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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 by and said hi.  I didn’t take any pics of the show, but I know [...]

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.  Like a place I belong.
And now back to frantically preparing for Stitches.

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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 embarrassed to say how long ago I started this project.   We’ll just say it’s been [...]

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 swear.
I’ve been running around like crazy getting ready for next week.  The Stitches Market is [...]

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 I’m always swamped with orders and prep for Stitches at this time of year.  So, [...]

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 the perfect number.  Everyone left with lovely hand-painted yarn and we all had lots of [...]

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 about how I work, and then for some fun with yarn.  We’ll do a dye [...]

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 non-DC colorway.  The answer to that is no.  Not because I’m not inspired by Mount [...]

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 be reskeined, labeled, and shipped out.

I’ve also been doing the fun stuff.  My birthday was [...]

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 could all post vague descriptions without pictures of our projects.  All of this is to [...]

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 of trees in my neighborhood.  Luckily, no one was hurt and there was no real [...]

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 attempt at rethinking urban space and so on and so forth.  For me, I’m applying [...]

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 my most recent move.
Now, you may have noticed something significant. Something serious. A [...]

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 that it’ll be up by the end of the weekend.
In the meantime, if you’re here [...]

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 what becomes of them. Do they make it to the ocean? Do [...]

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 and Knit Happens in Alexandria, though I’m not sure how many are [...]

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 to us East Coasters, but Columbus is a food town. There is [...]

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 post this pick of my little red car, a Fit named Trixie. [...]

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 powerpoint presentation on the past, present and future of Ravelry. Lots of cool [...]

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 spare room for the week.
I sold a lot at KC, [...]

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 a LONG weekend, but totally awesome. I met some great new people [...]

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, things got a bit crazy for awhile. After my last post, I was [...]

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 time. I took lots of orders. More yarn will be headed [...]

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 just send me an email if your interested, karida@neighborhoodfiberco.com
Congrats to Karen!

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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 makeover. YOU have the opportunity to help make that dream a reality by voting on [...]

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 my Mom and I decided to try and combat Christmas consumerism by [...]

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 for one of our exciting, exclusive patterns. The talented and [...]

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 colors, exclusive patterns, and goodies. The price is $90 including shipping in the [...]

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 up and to Holly, Aimee and everyone at Knit Happens!
I took [...]

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 glasses and manic smile. It’s a bit scary. Also, [...]

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 have LOTS of yarn, with a particularly large amount of Studio Sock.
Second, [...]

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 and did really great business. I’ll be sure to put it [...]

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, head on over to their blog and download it or check it [...]

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 great authors. There’s even a live Lime and Violet podcast on Wednesday, [...]

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 owner know! I’m ready and willing to take orders….

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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!

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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.

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