Yarns to Love
The Wonderful, Woolly World of Karida Collins
I can’t remember exactly when I first encountered the work of master hand dyer Karida Collins. Karida lives and works in Baltimore, where she founded Neighborhood Fiber Company in 2006.
I think the first skein I ever saw was in my local yarn store. I was drawn in by a selection of Neighborhood Fiber Company’s Studio Worsted yarn, in colors that were clearly hand-dyed, but still felt right for a city wardrobe: jewel tones, saturated reds, blues and greens, and neutrals that didn’t read “neutral” at all. Karida’s dyeing style can take a classic shade—charcoal, for example—and make it come alive in a radiant gray-dient.
Karida Collins’s astonishing take on kid mohair + silk: Loft.
We got some Neighborhood Fiber Company yarn in the MDK Shop as soon as we could, starting with Loft, Karida’s astonishing hand-dyed version of a classic kid mohair and silk blend. We originally brought it in for Ann Weaver’s Sommerfeld Shawl in MDK Field Guide No. 4: Log Cabin, but started carrying it by the skein when we realized that—hello!— knitters would enjoy mixing and matching from this palette themselves. Next, we brought in NFC’s Studio Chunky, a soft rope of a yarn in glazed colors that look baked on, perfect for Thea Colman’s Slip-Stitch Cap in MDK Field Guide No. 8: Merry Making.
Past is Prologue
With the publication of MDK Field Guide No. 11, the world’s handiest mini-manual on making socks, we saw the chance to bring a completely different style of Karida’s dyeing into the MDK Shop.
The colors of Neighborhood Fiber Company’s Studio Sock will never remind anyone of sensible shoes or flannel suits. These yarns are wild and vivid, whether they take their inspiration from an artist, a mood, or a Baltimore street.
Alice Gadzinsky (Kay’s fave).
Swoon.
Stephen Towns.
Sandy Point.
Nekst.
Logan Circle.
Hampden.
Basquiat.
Banksy.
There is strength in numbers, and in twist. Where other sock yarns blend in silk or nylon to add the durability needed for wool that will be walked on, Studio Sock’s solution is to combine 4 double plies of yarn.
Karida herself is a bright light in both the knitting and dyeing worlds, and an inspiring community leader. To learn more about her, good places to start are this piece in the Baltimore Sun, and her interview with Miriam Felton on the Yarn Stories podcast.
And to experience Karida’s exhilarating ways with color through your knitting needles, get yourself a skein of Studio Sock and have a good time.
I am such a fan of NFC’s gorgeous yarn, and Karida herself (as a fan girl, only met her once at Rhinebeck) Her work in yarn and community is inspiring!
Fan here, too. Met her and Ann Weaver both, at Stitches West some years ago. Two of my yarn heroes.
Karida is a lovely woman and an amazing, talented yarn artist. She also has an gift of remembering people (and their names!). I have NFC’s yarn in my sock stash and am also a fan gitl!!
Such pretty yarn
Another fan girl here. The very first sweater I knit that fit (thank you Amy Herzog) was in NFC studio worsted. Still one of my favorite sweaters.
What is the name of the cowl Ms. Collins is wearing in the picture (and the yarn it’s knit in)?
I have long been a fan of Karida’s yarns and colors. I just received my order of Banksy in fingering weight to make a Tegna. Glad we’re on the same page again.
I was wondering the same thing!
It’s High Street by Karida’s fellow Baltimorean, Ann Weaver.
Here’s the Ravelry link: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/high-street-2
Thanks for asking!
Thank you Kay! Oooh it’s worsted weight (my fave) held with her Loft. Scrumptious MDK doesn’t carry her worsted yarn, right? And it’s put up in 400 yds!! I’d love to get my hands on that!!!
Her Studio Worsted is LUSCIOUS. And yes, 400 wonderful yards, so fewer skeins for a big project. I’ve used it for so many projects.
If MDK and/or your LYS don’t carry it, you can order directly from Karida on her website.
I’m swooning over Swoon.
Same here!
What gorgeous colors!!!!!
Must look away
I was fortunate to visit “the Neighborhood” IRL because My Little Sailor is stationed near Baltimore. The Studio is located in an historic firehouse in downtown Baltimore, with the shop above. What a delightful experience! My Little Sailor thinks I will return “to visit HIM!” ROFLMAO
Neighborhood Fiber Yarns are yummy — I first discovered them at Vogue Knitting in NYC; lovely colors and lovely hand. So glad other people are discovering this yarn!
Karida you are awesome though I am not yet a knitter! LOL!