I’m a huge fan of natural fibers, so it almost goes without saying that I’m also a fan of naturally dyed yarns. Don’t get me wrong; I totally understand the love of synthetic dyes and the colors that can be created. I myself have often enjoyed a skein of yarn, perhaps hand-dyed, colored by a standard industry pigment. But I find that naturally dyed fibers have a tone and color that’s really very special, there is almost a lightness to the color that normal dyes can’t replicate. So I was really very excited to notice several yarn booths at The National Needle Association (TNNA) winter trade show that had a selections of yarns that were naturally dyed.
TNNA is one of the biggest trade shows out there for people who deal with– you guessed it– needles on a regular basis. That covers a pretty wide base, including needle point, embroidery, knitting, needle felting, and crochet. A good half of the show is totally devoted to yarn companies.
In previous years, naturally dyed yarns haven’t gotten much representation. Going from zero companies using natural dyes to a couple is a big jump, so I’m happy to share my discoveries with you all. As you can see from the photos, advances in dying technologies have made natural dyes much more vibrant than they have been historically. The original preference for synthetic dyes over natural came in great part to the stunning number of colors you could create, and the length of time these dyes would last. Natural dyes have finally advanced to a point where they can rival their synthetic cousins, allowing these gorgeous colors to reach a larger market.
I’m hopeful that natural yarns, both naturally dyed and made of natural fibers, will continue to grow in popularity in the coming years. There are some really wonderful possibilities surrounding these yarns, and I’m excited to see the new yarns that are introduced in the coming years.
Photos:
Top Left – Swans Island
Right – Sincere Sheep
Swag Bag Giveaway
We managed to bring a bag full of goodies back from TNNA! We love sharing with our readers, so we thought we’d offer up this wooly prize to our readers. Our swag includes three full skeins of yarn, a pattern book, a tape measure, a TNNA bag, buttons, and tons of yarn samples!
Giveaway Rules:
Contest open to US and Canada residents 18+
One comment/entry per person per blog post.
Contest closes January 31, 2014 at 11:59p CST.
Leave a comment on this blog post to be entered to win.
Winners will be posted on Stitch&Unwind.com and notified by email.
What’s your favorite color of yarn?
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