The Why

Hello! 

I've abandoned my blog over at my former web host, and now I'm looking to start something more permanent and useful here with Shopify.  If you don't know me, my name is Emily, and I spin/knit/crochet/quilt/watercolor/embroider/etc.  Pretty much anything I can get my hands on, I do!

I started Woolfiend Yarns back in 2016, around the time of the "indie boom."  I had a podcast that I could not keep up with, because I have internet speed that's reminiscent of 2005.  I also found I could not complete projects quick enough and still maintain a steady dyeing business.

In 2017-2018, I took a break from dyeing to give birth/be with my son.  I came back with vigor in summer 2018, then took another break starting in late 2019 to have my 4th baby, and now I'm back!  I'm happy to be dyeing again.  But I thought about not coming back, and I guess that's what this post is about.

A lot of my hesitation with coming back stems from my hatred of social media marketing.  I know I have to do it, but I'm not natural at using Instagram/Facebook.  I have to force myself to do it.  I feel out of place whenever I post.  I'd much rather have a shop, or be at a market.  It's much easier for me to sell that way, because I enjoy talking with customers and being a part of their purchasing decisions. 

The other similar feeling I have about this is that I dislike using typical marketing tactics to sell to people.  I don't like using artificial scarcity to give my customers anxiety prior to purchasing a product.  I don't like insulting my customers by making them feel like they HAVE to have a product I sell.  I want people to WANT my fiber & yarn.  They absolutely don't need it.

This all being said (and I'm sure there's more to say about these subjects), I am not much of a salesperson.  I put it out there - buy it, or don't.  Although, I wish you would.  Because this business has helped my mental health so much.  For years after I left the Navy, I had a lot of issues acclimating to my role as a stay-at-home-mom.  Mostly this stemmed from me needing to separate myself from my career-oriented past.  When I started dyeing, I needed something to fill that career-gap in my life.  I value feeling successful.  I define success as something different now, but I still have that need, and I've always been scared to let my dyeing business go because of what might happen to my self esteem if I do so.  So, that's why I'm here still!  I've been self-conscious for a long time about not being edgy or popular enough to exist in the yarn world.  Here's the thing, though, I'm myself.  I'm not a fashion guru, I suck at that.  I'm someone who enjoys dyeing, and spinning, and I want spinning/knitting/yarn crafts and knowledge of them to be passed down to the next generation with appreciation for their origins.

I have lots more to say on the subject of my reservations and opinions on the indie dyeing industry, but I'll leave it at that for now.  Thanks to my customers and local community in Syracuse for always being welcoming and supportive of my work, even when I was not very active on social media!