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I’m back in town after a lot of crazy travel (a graduation and a wedding) and moving madness (my apartment and my work studio).  Now I’m hard at work dyeing yarn and getting ready for two cool events.  Check ‘em…

It was such a hard decision!  I almost left it up to the random number generator to pick the colors, but I was afraid I’d end up with a completely inappropriate fake neighborhood or hockey player (thanks pat and matt). …

Check out these new colors!  I’ve experimented with all three in different variations as part of the L’Enfant Color Series.  Now, they’re all becoming part of the permanent Neighborhood Fiber Co. color family!

My only problem is naming them.  I always…

So, the thing is, I more or less do love Columbus.  I’ve met some good people, eaten some good food, and done a lot of good drinking.  All that said, I miss home, and home is DC/MD.  I miss my…

Well, at this point, I think most everyone is thinking more about the Olympics than they are about Haiti.  But over here at Neighborhood Fiber Co., we’re just wrapping up two weeks of mini-fundraising.  I’m happy to report that Neighborhood…

I’m happy to welcome a new online retailer to the short list of companies carrying Neighborhood Fiber Co. yarns, Handknitting[dot]com! Right now, they’re stocking a selection of the Penthouse Silk Lace.  So, if you’re looking for silk lace online and…

I’m slow to jump on this particular bandwagon, but I figure, better late than never. Lots of good people out their in the knitting/crochet community are donating a portion of sales to non-profit organizations doing work in Haiti to respond…

If you’ve been watching her blog, you might have seen the wonderful write-up that Meaghan gave Neighborhood Fiber Co. yarns.  I met Meaghan this year just before I moved to Columbus.  She’s basically a fixture in the DC crafting community…

I have actually been knitting since I’ve been here in Columbus.  Part of my plan to face my first mid-western winter is to cover myself in knitwear.  The rest of the plan involves a very very very warm down coat…

Since moving to Columbus, I have experienced a frightening phenomenon with which I was previously unfamiliar.  This bizarre occurrence is known as Buckeye Football Season.  Truly, being a DC gal, I thought I was at least somewhat prepared.  After all,…

You may have heard that I’ve resurfaced.  In reality, I’ve been here in Columbus the whole time, working away on yarn for Neighborhood Fiber Co. and classes for Wonderknit.  It’s been a long process, but I finally did get my…

Well, I made it.  Somehow, with all the packing, sorting, and throwing away, I managed to get the moving done.  Now, if you’re looking to find me, you’ll have to look in Columbus, OH!

I’m still getting settled into a routine,…

I feel like all my posts lately have been about moving, but it’s all I’ve been thinking about or doing lately.  The big day is this Friday, July 10 and I’ll need a few weeks after that to get things…

Well, not everything.  But a lot of things!  I’ve been finalizing moving plans and realizing that I have A LOT of stuff.  Crafty stuff, book stuff, random furniture stuff.  And most of it will not fit in the back of…

Back in October, I wrote up a pattern for Neighborhood Fiber Co’s Walking Tour of DC Sock Club.  The deal with Sock Club is that patterns and colors are exclusive for 6 months.  Well I completely forgot that 6 months…

Since I set a timeline for moving, I’ve been frantically running around trying to get things done.  Things like packing and cleaning and apartment hunting and general moving madness-type stuff.  At the same time, I’ve been hurrying to do the…

Well, it’s that time.  I’ve planned the last two dye workshops/studio tours that I’ll be able to have in my current location.  These workshops have been lots of fun for me and (hopefully) for the participants!

The last two in this…

The big Neighborhood Fiber Co moving sale is in full swing!  Lots of stuff has been listed in the Etsy shop (http://neighborhoodfiberco.etsy.com), and today I added a TON of laceweight.  Check it out.

I finished my Adamas Shawl (Rav link)! The yarn is Studio Sock and I used about 1.5 skeins.  The color is leftover from the October Walking Tour of DC Sock Club.  I’m so happy with the result!

Photos courtesy of the wonderful…

The cat I mean.  It’s out of the bag.  I started telling people over this past weekend at the MD Sheep and Wool Fest (which was AWESOME, btw).  I figured it was time to share the news with everyone else. …

I came, I saw, I signed books!  And also ate cupcakes and drank lots of wine.  And whisky.  Photos from Knit Happens book party:

More are on Flickr, and they tell the sordid story of cupcakes, booze, and knitting!  Plus a…

Whirlwind week for Neighborhood Fiber Co. included the big book launch party at A Tangled Skein.  Thanks to everyone who came out!  It was great to see Pamela, Kathleen (who also contributed two awesome patterns!), Ava, Lindsay, Cici and Chelette, and…

If by some miracle, I haven’t spammed you yet via Facebook or Anyvite, I want to let you know about the book launch party!

Who: You! And anyone else you want to bring who likes beer and/or knitting!
What: Pints and Purls Book…

Sometimes you just need something you can be done with NOW! And knitting isn’t always it. But I love fiber and usually want to play with it somehow. So, here’s what I whipped up while I was deep conditioning my…

So, Homespun Yarn Party was AMAZING!  From a vendor’s point of view, it was well-organized, well-advertised, and overall a dream show.  And from a shopper’s point of view (because I do that too!), it was AWESOME!  There were loads of great…

I hope to see you all at the Homespun Yarn Party next Sunday!  There are going to be TONS of awesome vendors selling yarn, fiber, and loads of other goodies.  I’m pumped about it!

Also, because my online shopping cart continues…

Hello out there.  So, a lot has happened in the last few months.  New year, new president, and apparently, that “book thing” I talked a lot about is real.  Witness the first advance copy!

Libby and I are super excited about…

Things are totally insane over here at Chez Karida/Neighborhood Fiber Co.  I still wanted to post about this Holiday Arts Market that I’m doing tomorrow at Big Bear Cafe.  If you’ll be in the area tomorrow, you should come check…

Here is proof that even here, in the heart of political madness and soaring cost of living, you can do what you love.  My good friend Danielle, of Knit-A-GoGo is profiled by the Washington Post Magazine in a segment called “Making It.” …

So, sometimes, I am on the cutting edge with stuff.  Occasionally, I have the newest hottest knitting thingamajig before other people.  But mostly, I figure out something is cool after 10,000 other people have queued it on Ravelry.

That said, I’m…

Last week was Stitches East, and I am exhausted!  No matter how many of these big shows I do, I’m still always surprised at how much energy it takes.  Still, it was great fun, and thanks to everyone who stopped…

I have only voted in 3 presidential elections, beginning in 2000.  Last night, for the first time, I finally felt proud of my country’s choice and proud to be a part of it.  My country finally feels like it’s mine. …

I forgot to mention yesterday that I still have room for one more person in the dye workshop tomorrow.  If you’re interested, send me an email (karida@neighborhoodfiberco.com) and let me know!

And I’ve also been working on the Hanami Stole.  I’m…

Where did October go?  It feels like I was just going to Crafty Bastards last week, but somehow it’s almost Halloween.  Anyway, remember when I used to blog regularly?  Yeah…me neither.  But from now on I will.  I promise.  Pinky…

Last year, I applied to be a vendor at Crafty Bastards and was rejected.  I had a total diva moment and was all “don’t they know who I am!”  Then I realized that the timing is terrible for me and…

On Saturday, I hosted the first ever NFC Dye Workshop and Studio Tour.  It was rainy and damp, so we had to work inside, but I think it worked out really well.  There were 4 participants, which I think is…

So, now that the studio and house are both functional, I’m able to do something I’ve wanted to do for awhile.  A dye workshop!  Basically, I’m opening my studio to a small group of people for a tour, a talk…

Traditionally, I am inspired by my surroundings to create colorways.  In fact, a lot of the NFC neighborhoods are places where I’ve lived.  Lately, a few people have asked me since I moved if Mount Rainier will be the first…

Are beavers really busy?  I mean, I guess they must be busy building dams and stuff.  The saying had to come from somewhere!

Anyway, I’ve been really busy.  Check out that pile of yarn. All sock yarn that is waiting to…

So, I am not participating in the Ravelympics.  Because the idea of committing myself to one more deadline fills me with abject terror.  But, hypothetically, if I was doing Ravelympics, I would start Team Secret Knitting For Publication and we…

So, I have a lot to report. Things have been busy around NFC headquarters.

First, a tree fell on my new house.  Seriously.  There was a freak storm (some people are saying it was a tornado) that brought down a bunch…

So, I’ve decided that I’m not living in the suburbs.  Instead, I’m going to call upon the full weight of my graduate work and refer to my living situation as “posturban.”  The term has been used to describe a scholastic…

So, in the past 4ish years, I have lived in 4 distinct neighborhoods in DC.  Only now that I’ve moved, yet again, did I realized that I’ve been on a steady eastern trajectory.  Seriously, check out this map, which includes…

Which is to say that the site is under construction.  As you can tell. NFC is getting a new look, but we’re trying to keep things somewhat functional as we go on.  The web designer (my DP, Erika) assures me…

This probably sounds a little crazy, but in some way, I feel attached to all the yarn I dye. I think of myself like a mama sea turtle who leaves her babies on the beach and then doesn’t really know…

100 mini skeins of sock yarn

Originally uploaded by Karida Collins

Tonight is the local Stitch N’ Pitch with the Nats. I’ll be there with girlfriend in tow.

A few yarn stores in the area have tickets. A Tangled Skein in Hyattsville…

A taste of OH!

Originally uploaded by Karida Collins

So, I’ve only been back from OH for a few days, and I’m already missing a few things. Ignoring the obvious stuff (Libby’s hospitality!), I’m missing the food. I know it sounds crazy…

Fully Stuffed Fit – Rear view

Originally uploaded by Karida Collins

So, I’m finally back in DC! Columbus was awesome, but it’s great to be sitting and typing in my own little office with my cats by my side.

I had to…

me, Jess, tiny Bob, Libby, Jen, and Casey

Originally uploaded by Karida Collins

So I almost forgot to mention that on Thursday night, Libby and I attended the “Ravelry Unraveled” event through Knitter’s Connection. Jess, Casey, and Mary Heather gave an AWESOME…

Yummy Ozark Handspun

Originally uploaded by Karida Collins

So today I’m FINALLY finished with all of the NFC promotional stuff in Ohio. In addition to TNNA, I stayed for Knitter’s Connection. Luckily Libby and hubby were okay with having me crash in their…

So, the big yarn industry trade show, TNNA, was this past weekend in Columbus, OH. I came out and am staying with my co-author, friend and general rockin’ chick, Libby. It ended on Monday, and I’m still recovering. It was…

Get it? Sheepish!
aka The Insanity That Is My Life

So, to answer all the questions about where the heck I’ve been for the last few months, I’ve created the following fake meme.

What have you been doing for the last 4 months
Well,…

I’m back from Long Beach, CA and the TNNA market (yarn industry trade show). It was LOTS of fun. I met loads of great new people, saw some great people I met back in June, and overall had a great…

Karen in Toledo!!!

Karen will win a free membership in the Tour of DC Sock Club – Winter in Washington.

If anyone else is interested, i still have a few spots left, but the form on my website is being wonky. So…

VOTE FOR AN HGTV MAKEOVER OF ANACOSTIA, DC: YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
HGTV is going to remake one neighborhood from neighborhoods across the country and Anacostia is on the list. Anacostia is competing against nine other neighborhoods across the country for the…

Face it folks, you can’t knit everyone’s gift this holiday season. And you probably don’t want to. So, you’ll end up buying some gifts.

Now, if you’ve known me for awhile, you may have heard the story of the year…

First the two big things.

The Sock Club. Wow. I have been overwhelmed by the positive response from everyone. By popular demand (emphasis on the demand!), I’m increasing the maximum number of participants to 50 people. And I’ve selected the designer…

By popular demand, I am launching a Neighborhood Fiber Co. Sock Club. I’m calling it A Tour of DC, and the first segment will be “Winter in Washington.” For 3 months, sock club members will get yummy yarn in exclusive…

The launch of NFC’s Watershed yarn was a great success. Loads of people came out to Knit Happens to pick up some yarn and hear about the great work of the Anacostia Watershed Society. Many thanks to everyone the showed…

Well, I survived Stitched East. It was INSANE. I didn’t think to take a picture of my booth until today. Here I am after 4 days of smiling and standing on my feet on a concrete floor. Notice the crooked…

So, life and work have been even more insane than usual. But the good kind of insane! October is shaping up to be a great month for NFC.

First, look for me at Stitches East this weekend in Booth 342. I’ll…

Finally back and starting to be functional from the craziness of being in Ohio. Details of the trip are on the personal blog, but beware. There be cussin’ and drinking thereabouts.

Overall summary, huge success. I met so many wondeful people…

Neighborhood Fiber Co. was featured on the latest Lime & Violet podcast! Big thanks to Miss Lime and Violet for all the nice things they said about me. And also thanks to the Platonic Boyfriend for thinking I’m cute! Anyway,…

The good: Neighborhood Fiber Co. will be attending The National NeedleArts Association Market in Columbus, OH and the The Knitters Connection in Columbus, OH in June! The Knitters Connection is a new market (much like Stitches) with vendors, classes, and some…

So, I delivered yarn last week to A Tangled Skein and I’ve been dyeing like crazy to fill the order for Klose knit in Urbana, IL. So, if you want to get some NFC yarn from your LYS, let the…

We now have a new pattern on the Patterns page, new pictures and descriptions of each yarn, and new information on where to buy NFC yarns. Just click on the Buy tab on the menu. Enjoy!

Welcome to the new layout! Take a moment to browse around and get to know Neighborhood Fiber Co., DC’s own homegrown fiber arts company.