Page 44 - Knit Now - Issue 112 (January 2020)

Inside the studio with

THIRD VAULT YARNS

This month we’re cha ing with the maker behind this popular hand-dyed

yarn to find out what goes in to producing a really special yarn
How did Third Vault Yarns begin? evocativeness of colour, so being able to so I know it has excellent traceability, is
I learned to dye yarn during my time at create colourways that speak to people, fairly and sustainably sourced by Wool
university in 2013 and it quickly became a and either create good memories or remind Tops, and it is treated and spun by John
hobby of mine; I loved creating the colours people of things that do is what helps to Arbon here in the UK. The Limbo 4-ply
that I saw in my head. I started taking drive my passion. makes the list because of the way the
commissions for dyed yarn in 2014. After colours blend and turn out, which is
I graduated in 2015, I planned to run Third Where do you get the inspiration often somewhat of a surprise! It makes
Vault Yarns alongside a role in tech, but I for your incredible colourways? playing with new combinations of colours
couldn’t nd the role I wanted, so I decided My inspiration tends to fall under themes and creating new things on this base a
to begin Third Vault Yarns. Later in 2015 of science ction and fantasy. These revelation and joy every time.
it became my full-time job and I haven’t inspirations are taken from the books I
really looked back. Third Vault Yarns has read, the TV series and lms that I watch, You recently started the HairPin
always been tied to the way knitting and and the board games I play. I nd that Project. Could you tell our readers
bre crafts have helped me to manage my books are wonderful inspiration as some more about this project?
mental health, and I wanted to share that of them have such beautiful imagery that The HairPin Project is an ongoing campaign
with others. is carefully curated by the author to be that celebrates, shares and supports
evocative and to build this visual world for organisations that educate and promote
Where did your passion for dyeing each reader. love and respect for Afro-textured, kinky,
come from? curly hair. If you don’t share this texture
My passion for dyeing grew from my Do you have a preferred yarn to of hair, you might not realise how some
fascination with the different ways you dye? If so, why? people treat women of colour who do. For
can add colour to yarn to create different I have a range of different base yarns, example, strangers often reach out and
effects; learning new techniques and though my favourites are de nitely my touch or grab my hair, most often without
getting to play with them in my kitchen as Gytha Worsted base, and my Limbo 4-ply even saying a word to me let alone asking
a low-impact hobby alongside knitting was base. I love dyeing the thicker Falkland my permission. As you can imagine, it can
a revelation! My body had recently become Merino of Gytha because of its delicious be very distressing to be touched without
disabled and my hobbies were forced bouncy softness that you can feel even warning or permission by someone you
to change from higher-impact pursuits. when dyeing and how vibrantly it takes up don’t know. Lots of people talk about this
I have always been a person that loves the colour. It also helps that this is the in terms of ‘bodily integrity’ – the idea that
creating with my hands, and I love the base I commissioned for Third Vault Yarns, we should all have control over our own

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