ReCrochetions: Dyers In Their Studios Profile -- Susan of Abstract Fiber

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Dyers In Their Studios Profile -- Susan of Abstract Fiber

I am pleased to feature Susan Stambaugh from Abstract Fiber. We are ecstatic to get to feature her Dredz yarn in the next Ficstitches Yarns Kit Club. My friend Monica first picked up a skein of this luscious super bulky yarn at a show last year and whipped up a quick project, raving about the colors and softness.

Susan with her "right hand woman" Karen at one
of the many Fiber Shows where you can find them.

Last February, at Madrona, I got to see their yarns and meet Susan myself, and kept running into her at nearly every fiber event I went to this year. I picked up a skein of Dredz to experiment with during the Rose City Yarn Crawl, and started discussing colors with Susan for a potential kit club at Black Sheep Gathering.

Let's learn more about Susan and Abstract Fibers...

Dredz in Cascade and Mousse
for our next Kit Club!

Background

• How long have you been dyeing yarn?

About 7 years

• How did you get started dyeing?

It all started with quilting thread. I learned to dye thread then later applied what I knew to fiber and then yarn. I was spinning and my favorite dyer retired. I figured I needed to dye my own to make up for the loss.

• What is your background?

I studied computers in college and worked for Chevron for about 20 years. After I left corporate life I started quilting. That's where I learned about color.

• Do you have any special experience with art or science that influences your dyeing?

Not really. I suppose my inability to draw or sculpt left me with the abstract. I've always loved rich colors.

Your Yarn

• What makes your yarn special or unique?

I think it's the color palate. I often use a touch of complimentary or contrasting color. The colors are also very rich and vibrant.

• What is something interesting about your dyeing process that non-dyers might not know?

We use a process called cold pour dyeing. We lay the yarn out on a table and paint it with squirt bottles. Then we wrap it up and steam it to set the dye. It allows us a lot of control of the colors.

• How do you choose your colors and name your yarns?

The colors are a palate that pleases me. The colorways come through a variety of ways. Some are simply from playing with colors, sometimes an image or theme inspire a colorway. We have a lot of booze names. Wine, beer, cider, cocktails... and Northwest names.

• Where do you find inspiration?

Nature, photos, works of art, fashion.

Just The Facts

• How many colorways do you have? More than 100

• Do you create seasonal or special order colors? Yes. Sometimes we make special colors for clubs or yarn crawls. Seasons inspire colors but we offer most year round.

• How many and what types of bases do you use? Lots. 12 or more yarns and at least that many fibers.

• Where do your yarn bases come from? Wholesale suppliers. The fibers are sourced from around the globe and milled in several different countries.

• Where can we find your yarn? LYSs and online? Yes. Both. As well as at many fiber festivals and in our home studio.