I have loved your tutorials & really appreciate them but you are correct- my grocery bill is twice what it was last month. I can’t afford hand dyed yarn. I wish all the best to you in your new career. Thank you for all you have given to the fiber industry.
Thank you so much for all your contributions to the fiber arts community. You helped me fall in love with dyeing yarn for myself. I'm sure you'll bring so much beauty and artistry to the hair industry and whatever other endeavors you pursue!
I'm so sorry to hear this and 100 percent understand, being a small business owner that went through something similar (soap making business). Have you considered doing it part-time? Like weekends, only?
This is real talk. It’s not just the yarn industry - it’s across various industries. Until very recent, I was a consultant for a number of business and the amount of businesses just taking loss after loss year after year is staggering. We have runaway inflation right now, so the new cost of labor is just causing prices to skyrocket, but it’s not keeping up with salaries, so people have to cut somewhere. It’s sad as ultimately, it’s the small businesses that suffer the worst.
I’m so sorry. You have been such an inspiration to me on my fiber journey. You will be truly missed! I’m looking forward to your book. You will be amazing at whatever path you choose!!! 💖💖💖
This is just awful, I am so sorry. I did a good amount of indie dyeing research about a decade ago, took a very long hiatus, just got interested in it again and the price difference in basic necessary items made it clear immediately that it was a barrier I wouldn't be able to cross again. It's heartbreaking to hear it's hit your business so hard, I just found your channel today and my heart bleeds for you! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and all the lovely fibers you've provided people over the years ♥
The entire economy is in flux, and the public is nervous about “what’s coming next!?”. This is hitting independent businesses in fiber arts particularly hard, sadly. I used to get upset with people who only shopped for yarn at big box craft stores, but fiber artists are going to go where they can afford to shop. And you’re right - people are making choices about $30 to $50 a skein yarn vs the ones on sale at the big box where they can get a bag full for the price of a single skein. I sure don’t know what the answer is but I’m so sorry to hear of your struggle, your business challenges and I wish you the best on your continued journey!! ❤
I am sorry to hear this. I have learned a lot from your online videos. I dyed some merino top following your techniques, and will be spinning it up for Tour de Fleece this year. I am excited for your book to come out, and wish you the best.
And we now have a generation of young adults who were raised on their phones and tablets, and not learning creative endeavors. I know. I am a recently retired art teacher. The changes in youngsters exposure to art materials is sadly lacking at home now. As a result, fewer young adults are persuing creative outlets such as fiber arts and other media in any capacity. Wishing you good luck in your future endeavors.
I couldn't agree with you more. I have a brick and mortar yarn shop and have not even come close to pre-COVID levels. I am holding out for the fall sales and then I will be selling off all my store contents hoping to get more the 10 cents on the dollar. Then I'll be looking for a job. Wish me luck at the age of 64. My shop was supposed to be my retirement.
@@kendellbrown3753 it could be translated to crochet but wouldn't look the same and would require a lot of shaping knowledge , tiny hooks and an ability to read charts.
I have been in the yarn biz for 20+ years. The knitting/yarn industry goes up and down in dramatic swings. It always has and always will. It’s a bit like “Who moved my cheese.” Expecting everything to stay the same, because it has worked before. We have to always be changing, growing, adapting, trying new things. You have so many talents… pivoting won’t be difficult for you. 🩷
So sorry they it’s not a viable business at this time- you are so talented. I really appreciate your behind-the-scenes videos about the dark side of selling indie dyed yarns. Over the pandemic I considered launching a business but a little research, plus some of your videos convinced me to not scale up, but to remain a hobbyist. Good luck on your next adventure!
I would say the industry or fad is waning, real knitters will keep knitting but niches like yours will be the first go to. There will be a comeback but that may take a decade or so.
I ended up closing my fiber animal rescue farm nearly 10 years ago for similar reasons. i had the same feelings of loss and no longer finding joy in fiber activities I once enjoyed. I finally just picked up my needles and sat at my wheel again only a couple years ago.
Hello Nicole I am so sorry to learn that you struggle too. I closed my own business last October for the same reasons and because I could not find joy in the process anymore and it was getting to a point where my psychological health was in jeopardy. I feel you with all my heart, I really hope that your future occupations will fulfill you ❤ Love from Canada 🇨🇦
I'm not sure it was the pandemic. The market started to become saturated ahead of that. This really was inevitable. I was handdying decades ago, and also had a small retail space. People got the "fever" and bought a bunch of gorgeous yarn at higher prices than they were used to paying in the big box stores because the yarn was so much better. Lots of folks now have an expensive stash larger than they can ever use up. At the very time all that was happening, those big box stores have made deals with Turkey etc to produce yarns very similar in color, feel etc to the hand-dyed...and are able to sell it for far less than what hand-dyers need in order to supply their yarn. It was and continues to be a perfect storm...but not unusual for a niche market. Like you said - "it's become an industry that's dead in the water". I'm sorry for the heartache you are feeling. I know the pain!! Looking forward to the book....and based on your gorgeous hair, I'm sure you will do awesome on your new path!!! Hugs.
@@plansandprocrastination in my specific case, which of course is only one data point, it was 100% correlated to the pandemic. I have a trend line of percentage of sales relative to total shop updates and wholesale orders and it's straight down starting in like May or June of 2020 to now. Less every year. Going from nearly 100% sell through to hovering at 10% in a 4 year stretch is just the end of the road for me. I agree about the over saturation of new dyers coming in and undercutting prices and flooding the market. It was a delicate ecosystem that got so out of balance there's been a mass extinction event. And as you said, people who bought yarn as a hobby now need to focus on stash busting. My silver lining is that I get to fall in love with textiles again and do it as a hobby with no thought to profit margin or quarterly taxes. Just pure creative fun. My creative soul needs that sustenance now.
I concur, the trend was headed down before, I got a good bit of a boost during the pandemic (now dropped back, and perhaps a bit below), but definitely the commercial industry figuring out how to get the hand dyed look, as well as nicer yarns, has made a huge dent. The Ravelry makeover didn't help, and TNNA gone and now Stitches, among other things that have happened.....social media algorithms, etc. There will still be demand, but it isn't as strong for sure, and you either need to be a marketing wizard and do plenty of shows/wholesale/whatever to be able to do it as a full time income, or do it as a side hustle and flex with the market. I still love it and will keep going for now, but I'm sitting at 55% of my low goal of profit, it'll improve some (I've pre-bought stock), but it'll still be way under last year unless Q3 & 4 are totally amazing by some miracle. Club keeps me going, there's no way I could keep the store stocked and marketed enough to be profitable by itself, and numbers are down in that, too. Shipping costs are also making a large impact, both for buyers from the shop, and on me as it is rolled into Club price and I don't like to increase it on loyal subscribers.
I totally understand where you are coming from. I am sorry to hear your struggles and I totally get it being in business is rough. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
A similar thing is happening with quilt shops - and they don’t have the expense of making their own fabric! The current economic situation is definitely making a lot of us shop our stash first, or figure out other ways to get maximum enjoyment from our hobbies with minimal cash. Hopefully your book will land well with hobby dyers as well as wannabe professionals. I know I can find more space in my craft budget for a resource I can refer to over and over again (or at least plan to - who knows if I’m actually going to dye yarn for myself? But your book will make me feel like I totally can if I want to!).
I have resorted to purchasing all my yarns on ebay at discounted prices by bidding, otherwise I would not still be in very small scale production of natural hand knitted baby blankets and shawls
It is very sad. But these are critical times hard to deal with. People are having a hard time paying for the necessities of life and don’t have the money for fun. Glad you are able to support yourself doing hair.
In 2022 as prices rose for essential items I watched my pattern sales plummet 82%. They never recovered. I spent the rest of that year working for free. The following year i tried to grow my own food to feed us and failed at that too 😅 I don't have the overhead on supplies that a dyer has but I definitely understand where you are coming from. I make the majority of my patterns available as free tutorials and YT ad rev is just not enough to make a living off of at my level anyway 😅. I'm so sorry that you are facing closing. For what it's worth I subbed and I do hope that things find a way to turn around for you. Sending love and light and creative vibes as you work on your book. 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
I have absolutely loved your content over all these years. You taught me how to speckle. U gave me a better version of purple pop using the 2 separate dyes. I use your dye atlas every single time I dye yarn for a project or if I am going shopping to spring for a new jar of dye, I consult those laminated pages for hours. I have always wanted to buy one of your gorgeous batts. But I will definitely buy your book. Is it available for preorder? You have been one of the constant teachers throughout my fiber arts journey. I wish you all the success and happiness for you and your family And I hope you will continue to share what you may be crafting for yourself personally But understand if you didn’t for all the years you have given your time and knowledge I appreciate every bit of it. You inspired me and made me a better crafter/dyer/batt maker etc Thank you frost yarn/nicole❤ For all of it- you are a fiber icon
I'm sorry this has happened to you. It must be so frustrating to know that tons of people would love to be able to afford to buy your yarns but just don't have the spare cash anymore. It may be a very long time before people can really afford such luxuries again, sadly. Inflation is so out of control and most people are feeling the pinch. I know I am. I wish you all the best in your new endeavors and I look forward to reading your book when it comes out.
When your book is ready, I'll gladly buy a few cookies. I'm sorry this is how you feel at this punt in your story and history. Just to let you know I think you are amazing and so is your work
Heartbreaking doesn't even describe the sense of loss on so many levels when something you love and have poured your life, heart, and soul into not only is no longer viable for you, but has had the joy drained out of it because of all of the stress of trying to keep the lights on. My heart aches for you and the other indie dyers and makers who are experiencing the same. Thank you for all you have done, will be supporting your book, and wishing for you that the corner you are turning winds up having a light at the end that will bring you a sense of renewed creativity no matter what that path is.
Sorry to hear this. It is so sad that this is happening. I wasn't able to attend your fabulous work shop in Minneapolis as I live in Northern California and couldn't manage the expenses for the travel, hotel, etc. I was still wishful that there'd be a workshop in California 😢. My prayers are with you that you find fulfillment. Ignore the haters, they are outnumbered by those who love you❤
Thank you for your honesty. As a dyer I thought i was the only one having these struggles. My dyeing is a fundraiser for a charity I started in 2016. 100% of the money we raise directing funds our mission: making comfort wraps for moms whose children have cancer. I won’t give up on this fundraiser but I will keep my expectations realistic thanks to your sharing and being honest. I will look for your book and wish you the best of luck❤️
@@californiaproud3638 my fervent hope is that a real person did not write this, but a bot someone is teaching to troll the web. I can't imagine having such a grim, ugly life as to leave comments like this on the accounts of people like me who spent decades providing free education to the public. I hope something joyful happens for you that knocks the desire to harass others in your free time
Lots of people care and love Nicole. I’m sorry you’ve got so much negativity in your life that you feel the need to attack others. I hope you find something positive that makes you change your attitude on life.
Sorry that you had to give up a business that you loved and nurtured. I tried selling some handmade items and had negative profit. I love looking at RU-vid videos. I am finding that there are way too many channels with similar information. I don't have time to read them all.
I loved your dye videos they helped me a lot when I was learning to dye. I hope to buy your book I honestly cannot wait for it! I have a small Etsy shop and I get views but no one buying. I was doing the dying for fun and maybe make a little money. But it is very hard out there. I am so sorry that your business is not doing well... I love what you do! I hope things change soon and good luck with everything!
You're color sense and experimental bent are fantastic, but yeah, there market is over-saturated, and people are struggling to feed themselves. It's hard to justify 25+ dollars a skein for yarn when you have to feed the family. I think your sense of fun and color will be great on hair and I look forward to your book despite not being a dyer or wanting to dye to sell.
Am there with you. Was in hot area for 15 so no thought of yarn. Moved north and was shocked by cost of pretty yarn. Raising kids and bad economy made new underwear a luxury. Wanted natural fiber, started drop spinning and eventually started local alpaca spinning. Thing is at 66 don't need more clothes,heck am still wearing cotton sweaters from 80s! Have books written 15 years ago not published as bottom line is net loss. Was doing dove releases but people aren't realistic.. distance=gas, time, feeding birds is year round, bespoke basket is not disposable .So that's technically a hobby also. The only upside is we have incredible skills baked into us and the screw will turn again. Good luck
