Those who love all things yarn connect in east Idaho - East Idaho News
Business & Money

Those who love all things yarn connect in east Idaho

  Published at  | Updated at

IDAHO FALLS — Spinning, knitting, crocheting, or weaving may conjure up scenes of grandma sitting on her rocking chair using her skills in days gone by. But rest assured, those skills are not a lost art. In fact, spinning, knitting, crocheting, weaving and the like are at the center of a thriving community in east Idaho.

The Craft Yarn Council, a national trade association, calls knitting and crocheting an increasingly popular hobby for people of all ages. That’s partly due to the internet, where people meet up from across the world to share their hobby. Online knitting site www.ravelry.com has more 7 million active users, who share patterns and ideas.

People in east Idaho who love all things yarn are finding each other, and they are learning what they can from one another. Not only that, they are connecting on a personal level and then joining forces to help the community.

Tish Vawter, owner of The Yarn Connection at 415 Park Ave. in Idaho Falls, can always tell whether a customer is a serious knitter or not. The serious knitter can’t help it — they have to touch all the yarn in her store.

“They will pick it up and feel it,” she said. “They’re very tactile.”

Twenty-one years ago, owning a yarn store wasn’t something Vawter would have envisioned herself doing.

“I don’t always listen to my mother, but she told me to open a yarn store. I figured after she told me three times I’d better listen,” Vawter said.

Yarn 04
Project ideas on display at The Yarn Connection give customers some ideas and inspiration. | Carrie Snider, EastIdahoNews.com

She started by renting a small space in a mini mall in downtown Idaho Falls, and she taught a community education class. Slowly business grew, and eventually she moved her yarn store to a space on Shoup Avenue. Then 10 years ago she opened in her current location on Park Avenue. It’s much bigger and can hold a large variety of yarn and knitting tools.

“I try to carry anything that is not carried in the craft stores,” she said. High quality yarns and tools are her specialty.

In her store, there is also a space for people to gather for knitting or crochet groups. While providing a great yarn selection has been crucial, Vawter found what her customers really craved was a place to gather with other yarn lovers. So they get together often to work on projects and learn from each other; but yarn and needles are only part of it.

“We are more than just a knitting group,” Vawter said. “We are a support group. We gather socially and have realized this is good therapy. If someone isn’t there, we find out where they are. Over the years members have lost spouses, and we bring meals and cards and support them.”

Yarn 07
Guild members demonstrate spinning and knitting. | Courtesy Weaving, Spinning & Fiber Arts Guild of Idaho Falls

They have become an important community of people, but they also do things for the community. At their regular unfinished projects group, members donate money to the local food bank. At times, group members have also knitted preemie hats, helmet liners and socks for soldiers, scarves for foster children, items for the Haven, and more.

Check out The Yarn Connection’s Facebook page for a full list of fall 2017 classes, including classes on making scarves, Christmas stockings, cardigans, and more.

Get Started in Spinning

Spinning has also gained in popularity right along with knitting and crocheting. It’s part of a resurgence to connect with where things come from. Knitters and crocheters love yarn, so it’s only natural they would want to study how it’s made. Spinning is the art of taking wool or other fibers and spinning it into yarn.

Julianne Ciddoway, of the popular YouTube channel Dirtpatcheaven Homestead, lives in Rigby with her family. Her videos focus on different aspects of their homestead, from animal care to medicinal herbs. She also has a series of videos that cover all things wool: washing, dying, carding, spinning. and knitting.

Yarn 11
A guild member demonstrates spinning. | Courtesy Weaving, Spinning & Fiber Arts Guild of Idaho Falls

“I learned how to spin when I was 8 years old in a 4-H class,” Ciddoway said. About that age she also was raising lambs so she used the wool, spinning it on her grandma’s hemp wheel. Years later, when she had to her YouTube channel, she branched out and realized how much spinning had grown in popularity and how much was out there.

While trying out a variety of spinning wheels has provided a lot of education for her and her YouTube viewers, what she has also learned is how important the wool itself is.

“I found it was hard to show videos using junk yarn,” she said. “A friend started selling premium wool, and when I started spinning with her wool it made a huge difference.”

Premium wool is much more expensive, but Ciddoway wanted yarn that would hold up over time; she was using it to make clothes for her family. “Viewers started asking about the clothes so I make some pieces and sell some on Etsy.com,” she explained.

Yarn 10
Until recently, the guild held a fiber faire where they offered demonstrations on different techniques. | Courtesy Weaving, Spinning & Fiber Arts Guild of Idaho Falls

Ciddoway has noticed that all things yarn seem to be something that women in particular are drawn to.

“Women are usually going, going, going all day. We need to sit down and rest. Knitting is something productive to do when you’re sitting, plus you have something to show at the end of the day. It’s an art.” She added that especially when you use a good quality yarn, the item can be an heirloom to pass down.

Ciddoway added that she hopes that with her videos, she can inspire beginners to start spinning and not be intimidated by it. The keys is to start small and practice.

“A lot of people start out with junky yarn and think they are bad at spinning. What you really need to do is get beautiful wool.” Besides that, start small and practice.

She suggested beginners start spinning by using what’s called a drop spindle. “If you can master that, then when you get a wheel you’ll be ahead of the curve. Learn to make a strong yarn. Find a friend or teacher who can help you with it.”

Certainly, YouTube videos can provide some great instruction to get started in spinning, but she said it’s so important to find someone close by who can teach you. Getting that in-person, one-on-one experience is priceless; because it’s more than just learning a skill, it’s about connecting and passing on knowledge.

Yarn 08
A variety of looms are available for use at the guild studio. | Courtesy Weaving, Spinning & Fiber Arts Guild of Idaho Falls

Local Studio and Classes

For those interesting in learning to spin, knit, crochet, weave, and the like, there is a studio space and classes dedicated to just that. The Weaving, Spinning, and Fiber Arts Guild of Idaho Falls offers a space and community of people who are experienced and willing to share their knowledge. The nonprofit group started in 1976.

The studio, located at 482 Constitution Way, Suite B-11 in Idaho Falls, has looms, spinning wheels, carders, a library of helpful books and more so people can try out different things. Mary Ellen Anderson, the weaving coordinator at the guild, said it’s a place of learning, but also connection.

“When I moved here in 1998, I found the guild and instantly had a community,” she said.
Guild membership fluctuates but is currently around 65 members, including people of all ages. “Some people bring their kids. We get excited when we get younger people. It always ads a sparkle to the evening.”

She added that anyone can learn to knit, crochet, spin, card, etc., and people can even pick it up later in life without any prior knowledge. “One man was 73 when he saw us at a demo at the fair. He and his wife spin and weave here at the studio. Now they are in their 80s.

“This is part of our ancestors’ lives. Everyone needed socks, hats, and coats. These days, it fluxuates in popularity. I think social stresses have an effect on it. In times of distress, people will seek things that help them relax and connect. Knitting has been shown to lower your heart rate and blood pressure. I can be really stressed out and sit at the spinning wheel and fall asleep.”

Anyone is invited to the guild’s open studio night on Tuesdays. The guild’s regular study classes throughout the week include: Warped Weavers, Dizzy Spinners, Tapestry, and Rug Hookers. They also have lots of other specialty classes, so check out the guild’s Facebook page for up-to-date information.

Yarn 03
Tish Vawter, owner of The Yarn Connection, focuses on carrying yarns not found in craft stores. | Carrie Snider, EastIdahoNews.com

SUBMIT A CORRECTION