A Mingled Yarn

It’s almost a year to date since I announced the closing of the brick-and-mortar A Mingled Yarn shop just outside of Sequim, Washington. The plan was to pay off the debts by selling off the unwanted stock and re-open as an online only store while doing retreats, workshops and developing online publications and products. So what happened?

I’ll spare you the gory details for now, but after returning from a scouting trip to California and hitting a thorn-covered wall of obstacles trying to get our first retreat launched, I crawled off to lick my wounds and, as if often the case, had an epiphany. A Mingled Yarn was never just about selling products. It was about inspiring others to create and revel in the possibilities.

So in that spirit, the A Mingled Yarn web site is rising phoenix-like from the ashes to become a site to inspire and provide resources to encourage independent creativity.

Right, you say, blah-blah-blah-blah. What exactly do you mean?

First, I’m going to be adding some free patterns and stitch patterns from the shop to the site. I hope to add a pattern each week, but my committed goal is at least one per month.

Second, the only products I’m personally going to offer are Karen Alfke’s patterns. Her patterns are designed to allow you to choose your own fiber and, in her Unpattern series in particular, to design your garment details. The only reason I’m even planning to offer them for sale online is that they aren’t readily available to folks in places outside of major metropolitan areas, particularly as you travel east from Washington state. She’s a terrific designer, an inspired and inspiring teacher and I think eventually will have as much impact on the knitting community as Elizabeth Zimmermann (bold words indeed, but you probably haven’t seen the light in her eyes or the fire in her voice when she talks about providing the tools for the independent knitter. Think Joan of Arc with knitting needles in place of a sword.) I have a wonderful interview with her that just needs cleaning and editing before I place it as a podcast on the site. I’m targeting mid-September. I’m also developing some online tools to help you use her patterns (javascript calculators, resource links and such).

The site profits from the sale of Karen’s patterns, as well as the sales from the Amazon Affiliate store, will be donated to an animal rescue or spay/neuter charity. One of the things we did with the shop that I’m most proud of was successfully place 13 rescued cats and kittens. (I’m still trying to find the right home for Big Boy and MomKat (aka Carpet) and I’m confident that will happen by November of this year.) I’m committed to raising awareness that how we treat other living creatures reflects and affects how we treat one another. And I’m putting the money from this site where my values are.

Third, I’ll be blogging on my creative work. My creative work is not limited to fiber. Although I’m still knitting from my extensive stash and designing my own pieces, I’ve worked my way through Julie Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and “Walking into the World” as well as a number of other books (which you’ll hear more about in future postings). In hopes of inspiring others, I’ll be posting about my personal journey and hope to hear from you about your own creative travels — whether fiber or otherwise.

Over the course of the next year, I expect the site to evolve and grow — just like us. So thank you to everyone who supported the physical store and thank you to everyone who decides to join me here. May your flying fingers soar — but never be sore — and may your life be inspired!