Virtual Reality: Woolgatherings
Our Etsy series ventures to Duvall, Washington, for colorfully hand-painted yarn, wool, and silk.
Posted by: Katie Ormsby on May 02, 2011 at 06:45AM
1 Comments
SLIDESHOW: Kate Sitzman of the Etsy shop Woolgatherings has a passion for technicolor.
View Slideshow » Illustration:Sitzman dyes her own yarn because she has a deep appreciation “for the uniqueness and beauty of hand-spun and hand-painted yarn,” and early on she grew restless with the choices typically available. “I found that I always wanted more and more colors and textures to choose from.” This zeal for color spread to other aspects of her life—she says, “I’m constantly painting and repainting every room of my house.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:The primary focus of her work is dyed fibers (yarn, wool, and silk), which she sells in a constantly evolving set of colors. “I’m more of an artistic dyer than a scientific one,” she says. “I don’t use recipes or formulas. I just mix and paint whatever comes into my head on any given day. That’s what keeps it interesting for me—getting to start fresh with a blank slate every time.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:She sells mostly mill-spun yarn that she’s dyed, but “occasionally I do sell some of my own hand-spun as well.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:She is a big advocate for quality material. “I love the fact that even the simplest pattern can look like a work of art if you made it with fabulous yarn.”
View Slideshow » Illustration:Her Duvall home has a separate apartment on the first level, which Sitzman describes as the ideal at-home studio. “The kitchen is a dedicated dye studio, the bedroom an office, and so on. It’s really a perfect set-up for this type of work, and it also allows me to be home with my kids.” It’s also close to nature, which she considers one of her greatest inspirations.
View Slideshow » Illustration:In addition to her Etsy shop, you can find Sitzman’s work at Kirkland’s Serial Knitters.
Kate Sitzman is a color enthusiast. “I’ve always been kind of obsessed with it,” she explains. Years ago, she worked in theatrical lighting design and became “fascinated by the way you can mix and layer light and color to create different moods and effects.”
You can still see that same fascination at play throughout her Etsy shop, Woolgatherings.
Sitzman’s mother-in-law Sandy, who sold her own hand-spun yarn for 20 years, taught her the tricks of the trade: knitting, spinning, and dyeing. “I took over the business about two years ago when she decided to retire,” Sitzman says, “Originally, I only planned to take over the dye work for a few of her regular customers. But it took off when I made the leap to selling online. Now I’m dyeing full time, and I love it.”
Woolgatherings operates out of the color theorist’s rural Duvall home, which sits on five acres. Flip through the slideshow here to learn more about her vividly rendered creations.
And don’t forget the etsyRain marketplace at Intiman Theater this Saturday, May 7.
Tags: Locally Made, Etsy.com, Seattle Etsy, Virtual Reality
as a wool spinner of many years I applaud you for your inspiring work and your courage to not be put off doing it within the confines of running a family home. Wonderful.
from an old lady woolspinner in Ireland
xchrissyx