February 21, 2013

Making yarn takes time, money & energy and has become more difficult over the years for small brands like Jill`s with limited numbers of US sheep farms producing wool and even more limited options for turning that wool into yarn at smaller scale.

Jill says "In the 15 years I`ve been making yarn in the US it has only gotten harder every year. As with all things, costs have gone up, but in addition to that, mills and farms have closed, leaving so many fewer options for onshore manufacturing, even as people seem to be more interested in domestically produced products."

We`re celebrating LYS Day this weekend, so our class schedule is a little lighter than usual. Join us for an independent study or learn to knit a lace blanket! We`ll be back with more classes next week, but in the meantime earn double rewards on Saturday and join us for a day of fun in space!

Book your spot: http://fibrespace.com/classes/

We asked Jill Draper what she`d like people to know about her work and here’s what she said, "A thing I think makes JDMS yarns special is that I design each one from the fiber up. I buy the wool directly from the people that raise it without middlemen, assuring they get the most money/pound for the hard work they do. Then I work with the mills on the twist, plies & even grist. Having a degree in Fashion Design & many semesters of Fabric Science set me up to be able to have the exact yarn I want made into reality."

If you`ve stitched with any Jill Draper yarns, you have seen this level of care and attention to detail firsthand. If you haven`t, that`s what you`ll see when you join us on Saturday for Local Yarn Store Day! Come sample JDMS yarns and snag a few skeins of your favorites!

Knitting for Olive Pure Silk is baaaaack! We’ve been waiting a bit for this box to arrive. It went for an extended vacation in Jamaica, NY before returning to Denmark only to return back to us.

This silk was worth waiting for because it is an ethically produced. The little butterfly on the label indicates that the chrysalids escaped the cocoon before they were harvested, allowing them to complete their life cycle. Silk has extensive heat-regulating qualities, making it perfect for year-round garments. It can absorb up to 30% of its weight in moisture while still feeling dry against your skin, so it is especially suitable for hot weather garments. Check out what we are making with it. This special silk is both in our store and in our capsule collection online.

Learn more about it on the Captain’s Log or shop online: https://fibrespace.com/2025/01/restock-alert-knitting-for-olive-pure-silk-ethical-silk-for-season-transitioning-makes/