About Us
Sometimes you just have to start all over again
A yarn shop without yarn!
Outlaw Yarn began as a yarn wholesaler in 2014. From the beginning, I was determined to keep our production local. That ideal was tested during the pandemic when ongoing supply issues resulted in the discontinuation of the brands I loved and built my business on, and ultimately the closure of Outlaw HQ, our retail store.
Finding a new path
We built a dye house!
If there's one thing the pandemic taught me, it was to pivot. To be able to change my plans at a moment's notice and to find new ways forward. In 2021 during the pandemic (and due to the aforementioned supply issues), I purchased a small, second hand, commercial sample dye vat. It was a steep learning curve to repair it, convert it from steam to electric, and then install the vat and get it to working order.
It took an entire year!
Learning to dye!
It was June 2022 before we finally did our first dye run and we were delighted with the result. The months of preparation paid off and we had our first batch of Rebel yarn dyed by us! I would love to say that it has been smooth sailing since then, but even after a couple of years of experimenting with dye, I can still be surprised on a regular basis! Opening the vat is still the most exciting part of the day.
A new era
Life at Number 8
Our home is still on Stanley Street (just down from where HQ used to be), in the building affectionately known as "number 8". Primarily because it IS number 8, but also becasue the dye house it contains was built with a whole lot of the 'number 8 wire' mentality that kiwis are famous for!
A new look
All the colours
The dye house is a noisy place, in part because we have the radio blaring while we work. It's set to an old rock music station and this became the inspiration for Rebel Yarn's make over.
I love a theme, and I needed one that would provide me with plenty of inspiration for colours and colour names since I can (in theory!) dye any colour I want now.
So, our new lables feature punk sheep and the colour names are song lyrics.
Moving forward
Continuing the journey
It's been a wild ride so far and I don't expect it will get easier any time soon. Especially as we take on new challenges (like contract dyeing!). My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported each new phase of Outlaw Yarn.
I always want “all the crayons in the box” and now with the ability to dye my own yarn I can have every colour (and non-colour!) that I desire. I hope you’ll find some that you desire too.
Deb