About
Graphic Dyeworks is a dyed-to-order indie yarn studio based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned and operated by Kate Howland.
My world is fueled by curiosity, color, and design. So, Graphic Dyeworks is what happens when you take a fiber-obsessed graphic designer, add a heaping scoop of technicolor science, and stir. My happy place is where science, the fiber arts, and color collide.
I named the shop Graphic Dyeworks as a nod to my full time career as a Graphic Designer. I've worked in the news media industry for... wow, it'll be 10 years come March 2021. As you can probably imagine, wading through the news day in and day out can weigh a little heavy on the soul sometimes. I rely heavily on my hobbies and interests — far away from the news cycle — to recharge my batteries and replenish my spirit.
When I began learning how to dye yarn and fiber I certainly didn't set out with the intent of starting a business. But over time I gained a little more confidence with each new technique and skill I learned. I came to embrace my own unconventional methods. And I eventually took over (quite literally) a third of the already very small apartment kitchen I share with my husband and figured out how to make it all work. (Shoutout to all the patient yarn spouses out there! Thank you for putting up with yarn and dye everywhere, and the ever-present smell of wet wool.)
Graphic Dyeworks really began as a labor of love, to balance out the often stressful, often long days of work in an industry that can wear you down if you're not careful. (The news industry is not for everyone.) I'm grateful that what began as a labor of love still is. I still find joy in every dyepot and smile through each layer of speckles. (...ok, that's a lie because speckling can really suck sometimes, but you get what I'm trying to say...)
For me, Graphic Dyeworks is love. Love of yarn, love of color, love of new challenges, love of learning new things and love of making new friends. Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot of hard work! But it's work that fuels my spirit — and I am infinitely grateful to every customer and yarn shop that has helped make my this colorful dream a reality. Thank you.
Other than my business name, I did managed to sneak in a few more references to my design career throughout the site and products I offer. Most notably are the names I've chosen for the various yarn bases I regularly stock. I've given each of my bases a typography-inspired name. *Warning: It gets real nerdy from here on in, proceed at your own curiosity.*
Baseline refers to the line upon which most letters "sit," much like the lines on a page in a notebook.
Oblique refers to slanted type similar to italics, but slightly different in form (trying not to bore you here.)
Hairline, Semibold, Demibold, Bold and Extrabold are all various font weights within a family of type.
And Swash refers to a typographical flourish (such as an extended stroke or serif, typically at the beginning or end of the character.)
But I digress...
If you're interested in becoming a stockist of Graphic Dyeworks yarns and would like more information about purchasing wholesale, please email Kate at contact@graphicdyeworks.com.
Or if you have questions, want to share what you're making with Graphic Dyeworks, or just feel like saying hello, feel free to send me an email at the above address! I'd love to hear from you. You can also find me as @graphicdyeworks on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Thanks for visiting. Stay vibrant!
– Kate
