Pt 3 of our series that features Flock Fiber Festival meet & greet sneak peeks and the best wifi that Seattle's Parks department has to offer (lol) is here! 

This was our 1st festival partnership in this capacity. Meeting everyone and collecting their inspiring stories was so special, but we learned a lot! I cover some of those learnings and of course, you'll hear how these vendors we chatted with began their journeys as a maker! We also have a special peek into how 4 small businesses in WA work together to create beautiful fiber magic! 

Andrea of Apple Yarns-  With my husband, Andrew Evans, we started Apple Yarns in Bellingham, WA, in 2007 in a 700 sqft retail store.  Today Apple Yarns is made up of 4 unique divisions; in-person, online, subscriptions, and wholesale and we now occupy 4,000sq. ft. in Bellingham. In addition to loving colorful fiber, knitting, and crochet, one of the things that makes us unique is my love of small business. 

Jeananne of Cerulean Orchid- An online yarnie boutique and pattern house. We explore our curiosities and nerdom through yarn, patterns, stickers, project bags, and other yarnie goodies in collaboration with our favorite creatives.

Jean of Juni and Si - I started dyeing out of curiosity for how it was done and quickly realized I loved seeing my ideas put to yarn. Before I had a plan, I knew I wanted to name my colorways after songs I love. To me, music and color are a perfect match. Both can ignite inspiration, spark a memory or even convey a person’s mood without words.

Jessica of Purls and Postulates - Aside from inspiring the name for her small business, Jessica's passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and cultivating that passion in others helped her lead a successful career in education for almost a decade before she turned her focus to dyeing yarns and ensuring her two boys grow up with an enthusiasm for learning.

Ashleigh of Sewrella - Based in Apex, North Carolina, thousands of skeins of our whimsical, magical colorways get dyed every week for our preorder collections and in-stock tonals. We believe in the maker's experience being an indulgent one, complete with curated tools, housemade wool wash, hand cream formulated for makers, and so much more.

Reshma of Hello Lavender -  I launched Hello Lavender in 2016. I started by going to craft fairs and selling knitwear online but then transitioned into making polymer clay stitch markers and earrings in 2020, which took off in a way I could never have imagined.

Fibershed Chat - Sarah from San Juan Woolworks, Jess from Skagit Woolen Works, Lydia of Abundant Earth, and Emily of Local Color - A chat about the ways their businesses collaborate to make local yarn and fiber in western Washington, from raising the sheep and dye plants to carding and spinning.

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Music by Despatches.