, back into fiery death and rebirth as the yarn would be knit up. The knitter’s finished object will have a narrative built into it.

Phoenix Spiral

Phoenix Spiral

I love working in an old art, with new inspiration. It’s exciting to be part of a revival of hand-made materials, and also a wave of geek-themed art, too. The best part, though, is being able to turn around after encountering a piece of art in another medium and celebrate it by drawing out its colors.

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