ABOUT


Hello there! My name is Jeanne, and I'm a knitter, weaver and sock yarnaholic.

How did Yarndeavors come into being and what's with that name, Yarndeavors?

Here's the story.

I've always had my hand in something creative. During my days singing and playing bass with rock bands (under a stage name), I learned how to sew and to draft patterns so I could make my own stage clothes. I was constantly doodling band logos, sketching fashions, and drawing endless herds of horses. Color intrigued me as much as music; the correlation between the 12-note chromatic musical scale and the 12-hue chromatic color wheel was not lost on me.

It was only natural that as the music career wound down, I'd find myself drawn—no pun intended—toward the possibility of an art-related career.

In the 90s I was studying graphic design at BGSU. As part of my major, I was encouraged to take several Fine Arts electives. Scanning the list of offerings I saw Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Sculpture... then my eyes landed on Fibers.

There were three options:
  • 2D/3D Concepts
  • Surface Design Techniques
  • Weaving
I knew what weaving was, but I wondered, What is this "surface design" thing?
...traditional and contemporary direct application methods of dyeing and painting on fabric...
Painting? On fabric?

My mind reeled.

On FABRIC?!?

Such as, I could not only draft my own patterns... but I could design the fabric to go with it?

SIGN ME UP!!!

If it hadn't been for the pressure to gain "employable skills" and the purported $50,000/year starting salary that graphic design "guaranteed" {snort}, I would have graduated with a BFA in Fibers. But one too many choruses of "what can you do with that besides teach or open a yarn store" sent me running back to the safety and common sense of a design degree. Then I worked in the field for a few years.

Don't get me wrong; designing is fun. But the business side didn't suit my bohemian cowgirl nature. And I had developed a sock yarn fetish that was getting out of control. While debating the rationality of an MFA in Fibers or Painting versus a nice, sensible MBA, the thought occurred to me:
Why not try dyeing sock yarn? It can't be that different from dyeing silk scarves. And if the other sock knitting fanatics are anything like me, there isn't enough sock yarn in the world for them to buy.
So I put the grad school plans on hold, did a little research and went on a shopping expedition. I bought some Sabraset (Lanaset) Acid Dyes in the six primaries plus Violet and Jet Black, a few bare skeins, and a slew of stainless kettles and sundry items, cleared off space in the kitchen, and...

Yarndeavors was born.

I'll admit I'm learning as I go. My hanks may not be wound up pitch-perfect, but I'm sure you'll agree that the color combinations are inquisitive, and when you feel the softness of my chosen superwash sock and 100% merino wool base yarns, like me, you won't be able to resist adding a few to your collection.

Congratulations for making it through the whole story! Welcome to Yarndeavors, my little creative venture—please visit often. Oh, the name? From constantly emailing my friend about my various "yarn endeavors", and in the interest of brevity, coining the term "my yarndeavors". I'd been toying with other names when it hit me that I already had it—and it was so unique that Google couldn't find one reference to the term.

Until now. ;-)

PS: What else do we fiber freaks need? Raw fiber, of course! Hand-painted rovings are on their way for your spinning pleasure, and soon I'll be adding original silk scarves, sock patterns, heavier weight yarns and blends and other miscellany that I'm confident you'll love as much as I do.

If you have suggestions for color combinations you'd like to see or any other feedback, shoot me an email to:
orders AT yarndeavors DOT com
(replacing AT with @ and DOT with a, well, a dot)
© 2009-2015 Yarndeavors 

No comments:

Post a Comment