Making friends for life
As knitting is such a solitary hobby, it can be difficult to connect with like-minded crafty people, but we’re here to help…
Many of us are feeling more isolated due to the new way of life created in a postpandemic world, including increased working from home, early retirement and in some cases, self-imposed solitude. Meeting people and making friends in these cases is much more challenging, but absolutely necessary for quality of life and overall happiness.
JOIN A KNITTING GROUP
We all know that fellow knitters make the best mates, and more meaningful relationships are built with those you share a passion with. Find a local knitting group and head to their next meeting with your WIP – it can be daunting being the new kid in class, but it will be absolutely worth it. If you can’t find a knitting group near you, think about starting your own!
VISIT YOUR LYS
Your local yarn or craft shop is not only a haven for knitters, but a great place to find them too! Many stores also hold their own knit and natter evenings and craft classes, where you can learn a new technique, enjoy a cup of tea and socialise to your heart’s content.
GO VIRTUAL AND GET ONLINE
If you’re unable (or unwilling) to leave the house, online forums (such as Ravelry) groups (you can find many on Facebook), or just plain old social media (Instagram is an excellent place to find crafters) are good places to start and contrary to popular belief, digital friends can be just (if not more) significant in your life as ‘real-life’ ones.
Tell us all about Stranded Dyeworks… Hello, I’m Jude, the dyer behind Stranded Dyeworks – a small batch hand-dyed yarn company based in Fife on the Scottish coast. Established in 2015, Stranded Dyeworks has moved from its humble beginnings in my parents’ kitchen to a dedicated commercial studio space with a couple of stops in garage studios and back bedrooms along the way! I started Stranded Dyeworks back when I was fresh out of university, stuck in a retail job I didn’t really enjoy, and was unable to find a yarn that I wanted to work with.
What can knitters find at your online shop? Stranded’s colourways range from subtle speckles, vibrant variegates and rich semisolids, to whatever I feel like dyeing! I stock a variety of yarns – from great workhorse sock yarns like Merino Nylon and BFL Nylon, to squishy DK weights and more luxurious blends such as Merino Yak Silk and Mohair Silk.
What are your highlights for 2023?
I’m excited to expand further this year, working with local yarn shops so you can buy my yarn in person both in the UK and internationally. I’m also planning to release some kits and work on my ever-expanding range of colourways!
Where can we find out more?
If you’d like to see what’s happening behind Stranded’s scenes and be first to hear about exciting new projects, you’ll find me at www.strandeddyeworks.co.uk or on most social media platforms as strandeddyeworks.