Yarn Dyeing with Cornbread and Honey

Have you ever seen gorgeous yarn and wondered the story behind that yarn or where you can find it? We have an interview with Tanya of Cornbread and Honey who has some of my favorite yarns and her story is an amazing one! Read on for more information about her and her shop as well as some ideas (pattern and yarn combinations) for what you can do with her yarn. :)

You can find most of her amazing yarns in her Etsy Shop or on her new website. Tanya also has a large selection of hive barns of all types of smells and healing qualities for your hands and skin.

Yarn Dyeing with Cornbread and Honey Yarn

How did you start Cornbread and Honey Yarn?

I started in my kitchen playing in egg dyes. 

What gave you the idea/inspiration?

I needed a distraction from losing my beloved dog Basil.  She was sick for a long time but she was only 5.

Tell us a little about yourself.  

I don’t ever talk about myself so this is always hard lol.  I grew up in a very small town in Madison, Ohio. I now live in Painesville, Ohio which is about 30 miles east of Cleveland.   I will be 40 this year and I hate my birthday.  I am a mom to 6. This year they are 21, 19, 17, 8, 6 and 4.  I have 2 German shorthair pointers, Buster and Poppy and 2 outside cats, Jack and Kiki. My favorite color is purple…..all shades.  I am allergic to bees and coconut.  I love to read and write stories. I am very sarcastic but try not to bring that out too much in the business. I usually have something outlandish to say.  

How long has Cornbread and Honey Yarn been around?

We just celebrated our 5th Birthday in March. 

What is Cornbread and Honey Yarn all about?

We are about making people feel welcome.  We are about building women up and helping other women in business.  We are about fun and looking on the bright side even when you don’t want to.   

How did you get started dyeing yarn? 

I saw some on etsy and thought they were so beautiful and wondered if I could do it.  I did some research and started with some crappy undyed yarn and some Easter egg dyes. I quickly fell in love and spend $300 on good yarn and professional dyes.  I never thought I could turn it into a business. 

How do you choose the yarn colors and color combinations you dye?

Sometimes it’s a lot of trial and error seeing what will and won’t work. Sometimes it’s what you think won’t work that is amazing. I use a lot of blues and purples.  Purple especially. 

What has inspired you to create different colors?

Nature is amazing for inspiration. I get color palettes from Pinterest too.  Sometimes it’s actually customers that come to me with these amazing combinations. 

What is your favorite type of yarn or yarn color to dye?

I love dyeing my 75/25 sw merino/nylon base, it takes color beautifully. My favorite color to dye is purple, because it’s my favorite. I’m really into this sage palette right now. 

What is your favorite type of fiber art (crochet/knitting/weaving, etc)?

I am a crocheter first; I learned to crochet when I was 8. I just picked up knitting again about 2 years ago. 

 

What would you tell a new dyer or fiber artist for encouragement?

Don’t give up.  It is admittedly a lot of work and a lot of hard work.  But it will pay off. 

What is something you are passionate about and why? 

I am a survivor of domestic violence and because of that we give back to a local women’s shelter with every purchase. I offer an open door policy.  I am always available to vent to.  I never want anyone, man or women to feel alone or that they have no one and that is not limited to any one situation. 

If you had one (or several) things to share with a woman entrepreneur, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

Find a friend in the business to vent to, to collaborate with, a work friend if you will.  Find your niche.  Stay true to you, no matter what you hear. 

If you had one (or several) things to share with an entrepreneur who is a mother, what would it be? What would you encourage them about?

Teach your child why you are so passionate about your business. For me as a mother it allows me to be flexible with their needs and schedules. 

Try to set hours.  It is hard I know.  If you want your business to grow you need to be consistent and disciplined. 

What is a lesson learned for being an entrepreneur who a mother that you wish someone had told you when you first started?

Kids will always throw a curve ball at ya lol. 

What is your dream for Cornbread and Honey Yarn to be (where do you see Cornbread and Honey Yarn in 5+ years)?

In 5 years I still see myself dyeing.  I have a crazy dream of owning a very eclectic yarn/bookstore with a cool kids’ reading nook. 

If you like this, you may like:

• Crochet Stitch Tutorials

• Step by Step Blocking your Handmade

• Thriving as a Crochet Designer with Facial Differences

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There are so many things to do with her gorgeous yarns, you can find many ideas on our Start Here page and I have also included some patterns from our Crochet Stitch Tutorials that would be amazing in specific color ways or fades in Tanya’s shop. :)

You can find most of her amazing yarns in her Etsy Shop or on her website. Tanya also has a large selection of hive bars of all types of smells and healing qualities for your hands and skin.

These fades would make wonderful infinity scarves and using any of these cable crochet patterns of Briana K Designs, to include the Valencia Infinity Cable Crochet Sweater (as seen above) would be simply stunning in the beautiful Forehead Kisses (above) fingering weight yarn for a subtle but gorgeous sweater you could wear for many occassions :)

Briana K Designs has several beautiful crochet patters using cables to include: Children's Infinity Cape (see above next to the Strawberry Quartz fade kit) which is stunning, and an adult size is in the works. I can't wait to make one myself!!! She also has the The Wexford Infinity Crochet Scarf and over 20 patterns with the infinity crochet cables . Each of these is done in her new technique for cables which creates a beautiful finish for all of the cable patterns and really makes the designs pop! These infinity scarfs would be a perfect showcase for the yummy the Strawberry Quartz fade kit , or the beautiful The Starry Night Fade .

If you are looking at a weaving project (like these pieces from By Bella Designs (which has amazing weaving kits, you can find more on her maker feature), or want to use some fun textured yarn, Kokomo (a slub, fingering weight yarn), Strawberry Lemonade (a slub, fingering weight yarn), or Flirt (a slub, fingering weight yarn), all in order above, would be beautiful yarns to work with. These could also be great for a stunning shawl like the St. Lucie Shawl by Megan of PoppieJoeandCo. Any of the fades in fingering in Cornbread and Honey's Etsy Shop would be perfect for this shawl as well. :)

Thank you for joining us with this interview of Tanya of Cornbread and Honey. If there are pattens that you have used with Cornbread and Honey’s gorgeous yarn that you would like to share or other makers you would recommend for an interview on our website, please either email me or comment below. Thank you my friend, and have a wonderful day full of health and wellness.