Thoughts from h+h americas // Episode 201 // Taking Back Friday // a fibre arts vlog

[@Knittingfeverinc]

What a wonderful event this year, hope to link up at the next one!

[@kohchenchen]

I don’t know how best to say this, but you are definitely not alone! I have always loved your videos because you have a way of putting into words exactly how I feel as a lifelong maker whose multiple interests are always in conflict with my roles as a daughter, mother, wife, studio owner, friend, colleague and so much more. The tensions you feel, and so openly share, resonate with me in so many ways. While I sometimes wish I was located much closer to SGY and all the lovely North American fiber friends I have met on my recent trip, I do constantly remind myself that the internet, and the pandemic, had gifted me the amazing ability to connect and get to know all of you!

[@marymack1]

Loving the fibers arts school! I got a lot out of the photography class...and I have photography experience, lol.

[@SBVancouver]

The expertise of the staff is super helpful. The best is when they offer classes to share that expertise.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Couldn't agree more!

[@Bobbieliz]

I enjoyed your take on the H & H show! Well explained about what it is.. I hadn't gotten the idea before this on other KZbins.

[@dorisstrand7870]

that salted caramel handspun yarn is drool worthy!

[@rachelkarcher2565]

My local yarn shop is The Websters in Ashland, Oregon. The thing I love about the shop is the welcoming staff that try their hardest to help you find whist you need.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Oh they do have a lovely staff at The Websters! That's a shop I'd like to visit in person one day!

[@hhamericas]

Thank you for making this great video. This is amazing; feedback like this will push the team to take things to the next level in 2024.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much!! It was a pleasure to be at the event ☺

[@mlmbbm1955]

My local yarn shop has limited hours. During COVID I sought out women owned/run shops all over the US and beyond. I especially love those who give back and support other women. I live in Northern Minnesota so support also Yarn Harbor in Duluth MN. Fiberside Chats have led me all over. I absolutely love Sweet Georgia yarns. On my bucket list to visit one day along with Kate Davies in Scotland. My husband just shakes his head whenever the UPS or FedEx trucks stop in front of our house! He is a proud Canadian so I just say “No worries, just a little something from Canada!”.🇨🇦🍁

[@sweetgeorgia]

Aww, thank you so much! I do hope that you'll visit us one day! ☺💗

[@angiemcdermid4845]

Just gathered our local friends together for knit night once a month in Chilliwack. Such a delight. We are the Nightswatch

[@sweetgeorgia]

😆 that’s AWESOME

[@andreat1752]

I can absolutely relate to feeling of being the only one who's interested in fibre arts. I used to have a close friend who was even more prolific and had an even wider interest in different kind of handicrafts than me. Unfortunately she died of cancer seven years ago. Since then there's no one in my circle of friends (or family members) that I can share that interest with. Which is something I really miss a lot. That's the reason why I started watching knitting and fibre related podcasts. It's great to know, that there's a world wide community of crafters out there. I might not be able to meet them in person, but there's a feeling of connection anyway, which is a really wonderful thing. The local yarn shops here are little underwhelming unfortunately. The owners are mostly unfriendly, which is a bit weird and sell yarn more or less the same yarns from two big brands. There're two shops that almost solely sell Lana Grossa yarns and one that's a shop of a german brand called Wolle Rödel. They only carry superwash yarns and none of them sells any local product. That's kind of a bummer I think. But a little drive away there's a farm with a shop that sells wool from rather local sheep farmers. The milling happens in Belgium, but they dye the wool themselves and it's all organic and non superwash, which is great.

[@cherylsimpson8983]

Icon in DePere Wisconsin. Now they have their own space (vs being in a corner of the floral shop kiddy corner) and has a bit of everything: lots of yarn, weaving and spinning and dying supplies! If they don’t have something they are willing to order it for you or guide you to where it can be obtained. After losing my favorite LYS’s to retirement it’s great to have such an enthusiastic owner of lys again. I love supporting small businesses. My favorite vacation souvenir is yarn or something special from a lys. I am getting “hooked” on amigurmi as my next fiber adventure.

[@TJtheBee]

All of my local yarn shops are closed, sadly. :( But I would love to support a few in the nearest city so they get support, too! For now though, it's primarily online. I would love to foster more community and connection between crafters here in my city, too.

[@BenjaminKrudwig]

I will say - I miss going to TNNA and seeing everyone, so this is really exciting to see a new resurgence in this industry!

[@sweetgeorgia]

Absolutely! It was just like TNNA except with quilting and without needlepoint…

[@ceciliaross6332]

What colors specifically are in the sweater you're wearing, and do you offer them as a kit?

[@sweetgeorgia]

Thank you! We used Tough Love Sock in Amber Ale (at the top), Sangria, Cassis, Black Raspberry, and Twilight for the five fade colours and then one skein of Merino Silk Lace in Glow for the lace sections. Hope that helps!

[@shelleymitchell4670]

I own a LYS (Knitting Three Together in Huntsville, Ontario) and wish that I could expand into more fibre crafts but lack space and time unfortunately

[@sweetgeorgia]

For sure! I agree with you about space and time… we are challenged with that all the time too.

[@sweetgeorgia]

Tell me, what do you love about your local yarn shop?

[@Bobbieliz]

We have several (I think 13 at this point) around this city, and all of them have their own personalities, so it's a treat to visit all of them for different reasons. I truly hope that this array of wonderfulness continues.

[@sweetgeorgia]

@@Bobbieliz whoa!! 13 local yarn shops! That’s a lucky place to live! ☺️

[@Bobbieliz]

@@sweetgeorgia That is still almost impossible for me to take in, even though I have lived here since I began crocheting/knitting maybe 10 years ago. There used to be more. Most have weathered the CoVid and I hope they will all stay healthy. And we are not counting the usual big box stores that have yarns. Just yarn shops. Spinning, knitting, weaving is pretty big here, as one might expect.

[@TheKrishmaa]

@@Bobbielizwhere is here?

[@Bobbieliz]

@@TheKrishmaa Portland, OR

[@sharonbunker2340]

My closest shop is Wooly Bully