Diversity and shipping updates.
Yarn is here and still arriving!!
Until the we opened the first box of Socks that Rock®, I did not realize how much Team Blue Moon and I had been holding our collective breaths. And fair – it’s been a long time coming; and it is not only our bread-and-butter yarn but basically our BFF yarn.
Once we had the bin filled with skeins, I wanted to crawl in and take a nap in it. I have not slept very well while all of this has been going down. It’s been stressful!
Anyway… we are dyeing and processing it as fast as we can. And there are quite a few of you waiting, so we will be balancing all of that so we can keep everyone happy. We have Sock Club, Color Club, online orders, wholesale orders, School of Yarn, MKAL orders, Trios, BFL Sport send-off … all waiting on this yummy stuff. And because the powers that be are seriously perverse, of course it is supposed to snow this week. Yeah!! As we have said all through this little yarn drama of ours we appreciate you patience and support! We do have the best knitters and crocheters and weavers and spinners and… we know it!!
If you are waiting on an order and you have a deadline please do let us know. We seriously are doing our very best to get everyone their yarn.
I also want to take a moment to thank everyone who has shown the BFL Sport some love!! We have hundreds of orders for it and are diligently working on them. Based on the amounts that are still coming in and what we have yet to dye and ship (along with the late sock yarn), I think we need to push back the Vancouver KAL back a bit. So in order to ensure that everyone has their yarn before the official start, I would like to move it to the last week in February.
It turns out we have one more yarn for which this will be its last season: our Targhee Bulky is not selling as well as the mill would like it to move. I know… I have no words. I do think all of this is a lesson in supporting the yarns you love as well as also diversity in wool and yarns. We are seeing more and more breed-specific wool out there on the market, which is great and exciting, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of superwashed Merino yarns out there right now. Diversity is so important in wool (and in life)! Now, I sell Merino yarns that are superwashed, and they have their place, but they are not all there is. I feel like it would be a shame to limit ourselves to just using those yarns; we miss out on so much when we limit our world.
Sorry– I do not mean to be so preachy, but I am just a bit disheartened by the narrow vision in wool, yarn, and life right now.
I have not said a lot on social media about the very important discussion and work going on in the fiber community about racism, inclusion, diversity and white privilege. I have not said anything because I was listening, learning and considering. I was looking within myself at my own whiteness and the privilege that has come with that. My silence has more to do with my own personal struggles over the last year than anything else. I am not saying this as an excuse; just sharing where I am. Honestly, I also did not just want to just put words out there but wanted to think about my place and how Blue Moon could be more inclusive in action.
As a white woman over 60 who has lived with the privileges that come with this status, I want to say that I (and therefore Blue Moon) not only supports diversity but celebrates it! We will do whatever work we need to do to be more sensitive and inclusive to BIPOC fiber artists in our community and the world at large. I am disheartened by the hate and intolerance in the world and I think it is so important to work together for greater understanding. All people ~ no matter what color your skin is or where you are from or how you identify or how old you are or abled or your sexually orientation ~ you are welcomed here!
I want to acknowledge and thank all of the brave BIPOC knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, dyers, designers… who have stood up and spoken out, sharing themselves and their stories and being so very patient and kind. I am sure it has not been easy and I appreciate you and the work you are leading this community to do.
Thank you!! I have heard and am listening. I will speak up when I witness racial injustice and will be looking for it in myself.
****************************
Blue Moon is looking for design partnerships for the next few years in knitting, crochet, weaving and spinning. If you are interested in working with us please contact me at tina@bluemoonfiberarts.com. (Please be patient with replies, though – I am buried right now so it might take me a few days to get back to you.)
It is going to snow. Dang it! So I need to wrap up this blog post and get busy with yarn.
We are offering Targhee Bulky at a special price. 20% off it’s regular price. You will need a code and that code is TGB19
Please know that right now orders placed will take a bit longer than normal for us to process so if you have a deadline please do let us know.
oh and I almost forgot. We found more yarn for the Mystery bags so there are up for sale. Last pod is empty so I am pretty sure this is going to be it for these. I know I said that last time so…who knows!
Stay safe and warm.
