During the KCYC, I met Melissa Jones, the woman behind New Garden Yarns. She graciously agreed to an interview. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage and settle in to learn more about Melissa and New Garden Yarns!
Please introduce yourself and share a bit about your journey into raising sheep and dyeing yarn.
“I’m Melissa, I have been a maker since I was a child. I started in 4-H learning to sew, garden, cook, etc. Those experiences truly fired my passion for learning new things. I’ve spent my life married to my high school sweetheart, raising our family of 5. I’ve sewn since I was 7, had a photography business for about 10 years, learned to weave and taught weaving. I homeschooled 2 of our children. I knit and crochet and make jewelry. I’m not happy unless I’m making and learning something new. “
“Raising sheep seemed to be a natural progression once I learned to knit and to spin. Wouldn’t it be cool to knit a sweater from my own sheep’s wool? Completely reasonable I thought. Luckily my husband thought so too. So, another passion was set to learn all about.”
What inspired you to combine these two passions?
“I had dyed yarn for my own knitting and weaving use, both protein fibers and cellulose. So, when chatting with a friend who owns a yarn store, we came up with the idea that I should dye some sock yarn to sell in her shop to tourists who come through our town. That is how New Garden Farm was born. One umbrella to include my annual yarns; those from my sheep. Annuals because conditions cause them to change each year. And my Perennial yarns, those I dye on Commercial bases that remain consistent year to year, just like the Perennials in my gardens.”
What breed do you raise, and what do you love most about them?
“Blue Faced Leicester. I chose them because of how easy they are to hand spin, and perfect for beginners to learn with. They are also the softest of the long wools and have incredible lustre. BFL are very friendly and gentle and easy to make pets out of.”
Please walk us through your dyeing process. What materials and techniques do you use?
“I dye using acid dyes and citric acid. I heat over a bain marie or in an oven.”
What challenges do you face in the dyeing process, and how do you overcome them?
“Coming up with new colorways is sometimes the hardest. Especially when I’m under pressure. I sometimes use photographs for inspiration. I also try to remember that a colorway that isn’t my favorite will usually resonate with someone else and be their favorite.”
Where do you find inspiration for your yarn designs and colors?
“Usually photographs. I also have a box of dye swatches I sometimes play around with.”
Are there any particular artists, nature elements, or cultures that influence your work?
“Not really. I do tend to stick to naming my colorways from things found in nature or around a farm.”
How have the yarn community and/or local community influenced your journey as a dyer?
“They have encouraged me to keep going!”
Are there any collaborations or events you’re involved in?
“Yes. I collaborate often with our Local Yarn Store and with another dyer there. I’ve also worked with a couple of designers and dyed the colorway for last year’s KC Yarn Crawl.”
What are some of the biggest challenges you face as a yarn dyer and farmer?
“Time. And balancing work with our personal life. My husband is semi-retired, and we enjoy traveling and getting away for a month or more at a time.“
What is most rewarding about your work?
“Seeing someone who has honored me by spending their money and time creating something using my yarn.”
What advice would you give to someone interested in starting their own dyeing business or sheep-raising venture?
“Raising sheep is a money loser. It just is. Dyeing is tough, but you can be successful at it. Learn social media. And learn about business.”
Are there any resources that you would recommend for beginners?
“Just get in there and start dyeing and experimenting.”
What are your future goals for your farm and dyeing business?
“We are not adding to our flock so as they age out our production will get lower until we don’t have sheep any longer.”
“For the dye business I am continually creating new color ways and testing out interesting bases. I’d love to offer more non superwash yarns, but the demand just isn’t there yet.”
Any upcoming projects or new product lines you can share?
“I’m working on offering Beanie Kits using some of the hat patterns from Nancy Bates. She’s done the National Parks and is working through some of the states. Kits are great for these as some take 6-8 different colors.”
How can readers support your work? Do you have a website or social media where they can connect with you?
“I’d love support via social media and my website. On social I am @newgardenyarns. My website is www.newgardenfarm.com”
Is there anything else you’d like to share with my readers?
“I’m amazed at what a generous and tight-knit group the fiber arts community is. I’m honored and blessed to be a part of it.”
New Garden Yarns
http://www.newgardenfarm.com
Melissa, thanks so much for answering my questions. Be sure to stop by New Garden Yarns’ website and check out the yarn for yourself – you won’t regret it!
Thanks for spending time with me today.
~ Belle
P.S. Hello again! This is Rio, Belinda’s daughter, and I was once again the person who crocheted the project used in photos throughout this blog. The pattern for the hat modeled is the “Oakley Slouch Hat” by Yarn + Chai. I used a “Coffee In My Cream” Pom Pom purchased from A Lil’ Loopy as well, which I love alongside the colors of the gorgeous yarn.
The yarn I used was New Garden Yarns’ “Hat Hat Hurray!” 2023 KC Yarn Crawl Colorway on the Butterfly Garden MCN fingering weight yarn, which is 80% Superwash Merino, 10% Nylon, and 10% Cashmere. It’s incredibly soft and I love the speckle coloring of the yarn, especially when it was worked up. It was a joy to work with and may very well be my favorite yarn. The orange on the brim was New Garden Yarns’ Backyard Garden Fingering yarn in “Spicey” which was 85% Superwash Merino and 15% Nylon. Thanks for checking out the blog!
