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The Dye Project began in October 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Born of a desire to dye tonal colors on non-superwash bases, which were largely unavailable in the hand dyed yarn market at that time, our color palette and aesthetic developed quickly. We moved to a home near Monterey Bay in 2017 and since then have committed the business to bases and colors that reflect both our location and our commitment to social and environmental justice.
Our yarn bases are carefully researched and sourced from sustainable fiber producers. Since most of our bases come from small producers, their availability can change over time, and we bring in new bases to fill in gaps. All of our bases to date have been non-superwash wools—often blended with silk—that create soft and durable garments. Please keep in mind that all of our yarns must be hand washed. Our newest bases (Seacliff, Pelagic, and Littoral) are climate beneficial wool that is fully traced from the pasture to the mill. We do exclusive projects in an eco-washed superwash base, such as Nautilus Sock yarn for The Crafter’s Box.
Vibrant colors are a signature of The Dye Project. We are always inspired by the colors of nature, especially those found in and around Monterey Bay and the redwood forests. We love dyeing and knitting with complex jewel tones as well as tonal neutrals. While we do cycle in new colors frequently, we rarely retire colors unless the dye becomes unavailable. After all, there can never be too many colors!
The dyeing process at The Dye Project involves careful and sustainable use of both water and power. We reuse water for similar colors throughout the day, with each dye pot dedicated to specific color families. Our airy pale colors come from reusing the dye pots from hard-to-exhaust colors, so that no dye or water goes to waste. We minimize power use with low wattage heating elements, the use of overnight dyeing after heating, and even solar dyeing on warm and sunny days. We dry the yarn out in the warm air as much as possible, and allow for longer drying times in the winter rather than using heaters, except during particularly wet/cold times.
We hope you enjoy the love and care that has gone into creating our yarn, and know that part of your purchase goes to supporting positive change in the world.
