DC is famous for a whole lot of things- politics, free museums, and residents that don’t like to leave their own neighborhood. And for the last, I give you Neighborhood Fiber Co. and its knitter extraordinaire- Karida Collins.

Beth: Ok, so I met you back in 2008? I think? At the Holiday show at Big Bear Cafe in Bloomingdale- you were in LeDroit park then, right?
Karida: Yep. That was a fun show. I really love Bloomingdale. And I was in LeDroit Park then, in the first of a long list of apartments where I ruined the kitchen dyeing yarn.

Beth: And now you’re in Baltimore (via Columbus if my twitter-stalking serves my memory right?)
Karida: I am in Baltimore. After LeDroit Park, I lived a few more places in DC before I finally threw my hands in the air and decided that I couldn’t afford to live on the East Coast. So I moved to Columbus, OH where the scene is crafty and the rent is low. I had a good friend there, Libby Bruce, who is also the co-author of my book, Pints and Purls: Portable Projects for the Social Knitter. I was in Columbus for awhile until my Grandma got sick, and I came to Baltimore to take care of her.

Beth: You wrote a book? That’s amazing! Tell me about that process!
Karida: Yes! I wrote a book. It was an amazing, educational and stressful experience. I went into it with no real knowledge of the publishing industry. It was mostly just me and my friend with an idea for a book about knitting and drinking, based on our knitting group which used to meet in Pharmacy Bar in Adams Morgan.

Luckily, we had some amazing people working with us, and we ended up with a book that actually reflected our aesthetic. Still, having learned all that I did through the process, there are definitely a LOT of things I would have done differently.
Beth: When you were in Ohio- were you still naming your yarns after neighborhoods you knew from DC?
Karida: I had a mix of color names in Ohio. DC will always have a place in my heart, so I couldn’t abandon the existing DC names. I did add some Columbus ones too though. And now I have Baltimore names also.

Beth: Do you find that neighborhoods are loyal to their colors?
Karida: Yes! As long as they like the color of their neighborhood. Usually the first question people ask when they approach my booth at shows is “Where’s X neighborhood?” And sometimes the color is exactly what they expected or not at all.

Beth: Were you into Knitting first or did you get into spinning first? What is your favorite thing to knit?
Karida: I am terrible at spinning. I always try to get into it, and then fail. I learned to knit right out of college from my high school best friend. Initially, I was skeptical because I had never been really artsy or crafty. But I fell in love immediately. It was instant obsession. My favorite thing to knit is accessories, especially lace shawls and scarves.

Beth: How did you learn how to dye yarn? is it continually a learning process?
Karida: I taught myself how to dye with a combination of a few books, the internet and a lot of trial and error. I definitely feel like I’m continually learning. My color palette has expanded over time as I’ve become more aware of colors outside my normal comfort zone of pink and purple. Also, I’m constantly experimenting with different dyeing techniques and refining the ones that I use regularly.

Beth: You recently wrote a blog sweetly dedicating two colors to your grandparents- does your family continue to influence your work?
Karida: My work would not be possible without my family! I started Neighborhood Fiber Co. with $1000 that I borrowed from my Mom, and she’s still my main business advisor. Taking care of my Grandma brought me a lot closer to my extended family, and that really influenced my decision to stay here. I love exploring cities, and with so much family here, Baltimore already feels like home.

Beth: Where are your yarns available in the DC area and are you doing any shows this summer?
Karida: At Fibre Space in Alexandria, VA and A Tangled Skein in Hyattsville, MD and I’m having an Open Studio Party on June 26 from 12-4. More details on that will be available on my website and through my FB group, http://www.facebook.com/neighborhoodfiberco . And I’m doing Knitters Connection, June 15-18 in Columbus, OH and Stitches Midwest, August 25-28 in Chicago, IL