Fibershed!

Posted byAzariah Fibre ArtsPosted inFibershed

I have joined not one, but two fibershed and I support something similar on the east coast too!

What is a fibershed? Here is a link for the official info.

Fibershed is a place source fiber and fiber related items and services that are local to you.

I support The Hudson Valley Textile Project on the east coast because they were the first one to hit my radar. They are a group of fiber producers and artists that are making some great things, both services and products available for others to use and purchase.

I am part of the Mountains and Plains fibershed because it is in my home state of Colorado. They let me be a producer member as a crochet and knit designer.

I am also part of the New Mexico fibershed, which is my new home. This one is just getting enough started and I so excited to be in on the ground floor.

Why join or support a fibershed?

Where do I begin?

This has given me the opportunity to take many of the things that I love and combine them together.

Supporting local business, farmers and ranchers. Fiber of course. Wonderful stories behind the product or service. Do my part to be a good steward of the environment.

This is a sheep shearing at the Farm and Ranch Museum in Las Cruces, NM. This is a Navajo Churro sheep.

Sheep ranches done correctly will help with the carbon problem, not add to it. Sheep and cattle are NOT the problem, they are actually the answer.

This yarn is 100% American grown and processed. The wool is from the Shaniko Wool Company. Then a dyer buys skeins of spun yarn from them. She dyes them with the plants she grows and now I some great yarn to make accessories with! Her company is Wool and Palette. Both of these companies are in Oregon.

With the fibershed I can get fiber that I know has been grown responsibly and when I make that purchase I am supporting a family, an artist and a lifestyle that I value. This will help it continue and hopefully to grow.

This is Clun Forest roving from Niwot, Colorado. I bought it from Left Hand Wool company.
I then dyed it using Kool Aid, more on that in the future.

I challenge you to go to the Fibershed Directory and find something local to you and try it. If you do please share in the comments below or tag me on IG.

Happy making!

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