IRISH ARTISAN YARNS
Discover Tara Osborough’s lovely hand-painted yarns
TAKING INSPIRATION
from the landscapes of Ireland, Tara Osborough uses hand-painting techniques to create the colourways for her brand, Irish Artisan Yarn. She uses luxurious yarn bases including baby alpaca and silk, and her range is filled with sophisticated colours. We chatted with Tara about how she became a hand-dyer.
When did you first try dyeing yarn?
“I started when I was studying weaving at the University of the Creative Arts in Farnham. I was always experimenting with how certain dyes reacted to different yarn qualities. The first colourway I ever created was reminiscent of the sea in Donegal, with multiple shades of pink, green, blue and yellow.”
What fibres do you like to work with?
“I particularly like wool mixes, alpaca, silk, and bamboo.”
What dyeing processes do you use?
“I tend to hand-paint my yarns, and mix all my colours by eye. I don’t follow ‘recipes’, and I enjoy seeing the colours evolve. Every year I research ways to set the dye, as it is a time-consuming process.”
What’s your favourite colourway from your current range?
“Ballyholme - it was inspired by a sunset photograph taken at the beach by our family home. My Dad is in the photo; he has Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and for every skein of Ballyholme sold I give a percentage to the Lymphoma Association.”
What would you say are the particular highlights and challenges involved in running an indie dyeing business?
“The highlight for me is meeting my customers, and hearing their stories and how working on yarn projects has helped them with so many different challenges. My yarns are named after landscapes in Ireland, so it makes for some wonderful conversations as people share their stories.
“The challenges are the overheads involved, particularly at this difficult time when all the yarn shows have been cancelled. I am having to rethink our marketing plans and find routes to market that don’t involve shows. I have been fortunate to have been supported by my loyal customers and shops - it’s something I never take for granted.”
Do you have a favourite artist, writer, poet or musician who inspires you? Or are there particular landscapes that inspire your work?
“John Kingerlee, an Irish artist, has always inspired me. My cousin wrote a book about him, and I treasure it. Kingerlee’s paintings are so abstract, but his use of pattern, textures and colours are a definite inspiration. Inspiring landscapes have to be Irish ones. The colours are so vibrant, even on a grey day. The people are such a joy to be around, and always seem to have a glass-half-full approach to life.
It’s something I try hard to be like in my day-to-day work.”
What has been your proudest achievement?
“A few years ago I was awarded the Sanderson Colour Award at the New Designers Awards for my hand-woven, hand-dyed textiles. I went on to work for Sanderson, and having that experience working in a creative industry gave me so much insight into running a business.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given by another dyer?
“I find our community to be hugely encouraging. From the outset people told me to stick to my colours, and not to be swayed by trends.”
www.irish-artisan-yarn.com