A few weeks ago, I caught the train and stopped by Marga’s studio from Greta and The Fibers to do a technical class on yarn dyes.
I can say that it was like being in paradise. From the outset, the place is next to the beach, the Sea, my weakness.
Upon entering, a lot of divine skeins greet you on the right wall while many knitted garments with their lovely yarns catch your eye on the left. A large table where you can sit and talk about fibers in the center of the room, more tables with toys that any knitter would like to have and, in the background, the workshop itself. Stoves, pots, dyes, test tubes all in a very large space… such a paradise.
Marga has resumed her dyeing courses so if it is something that interests you, I encourage you to visit her website.
TODAY WE WILL HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND WE WILL KNIT WITH AITANA VILLA…
MARGA FROM GRETA AND THE FIBERS
How and when did you start to dye yarn?
I started on December 1, 2010. I lost my job in the middle of the crisis and I decided to start and create my own company.
How did you make the leap to dedicate yourself to dyeing yarn professionally?
When I started I already did it with this idea, it was my profession, I never considered it as an experimentation, I created my company from the beginning, with all the responsibilities that it all entails.
What inspires you to create your colours?
Inspiration can be very diverse, from a landscape, an emotion or a feeling even a state of mind, it depends on how I am going to use a colour, what saturation I will give it.
What is your fetish fibre?
I really like fibers of animal origin. I enjoy merino and I suffer with silk, but I love its result.
How has the pandemic affected your company?
Above all, the first few months were very hard, due to the uncertainty of what would happen, all scenarios were possible.
At the same time, the lockdown and being forced to stop also gave me time to think and weigh my options.
I was able to work on things that I had in mind for years and that I had stopped due to the lack of time, in this aspect I am very happy. I was able to prepare things with more care and in a more thoughtful way and in general I am happy with the result. We have not gotten out of the bump yet, but I still want to fight for my job.
Can you show us the fibres I have used for the design?
Sac-750 is 100% silk with 750 meters per 100gr. It is composed of four twisted threads, which makes it very resistant, it works very well, it is very pleasant to the touch and the stitch is very well defined, especially after blocking the knitted garment. Ig it is worked for patterns which have lace details it keeps the essence of the lace after blocking. It is perfect to knit shawls or pieces of clothing such as sweaters or jackets.
When you were a child, what did you want to be as an adult?
When I was very young I want to be a hairdresser. I use to play with my dolls, washing and setting their hair.
What would you have yourself in 20 years?
If all the effort has been worth it.
If you could travel in time, where would you go: to the pass or to the future?
It depends, for some things to the past, but I would not change anything of what has been lived, and for others to the future.
Which animal would you like to be and why?
I like felines (all of them) because they are independent and with a lot of character, also because they can go from being in rest mode to being very active, and they retain their wild instinct very well.
How would your perfect day be?
There are many perfect days, for me a day battling between pots in my workshop may be perfect, but it is also perfect to be sitting on a beach watching the sequences of the waves. I have simple tastes and needs.
AITANA VILLA DESIGN:
TAKE IT EASY COLLECTION Vol.6
One of the things that I took into account when considering the TAKE IT EASY collection was that there would be a variety of fibers, both in composition and thickness, so it seemed ideal to include the Sac750 by Greta and The Fibers, a 100% silk base in lace thickness (750m / 100g).
Silk is extremely soft and shiny and absorbs colours in a unique way, it is pure luxury. If you have never used it, you have to keep in mind that it is very slippery so working with wooden needles is a good option to help you control it. If you are a more experienced knitter you can easily use metal needles, it is a joy how fast you can knit with silk.
Such a special fiber inspired me to knit something with lacework, to make an affordable shawl, I have designed a half-pi shaped shawl that has increases only in a few very specific rows, and I have introduced a very simple lacework suitable for beginners.
KTT: KNITTING TRICKS AND TECHNIQUES
LIFE LINE
The lifeline is the ideal resource for knitters of any level.
It consists of passing a thread between the stitches of the pass rows that we are working on to make sure that we will not miss any stitches if we have to undo later.
It is very useful when you are starting, but, above all, it is essential when knitting lace and you have to recover threads, decreases and increases.
I have prepared a video for you in which I show you two different ways to put it and how to recover stitches in case you have to undo part of your project.
Knitting is an act of love;
therefore, I wish you knit a lot!
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