Knit or Crochet Texan [Part 1 of 3]

I really admire the mission of the Knit British podcast which is to Love Local Wool. I'd love to buy only British yarn but it would be a little tricky living in Texas although I do buy British when visiting friends and family on our summer jaunt to the UK.  But what if I wanted to knit or indeed crochet Texan? I think this topic is worthy of a series so this will be the first of three blog posts devoted to yarn industry folk local to me.

Local indie dyer: Inner Loop Dyeworks

My first thought is of local indie dyer Beth Bowers based right here in Houston. The store where I teach stocks her gorgeously vibrant skeins and I made a wonderful crochet shawlette from one of her exquisitely hand dyed yarns purchased in last year's trunk show. The yarn is called Heights and the colorway is Jewel Box. The pattern is the Rowan Berry Shawlette by Laurinda Reddig.

 

 

 

Local event: Houston Fiber Fest June 24-25
Where better to find local yarn folk than at a local event? This annual event takes place in June rather than July this year so I'm going to be able to attend. Hurrah! I took a little gander at the vendors list from last year. And there are so many I can include in my Knit or Crochet Texan series!

Local ranch: Bluebonnet Hills Alpaca Ranch
This caught my eye because the bluebonnets abound right now and I am more than a little obsessed with alpacas. Did you see my post entitled dreams of an alpaca farm? The ranch is around an hour from Houston, in Navasota, and they actually sell alpacas and run events too. On April 16th they have a Bluebonnet fiber tour which includes a visit to the alpacas and a yarn dying class. Just my kind of thing!

I'll pick out some more Texan yarn industry notables next week for you!