The Chelsea Hand-Dyed Yarn Collaborative
The Chelsea Hand-Dyed Yarn Collaborative celebrates the courage and achievements of notable women, past and present.
Introducing a new yarn subscription with beautiful, locally hand-dyed yarns. Available exclusively at Artisan Knitworks and celebrating the world’s most interesting and courageous women.
On the first Sunday of every month, we will reveal the new colorway and the woman who inspired it. Join us at Artisan Knitworks for the announcement and celebration 1-3:00pm.
April 2024
This month’s colorway by Hanks Yarning Company is a stunning burst of color from blues to hot pinks and gold. The yarn is 100% superwash merino wool, (438 yards, 100 grams) 4-ply fingering weight.
Blue Bird Makery created stitch markers inspired by a quote from Malala:
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”
-Malala Yousafzai
Malala
Our inspiration for our first installment is Malala Yousafzai, known internationally as just Malala. She was an education activist from Pakistan who became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is a brilliant young woman who has become a major global advocate for the education of girls and women.
Learn more about her story and the Malala Fund at Malala.org.
Malala
Our inspiration for our first installment is Malala Yousafzai, known internationally as just Malala. She was an education activist from Pakistan who became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She is a brilliant young woman who has become a major global advocate for the education of girls and women.
Learn more about her story and the Malala Fund at Malala.org.
Subscriptions
Each month you will receive:
- 1 skein of quality fiber hand-dyed by Hanks Yarning Company (fiber may vary month-to-month).
- A biography of the celebrated woman by Sandra VanBurkleo, owner of Artisan Knitworks and Professor of History at Wayne State University; and
- A special selection from Blue Bird Makery will accompany each skein.
The cost reflects in-store pick-up. Shipping is $8.50 for each month’s subscription.
Looking for additional fiber and weights for the colorway? Call the shop for special orders.
Collaborative Partners
Hanks Yarning Company, Molly Walters– Hi there! My name is Molly and I started Hanks Yarning Company in 2019. I have been a knitter for over 20 years and I am completely obsessed with yarn and the different creations anyone can make from it. I started collecting yarn and then started dyeing it myself just to play with the color. I have a background in photography and art, with a concentration in color theory, so it’s been very rewarding to me to be able to use my education in this way. Dyeing the yarn sparked other interested in ice-dye and tie-dye techniques. Cotton bandanas and shawls are dyed with a process that takes a full 24-hours to complete.
Hand dyeing is a true passion of mine and I am thrilled to share these creations with you!
Sharon Rakow of WheelyCoolFiber – Sharon Rakow has been teaching beginners and experienced knitters alike for almost two decades. She was employed at Knit Around Yarn Shop, Ann Arbor, Michigan, for 10 years and then at Always in Stitches, Noblesville, Indiana, for 3 years. And, after returning to Michigan some years ago, she worked and taught for a year at Artisan Knitworks. Sharon has been known to say that she is fearless. She believes that, by expanding a knitter’s skills and repertoire of techniques, any project can be conquered. She especially enjoys introducing knitters to the beauty and ease of Fair Isle and other varieties of stranded colorwork.
When not knitting or spinning, Sharon works in IT. She is also part owner of WheelyCool Fibers where she is responsible for designing and creating hand-spun yarns and spinning blends. Some of her hand-spuns can be found at Artisan Knitworks. She also loves to make and teach all about socks.
Artisan Knitworks, Sandra VanBurkleo,Owner, Artisan Knitworks and Professor of History at Wayne State University. Read more about Sandra >
Blue Bird Makery, Ruth Blohm-Hunter has worked in various aspects of design for 25 years. She holds a degree in film and media production from Michigan State University (GO GREEN!) and is proud to operate her business in Michigan.
As a lifelong maker and a knitter for 20+ years, Ruth is very particular about the tools that she uses. Utilizing her knowledge of fiber arts and skills as a designer, she strives to create fiber arts tools that are both useful and aesthetically pleasing.
At Blue Bird Makery, we test EVERY design that we create and tweak designs as necessary to make sure that our tools meet Ruth’s high standards. We truly appreciate all of our customers and their support of our small business.