This week is an indie yarn dyer that will be part of the Not Going to Rhinebeck Virtual Festival! Meet Corinne of Hawari Bazaar!
How did your personal fiber journey begin?
I can’t really remember. I guess it really started about 7 years ago when a best friend of mine was pregnant with her first child, and I knew I wanted to make her something really special. Me, YouTube, a hand-me-down crochet hook, 3 lbs of acrylic and I was hooked. (Ha!) But it wasn’t enough. I eventually taught myself how to knit, and then I discovered wool. And knitters of Instagram. And podcasts.... it's a sickness, really.
When I discovered dyeing in 2016, all other crafts sort of went out the window. I'd been a painter before, and this was just the perfect marriage of the two. Now I could paint the wool I was about to knit with!
In 2017, I was fortunate enough to open up my own indie yarn shop, Hawari Bazaar. And the rest is history.
Do you knit, crochet, spin, weave as well as dye yarn?
Knitting is my preferred fiber craft, other than dyeing, but I can weave and spin a little bit, as well. Grace, of Babbles Travelling Yarns, taught me how to use her rigid heddle loom last month, and if I'm not careful, I might have a new addiction...
Where do you get your inspiration?
Gosh, I get my inspiration from everywhere! Nature, artwork, fandoms.... but I think words seem to inspire me most. For example, Queenie from Fantastic Beasts said 'Giggle water', and this crazy fun colorway just popped into mind, and I had to dye it up that day! For me, inspiration will sprout from anything. It's very weird.
What kind of fiber or special techniques do you use?
When I dye, I like to use Merino blends, superwash and non-superwash alike, but I mostly carry superwash in the shop. I also dye my yarn using professional acid dyes, but I hope to one day master the art of natural dyeing. Unfortunately, I'm nowhere near there yet. Lol
What is your favorite colorway you have dyed so far?
I'm a very indecisive person. I cant pick a favorite food or color, let alone a favorite colorway! It's a really bad trait, but let's see... Pixie Panic, Eris and Gigglewater would have to be my favorites for right now. I think....
One of my favorite things to create, though, are handpainted sock blanks! It's a nice change up from the steaming dyepots, and I get to pick up my brushes again!
What fiber projects are you working on this moment?
I'm currently working on my Old Romance cardigan by Joji Locatelli, my Speckle and Pop by Stephen West and a pair of socks from a sock blank.
Do you have any special events going on in the upcoming months?
I do have a few special events coming up, but I'll talk more about that in the next month or so. I also have a few mystery clubs going on at the moment, some fun collaborations are in the works, and I've begun taking wholesale orders! It's been pretty busy here at the Bazaar!
Where can people find out all about you?
You can find me at www.hawaribazaar.etsy.com or on Instagram @Hawaribazaaryarnco.