Vendor Spotlight: Cloudlover, Heartland “Criations” Alpacas

YarnCon vendors come from as far away as Colorado and Massachusetts, but today we’re checking in with two vendors closer to home. Cloudlover is based right here in Chicago, and has brought her vibrant hand-painted fiber and yarn to YarnCon from the first. Heartland “Criations” raises alpacas in Rio — the western Illinois one, that is — and is rejoining us after a great YarnCon debut in 2015.

(That name is no misspelling, by the way— for you non-alpaca aficionados, a “cria” is a baby alpaca. But you all already knew that, didn’t you?)


Cloudlover Yarn & FiberCloudlover
http://www.cloudlover.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I specialize in dyeing unique, eye-catching colorways that are inspired by art, nature, literature and fashion.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Merino/Silk hand-painted sock yarn. This sock weight base is 50% merino wool and 50% silk. It’s incredibly soft and glossy and has an amazing drape.

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Merino/Silk sock yarn in Séance

Blue-Faced Leicester wool top and roving: BFL wool is soft, lustrous and easy to spin – it’s a perfect fiber for beginners, too!

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BFL Wool Top/Roving in Sugar Maple


Heartland CriationsHeartland “Criations” Alpacas
http://www.hcalpacas.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
At Heartland “Criations” Alpacas, we have been raising Suri alpacas for 16 years. Not only do we raise and show the livestock, we also sell raw and finished alpaca products in a variety of locations. We process all of our own fiber, and we we also work with additional companies to bring you, our customer, the highest quality alpaca products possible. There is no lanolin in alpaca fiber, thus making it hypo-allergenic, and it is a very luxurious and durable natural fiber. It is known for being warmer than wool and possessing great moisture wicking properties.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Mid-weight alpaca socks: ideal to wear with a tennis shoe, hiking boot, or work boot. They are 80% alpaca, are a crew height and have amazing cushion! This is my favorite sock, by far!!!

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This 100% alpaca scarf looks fantastic and feels incredible against your skin! This is a scarf that you can dress up or dress down, and is available in a variety of color combinations.

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Vendor Spotlight: Leading Men Fiber Arts, Jelby, Woolpierogi

Welcome to the latest installation of “Meet the Vendors!” This time around, we’re checking in with Leading Men Fiber Arts, returning for their third straight year, and the dynamic duo of Jelby and Woolpierogi, whose whimsical accessory and fiber creations complement each other beautifully.


Leading Men Fiber ArtsLeading Men Fiber Arts
http://leadingmenfiberarts.bigcartel.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
Partners Steve and Andy are center stage in the world of color. They specialize in hand dyed yarns and fibers.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
New this year, we will have gradient sets:

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as well as our Improv Sock Blanks:

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JelbyJelby
http://jelby.etsy.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I love coming up with new ideas and designs every year!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
New improved version of Stitch Stoppers will be available, along with new themed stitch marker kits. The kits will include a felted/embroidered tin, snagfree markers and a special charm marker.

jelby


woolpierogiWoolpierogi
http://woolpierogi.etsy.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
In addition to fiber, I have a passion for both color and texture. It is wonderful to find a way to combine all of my passions into the perfect batt or rolag. I love taking a concept like a pencil or a lightsaber or a birthday cake and representing them in wool.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
I’m very excited about my new Twinkle Kits. A batt is combined with a string of LED lights that you can use to core spin. The result is a super cool wool covered decoration that is perfect to decorate any crafty home or space.

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Vendor Spotlight: San Juan Alpacas, Hearthside Fibers, Kitchen Counter Crafter

We’ve been working through all the vendor applications, and are just about done notifying everyone who’s applied. If you applied and haven’t heard, we promise you will very soon! (It was a long list.) Before we start mixing in the newbies, let’s meet a few more of our veteran vendors, shall we?

We missed Kim of San Juan Alpacas last year, and are thrilled to have her back in 2016! She’s always got tons of luscious alpaca goods, including finished pieces with no assembly required. Hearthside Fibers is a mainstay on our vendor floor; but Lael and Larry always bring something new and fun! Jennie of Kitchen Counter Crafter joined us for the first time in 2015, and we’re excited to see what new bags and accessories she’s cooking up for us this year. Pictures, please!


San Juan AlpacasSan Juan Alpacas
http://www.sanjuanalpacas.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
My grandmother taught me to knit at age 6. I’ve been knitting ever since! I started San Juan Alpacas in 2001. Now, I have 7 alpacas and enjoy selling all sorts of soft, lovely alpaca goods: yarn, hand knits, knitting kits, blankets and socks.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Hand-knits and kits:

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Alpaca blankets! Selection and design changes year-round; some items use fiber from our alpaca co-op in Telluride, others are made by artisans in Peru, where they know their alpaca.

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Hearthside FibersHearthside Fibers
http://www.hearthsidefibers.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
Since we were there last year, several designers have used our yarns to design gorgeous patterns. Stop by our booth to check them out!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Lael has started designing. Currently, we have kits for both a slouch hat and an infinity scarf, designed “in house” using our BaaBoo fingering weight yarn. Available in four color palettes.

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“New Directions” Infinity Scarf Kit – Aqua/yellow version


Kitchen Counter CrafterKitchen Counter Crafter
http://www.kitchencountercrafter.com

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I create fun and functional fabric accessories for the fiber lover.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
I’m debuting a zippered pouch, circular needle organizer and interchangeable needle holder to the product line in 2016!

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Inside peek at Cortado, my new circular needle organizer. This has 8 pockets for needles with small vinyl pockets to identify needle size.

 

Vendor Spotlight: Knitter’s Journey and Essential Fibers

Happy Monday! Time for another preview of the vendors we’re lining up for April.

Bev at Knitter’s Journey is well-known for her awesome knit-with-wire kits — beads and stones give them tons of extra sparkle — but she’s got plenty of other goodies in store, too. Essential Fiber joined us for the first time last year, but Michelle is coming back (all the way from Virginia!) with her vast semisolid color range. Check out a few of the things they’ve got on tap for April.


Knitter's JourneyKnitters’ Journey
http://knittersjourney.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
We have handcrafted shawl pins!

 

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Exclusive artisan-made enameled shawl pins:

knittersjourneypin

Great selection and great prices on Blue Heron Rayon Metallic:

kjblueheron


Essential Fiber

Essential Fiber
https://www.essentialfiber.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
We offer over 375 colors on any of our over 3 dozen yarn and fiber bases. You choose the combo so you know you’ll have exactly what you want.

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Gradient Sets are offered in many of our bases. You get to pick the colors of these too! If you don’t need a whole set, you can also order single mini skeins in any color you want.

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Essential Fiber fiber sampler pack


More vendor previews coming on Thursday!

Vendor Spotlight: cjkoho Designs and Yarn Geek Fibers

We’ve been poring over the vendor applications, and oh boy, you guys are in for a treat. We’re really having to make some tough choices this year!

In the meantime, let’s start meeting the vendors already lined up for April. We asked some returning vendors to share featured products along with what they MOST want you to know about them, so let the drooling commence! We’re starting off with the first two vendors that signed up to come back, both longtime friends of YarnCon, and two dyers who know a LOT about color: Carla of cjkoho Designs, and Sarah of Yarn Geek Fibers.


cjkoho Designscjkoho Designs
http://www.cjkoho.etsy.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
For me, dyeing is alchemy. I am constantly surprised by what I can do with a little water and some powder. There’s no such thing as an ugly color!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
My Two-Hearted yarn is a single sock skein and the colors are meant to be mixed and matched.

cjkoho Designs: Two-Hearted in Tanya


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Yarn Geek Fibers
http://yarngeekfibers.com/

What would you MOST like YarnCon shoppers to know about you?
I love to demonstrate new skills and and answer questions, so please ask me!

Any special or featured products you want to share?
Rocketeer 5-Packs: Superwash wool with a delightful touch of Cashmere and bit of nylon for longevity. Each skein contains approximately 120 yards for a total of 600 yards per 5-Pack.

Yarn Geek Fibers: Rocketeer 5-Pack in Leaf on the Wind

Yarn Geek Fibers: Rocketeer 5-Pack in Leaf on the Wind

 

Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber: 70% Blue Faced Leicester wool combed top and 30% Firestar sparkle.

Yarn Geek Fibers: Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber in Peacocks Can Fly

Yarn Geek Fibers: Blue Faced Leicester Wool Spinning Fiber in Peacocks Can Fly


Some kickoff, eh? The blog’s about to get a LOT more colorful as we continue our sneak peeks right up until YarnCon. What will you be shopping for? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Wisconsin Sheep & Wool; Midwest Knits Project

I spent last weekend at the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI, helping out the comedically talented Carl at the Bijou Basin Ranch booth. In between fondling the yak/bamboo blend and taking Flat-Stanley-style pictures of Lego Spider-Man, I had a great time hanging out with current YarnCon friends and making possible new ones. It was thrilling to see our save-the-date bookmarks on vendor tables throughout the Country Store, and it was a good thing I’d brought more along to replenish their supplies!

Emily of Bricolage Studios was our next-door neighbor, which facilitated a few “Home Improvement”-style chats through the booth dividers. Thanks, Emily, for not minding the many folks I sent over to use your mirror! Rita (Yarn Hollow) and Carla (Cjkoho Designs) had me in stitches every time I headed past their combined space to the trashcan or the parking lot; there was no sneaking past those two without exchanging a joke or an idea for next year. Jeanette from Sun Valley Fibers let Spidey crawl all over her booth without calling for Security. My pal Sam tagged along for the ride up from Chicago, and more than repaid the favor by scouting new vendors for next year: at the hotel Saturday night, she handed me more than a dozen business cards from interesting vendors to research. Thanks for a great time, y’all!

Tell us: who would YOU most like to see bring their goods to next year’s YarnCon? Our mission is to spotlight regional, independent fiber- and fiber-related artists of all types, so if you’ve got an indie fave we should check out, hit us up with a name and a link in the comments below.

And speaking of regional: Midwestern Knits is a book project helmed by Allyson Dykhuizen, fiber world tour de force, together with fellow knitwear designer Carina Spencer. The book promises 12 patterns inspired by the stories and culture of the Midwest while highlighting regionally-sourced yarns. Allyson has supported YarnCon from the very first: variously as an instructor, vendor, and sponsor, always with her unflagging enthusiasm and positive energy. Please help us support this endeavor of hers in return! Allyson and Carina are taking pre-orders and raising funds for the project via Kickstarter, with only two weeks and a little less than half of their goal to go. All the details are here.

And now for some Lego Spider-Man in action:

Loss Prevention Specialist

Loss Prevention Specialist

In the Forest of Yarn Merry-Go-Rounds

In the Forest of Yarn Merry-Go-Rounds

Sales Floor Associate

Sales Floor Associate