Recently I’ve found myself more and more interested in the backstory of my yarns. Where did it come from? How was it processed? Who cared for it along the way?
I know that most of my yarn started either on the back of creatures grazing in a pasture or as a plant in a field. So, I’ve started calling the story the yarn might tell From Pasture to Needle. It’s not really the same idea as Farm to Table since for me the process of learning more about the story of a yarn isn’t about buying directly from a grower…but that title is firmly entrenched in my head so I’m lengthening title to From Pasture to Needle: The Story of a Yarn. And I’m so excited to begin!
To start I plan to share about the yarns with stories that start near where I live or places I travel. I’m starting with these yarns in part because I’ve already met them and I’ve been curious about them the longest.
Another reason to begin with local-to-me yarns is to try to keep my dollars as local as possible. In one sense, any yarn I buy that is USA-grown and USA processed is already a huge step in that direction since supporting the American fiber industry keeps it viable.
Beyond that makers can play a huge role in supporting local. One way to keep the chain of supply local is to purchase directly from the grower who raises the sheep or from the mill that processes the fiber. Another way is to choose a company that tells you the story of their yarn in a way that allows you to trace its path. Seeking out small mills and local yarn shops that already have yarn made from local growers on the shelves is another great possibility.
I interviewed Kelsey Patton, owner of The Fiber Mill (and the Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle yarn shop) in Stromsburg, Nebraska, for this Interweave Knits Fall 2022 article about The Fiber Mill. As we talked, Kelsey explained makers can even support two key players in the fiber industry at once by purchasing fiber directly from a grower at a festival and then walking down the row to a fiber mill booth to turn it in for processing into yarn or spinning fiber.
If you aren’t sure where you might find a small mill near you, a Google search of “small wool processing mill near me” or “small wool processing mill in [name of your state]” is a great way to start.
Fiber fairs and festivals are another great way to find local mills and processing. Sherri and I talked about attending festivals and conferences in a recent Geminate Podcast episode and we included a list of some upcoming events in the Mid-West in the show notes for that episode here.
The story of each yarn includes bits like where it comes from, who grows it, who processes it, and what history led the players to this point. I’m having so much fun learning more about the stories of these yarns. I can’t wait to share each of them with you!
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