Our March Artist of the Month is Liberty from Liberty’s Yarn. Liberty dyed for us lots of gorgeous semi-solid and variegated colorways which I hope you’ll love as much as I did! We picked Liberty’s Jabbersocky because of its totally new to us fiber content. This yarn is a 75% Superwash Corriedale wool/ 25% Nylon and is completely machine washable. The Corriedale is the result of selected breeding using Lincoln and English Leicester rams on Merino ewes. This breed is the oldest of the crossbred wool breeds. The yarn feels great against the skin and would make durable, beautiful and comfortable pairs of socks. Her yarn will be available on March 1st. In the mean time, you can have a look at the colorways available right here on Flickr.
1. What is your name, company name and which city and state are you from?
My name is Liberty Montano and I’m Liberty’s Yarn. I am located in Buckley Washington right at the foot of Mt. Rainier.
2. How long have you been dying yarn?
I have been dyeing yarn for about 4 years now.
Kermis
3. How did you get started?
My sister and I tried kool-aid dyeing for the first time about 4 summers ago and loved it so much that we got our knitting group dyeing yarn too. And from there sprouted another Swell Yarn you may have heard of. =) I started dyeing for the shop about a year and a half ago as a fun way to pass the time while my kids were in school. I started in my kitchen and have since moved to a little dyeing shed out back. Its surrounded by a veggie garden, raspberry bushes and shaded by a big old apple tree. So lovely in the summer.
4. What motivates you?
Everything. I love to play with colors that I don’t think will go together, opposites, and wonky layers. I love to let the colors blend and merge on the yarn – to really let the fiber do the talking. Its so magical.
Tulip
5. What is the favorite product you’ve ever made?
To date – my absolute favorite yarn to dye is the Bluetopia. It just needs to be near the dye and it sucks up the color in the most vibrant and stunning fashion. My favorite yarn to work with is probably the Sportmagundi. I’m a sucker for DK weight and I adore this yarns sproingy feel.
6. Do you have any advice for other fiber artists
Play. Don’t follow the rules. Don’t even go looking for rules. All colors ‘go together’. Don’t be afraid to explore. Try to make something ‘ugly’ every once in a while, you might just be surprised how amazing it turns out. Question your definition of ‘beauty’. Most important – have fun.
7. Are there any designers, fiber artists or any other artist you consider your role model?
There are too many to count. I spend way too much time online and Zen Yarn Garden and Unique Sheep have always been invaluable sources of both inspiration and information. I am humbled by Kathryn Alexander’s use of colors and completely floored by Hunter Hammersen’s sock patterns.
Hibiscus
8. Please share with us a zany or interesting thing about you. It does not have to be fiber related.
I like to read cookbooks. I have a cookbook hoarding issue – they are seriously taking over my living room. I adore funky, odd, period, soup, and bread cookbooks. Recently over 200 volumes were culled hoping to get down to the 300 that I actually use. LOL I love it when I find a cookbook author who can really turn a phrase or write a compelling narrative about their recipes. Some of my favorites are early American or Amish collections that offer a small taste of the culture and insight into what being ‘the cook’ is to them. The artwork and photography in many cookbooks is so incredible now that it’s often been an inspiration in my dyeing. I mean really, who wouldn’t want a yarn that looks like Nigella Lawson’s latest chocolate dream dessert? =)
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