What is up with this proprietary shit? I'm talking about a the general closed lip nature of dyers. I've seen on a few occasion when someone will be real chatty but as soon as a question of dye technique comes up. Closed lips. Where did you go? Why aren't you answering the question? I was reading a board on Ravelry which went a little something like this (paraphrased of course).
Q: How do you speckle dye yarn?
A: (from a dyer) What is that?
Q: Yes I do. Your (the answering dyer) dye is the look I want. Here is a link to some of your yarn that has the look I'm looking to create.
A:
No answer. Dyers then started discussing this. But nobody fessed up. Not even the dyers who know how to do this. Why is this? Why are we as a fiber community willing to share all kinds of info about our personal lives, but not this. Trade secrets? Seriously? At the time I was also trying to create a speckle type of dye job, more like the Araucania brand look but it was similar to this dyers look. I eventual figured out on my own but only after a long year of money spent and time wasted. Well, not wasted, I enjoy any time I get to spend dyeing. And frankly I'm happy with the results I have been able to achieve. But, some people don't have the money or time to be able to go through a year of trying things out.
Here's my thoughts on this matter in a nutshell. It's a large nut. A simple google search will results in a load of tutorials on how to handpaint yarn in the segmented colorways. You know the one when you lay out your yarn on some plastic wrap and color different sections. And what did that hurt? Now we as knitters have so many choices for really lovely handpainted yarns from indie dyers all over the world. And I'm sure that some of the really big indie dyers started out by buying an extra PAAS Easter Egg dye kit. Vinegar. Painting all those pastel colors over a skein of KnitPicks Bare fingering weight yarn. I actually used Wilton food coloring and the Bare yarn. You get the picture. And how about those who started with the large pot on the stove and just threw cation to the wind. Dumping in those food colors all willy nilly. Has it really hurt? Really? I think it helps to have so many with dye knowledge. It opens more resources. It opens more opportunities. Look at the Phat Fiber Sampler box. Where would this be if it were not for so many indie dyers (and other fiber related things)?
My pledge is two fold. First, my next post will be the tutorial on my dye process. Second, I'm going to start to review and post about things I've bought from indies. These will not only include yarn/fiber but also soap, jewelry, and more. Whatever I buy from etsy will get a review and link to the etsy store.
We have to support each other. I'm just not digging on this "it's mine" attitude.
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3 comments:
I agree. It's not like it will stop people from buying your yarn if you explain how you dye it. Every indie is different. You never get the same results as someone else even if you use the exact technique. There are too many variables. Also, most people might try dyeing once, but are not going to keep it up. It's easier for most people to just buy what you dye. But it seems most indie dyers don't get that.
I'm looking forward to your posts.
thank you. I'm afraid might make some people mad. Nut like you said, I think if you were go give 10 different dyers 10 of the same dye colors you will get 10 different skeins of yarn. That is the main idea of my post.
AMEN SISTER! I recall one VERY prominent dyer on Ravelry that absolutely went OFF on a poor newbie dyer who asked about her techniques. I felt REALLY bad for her. It was totally uncalled for. I now have NO respect for that big-wig dyer. Yes, her stuff is lovely, but secrets? Gimmee a break. Every one of us dyers is going to come up with a different look, even with the SAME EXACT method of application. Besides that, if you share with someone else, you will receive back tenfold. Stingy, selfish people irk the heck out of me....!
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