Welcome Britt-Marie

Whenever Britt-Marie Brehmer calls us to schedule a visit to show off new yarns, we jump at the chance.  Representing various brands within the fiber industry, Britt-Marie’s expertise and love of textiles helps us to select some great new yarns for the shop.  Much like her aesthetic, she brings a classic yet fresh approach.  We especially love it when she shares current yarns and samples from Shibui Knits!  Along with that, she hosts Shibui Mix parties and has worked besides Sandy Barnes of Shibui in our Stitches West booth.
It’s always so much fun having her in the shop!  We’ve been so fortunate to get to know her over the past couple of years as a yarn rep, and to now call her a dear friend.

Tell us a little about how you got started with fiber arts and becoming a yarn rep?

I can remember my first knitting experience as a 3rd grader in Sweden, growing up with fibers in every corner, but not until now do I realize what a gift this was. I never thought I would be in sales, but I have realized that I’m not really selling, I’m sharing my love of yarn and all that comes with it. The people, the fibers, the knitting and all that other fun it brings.

What’s a day in the life look like for a yarn rep?

Well, I wake up and the first thing (even before coffee) I think about is…what do I knit today??? I knit a lot of samples to better understand the yarns I’m representing, so a lot of time is spent on picking projects for specific yarns. This is also happening when I’m not on the road visiting my stores. I’m so fortunate to be in this business, I really enjoy being with people that share my loved of fibers!

We just love your aesthetic!  What influences your effortlessly chic and sophisticated style?

I believe in “less is more”, even in knitting I apply this to my work. There is so many beautiful yarns available today, and I want the design and the fiber to be happily married.

Knit, crochet or both?  What’s your favorite thing to do while knitting/crocheting?

I have to say knitting, and I love doing this while watching my favorite show on Netflix, having morning coffee with my husband on the patio, or just hanging out with my family. I also need to say that I have not missed one episode of Espace Tricot and Kammebornia podcasts.

What are some of your other passions and/or hobbies?

I love cooking for family and friends, baking bread, and gardening. I have also lately enjoyed taking upholstery classes. One of these days you will see me with chickens, goats and a little barn somewhere in the wine country.

We’re always looking for pattern inspiration, what’s currently on your needles or in your queue?

I will very soon be casting on for Calyx by Elizabeth Doherty using Reed+Twig together, and in my queue I have Thea Colman’s Stillhouse Vest. I’m also planning to make another Cirrus by Nancy O’Connell in Pebble+Cima, it’s such a great piece!!!

What’s in your notion’s bag?  Or what’s your favorite way to carry your projects/notions?

Right now my favorite project bag is from Blue Bee Studio. It’s super cute and handy.

 

It’s always so fun having you in the shop for Shibui Mix parties.  What are some of your favorite Shibui mixes and patterns?

I’m a big fan of Pebble mixed with Cima, Silk Cloud or Lunar. Twig is also one I really like, the drape of this yarn is fabulous. I love them all, so it’s hard to pick favorites.

Now for a bit of fun…

Britt-Marie, thank you so much for being a guest on our blog!  We look forward to hosting you in the shop this month.  

*Dear reader, if you’d like to join Britt-Marie at the shop, we will be hosting her on Saturday, May 19th.  We hope to see you there!*

Welcome Spincycle Yarns

We are just smitten with our latest new stock, Spincycle Yarn’s Dyed in the Wool.  Last Fall, while at Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle, Ann had the pleasure to meet the lovely duo behind this stunning yarn, Rachel and Kate.  She instantly knew she had to get these gems into the shop –  and once it arrived, we all knew it had to be featured for March.  We couldn’t wait to get it onto our needles!  Once we did, we wanted to know all about it. Rachel kindly accepted our invitation and we’re so happy to have her as a guest here.

 

We are loving Dyed in the Wool!  Can you share a little on how you both began Spincycle?

Thanks! We love Dyed in the Wool, too! It was our first mill spun yarn, so maybe we are biased.

Spincycle started in 2004 as a little side job for Kate, and I joined a year in, when we were working together at our local co-op. At first, it was very part time, and we only sold at the Bellingham Farmers Market. But soon it was obvious that there was a demand for hand-spun yarn that needed our full attention. We made yarn by hand for another eight years before our business had an existential crisis! Business was really hitting its stride, and then we became moms in 2010 and 2011, back to back. We couldn’t do it all by hand anymore. But luck prevailed and we got in on the ground level with a new mill just south of us. We worked with them as their exclusive client for five years, until the owner decided to take a new career path.

 

 

 

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In reading your blog, we found out that you acquired  a mill.  Exciting!  What’s a typical day look like at your mill?

Yep! We bought the mill that was already producing three of our four lines, moved it up to Bellingham, leased a warehouse, and that’s where I am right now, typing away from my office loft!

A typical day for us? We usually arrive with coffees in hand, around 8. Anna, our mill worker, gets to work even earlier, so the spinning frame is already humming. I spend some time at the computer… ok, I spend a LOT of time at the computer now, a still weird departure from the years I spent handspinning and just occasionally doing website things… checking emails, updating the online store, corresponding with yarn shops, pulling wholesale orders, and doing social media things. Kate usually rolls in and gets busy shipping out our retail orders before the mailman comes. Then one of us will get into the dye room. We have to dye nearly every day, to keep things flowing smoothly as the fiber spends time in the drying room and then moves on the the mill room. Bottlenecks in the drying process are a major disruption.

When not dyeing, you’ll find Kate helping Anna in the mill, and you’ll find me photographing new yarns, merch, and patterns for the website or Instagram.

We also have some amazing staff who come in toward the end of the day to tag and twist the yarns, keep things organized, and do a multitude of miscellaneous things.

Your colors are amazing!  Where do you draw inspiration from? (music, art, nature, candy…)

Ha! You’re on to us. All of the above. Really, that about covers it! We’ll see something that appeals, take a photo or a screencap, and try to translate that onto yarn!

We’ve become obsessed with finding patterns to knit with Dyed in the Wool (seriously Salt Point by Dami is such a dream!).  What are some of your favorite patterns?

Currently, we are in love with Ysolda’s Threipmuir sweater! And I am knitting Plum, by Junko Okamoto, in a Dyed in the Wool and a Versus colorway, and I am obsessed. I also recently finished Dog Star, from Tin Can Knits, for my son, and it is perfection. Oh. I just realized that all three of these are yoked sweaters for which we used a DITW for the colorwork and a solid (or marl) for the body. I guess I would say that is our jam right now.

When you’re not dyeing/spinning/knitting/winning at being fiber bosses, what are some of your other hobbies/passions?

Well, honestly, between running the biz and the massive amount of traveling it requires of us (“bestows on us” might be more appropriate; we LOVE the travels) and raising our respective kids, there’s not a ton of time left. We both knit in our downtime, which might seem like just an extension of our jobs, but it’s something we really do love to do. I did recently start my sort-of-daily drawing journal back up, but a lot of time that I’m drawing, I’m thinking, “I could be finishing that sleeve right now.”

Current WIPS, FOs, or future projects?

WIPs…. Well, there’s a super secret test knit Kate is wrapping up right now for an Edinburgh Yarn Fest release with Fig Tree Yarns and Andrea Mowry. And I am knitting five sweaters, including the aforementioned Plum.

What’s in your notion’s bag?

Millions of stitch markers but never the exact ones I need… maybe some loose buttons I’m meaning to sew on and a random DPN I was using for a cable needle… Actually let me tell you what IS NEVER in my notions bag: a tape measure or gauge ruler, a tapestry needle, the right markers, scissors, the t-pin I need for tightening my interchangeables, or anything else useful.

Top five recommendations for books, podcasts, music, who to follow, snacks? (anything fun or unique you’d love to share is great!)

Podcasts we are bingeing on now are Crimetown, Embedded, and 2 Dope Queens. Does that count as 3 or just 1? One. I’m going with 1. Snacks? A chai latte at 3pm cannot be overstated. Music? Kate Tempest is on heavy rotation in my headphones. Books? Just finished the graphic novel series, MIND MGMT, and I’m about to start it all over again. TV? RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars season 3 is everything right now.

It’s always such fun and so inspiring to follow along with you both on IG + your blog. Where can our readers find you?

Follow @spincycle_yarns on Instagram! That’s the best spot to stay updated on our travel schedule, new yarns, pattern releases and general shenanigans!

Thank you so much, Rachel!  We’re so glad we’ve become to know you and learn more about your gorgeous yarns!  We look forward to sharing more projects using Dyed in the Wool.