 |
| This is Krista. Isn’t she beautiful? |
Tell me a little about RainyCityKnits and how it got started.
RCK is a very small hand-dyed yarn company based in the heart of Vancouver , in a vibrant neighborhood called Gastown. RainCityKnits was born out of a love of bright colours – an antidote to the the endless grey season on the West Coast.
Prior to launching RainCityKnits, I worked internationally on issues of sustainability and social justice. My passion and commitment to these issues help guide my business decisions. For example, I only use food-grade dyes to colour my fibres in an effort to minimize my impact on the environment. I also source my Uruguayan Merino Wool from a worker’s collective, where workers are paid a fair price for their yarn.
How and where do you get your inspiration?
As mentioned, I really adore bright colours in juxtaposition to the cool colours that characterize Vancouver’s landscape.
I’m really inspired by current trends in colour and I think that my time living in London, UK has a lot to do with this. Londoners, on average, are very fashion-forward and know how to combine colours without appearing garish, which is a possible risk when working with a super bright palette.
Locally, Gastown is a real hub of creativity with fashion boutiques, furniture shops and lifestyle stores lining the streets and that too inspires me.
Who are your favorite designers and why?
I’m guessing this question refers to knitting designers. I opt for clean lines in designs and am really attracted to Nordic and Japanese designs.
A few of my favorite designers are Julie Hoover (USA), Ririko (Japan), Jane Richmond (Canada), Rena Varsakis of The Red Fox and Gown (Canada) and Isabell Kraemer (Germany).
What does a normal day in your life look like?
Cliche as it sounds, every day is different. That’s one of the things I really love about running RainCityKnits. On a given day, I will be dyeing yarn (of course), skeining, packing orders, writing for my blog, Tweeting and taking photos of things that inspire me.
My husband and I are also raising a BC Guide Dog (for the Blind). She’s 8 months old. A part of my day is dedicated to her training too.
What is your favorite knit item at the moment?
Relax by Ririko. I’ve never knit myself a sweater – though I’ve made several for others – and I’m really looking forward to the end result.
If you could have dinner with anybody dead or alive, who would it be and why?
A bit of a heavy choice, but I’d love to sit down with Malala Yousafzai, the young girl who was shot in the head by the Taliban. I’d love to hear how she finds the courage to continue lobbying for the rights of girls in the face of such an oppressive and frightening regime. She is truly an amazing young woman.
What is your dream in the future for RainyCityKnits?
My dream for RainCityKnits is to continue to be able to make a living while making things I love. It’s a simple dream but one that can be a real challenge to achieve. Hopefully RCK will continue to grow and bring happiness to those who encounter our products.
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I have to say, with this as the view from our studio, I have a pretty great reminder of the importance of treading lightly.
Thank you Krista for answering all of those questions and what a view! I´m super jealous. I miss the mountains and the ocean!
I was lucky enough to get to play with 2 skeins of her DK weight in natural and Fried Egg color and this is what I came up with.
 |
| This is preblocking. |
Working with this yarn was divine! I REALLY loved the yellow fried egg color. It really does look like a fried egg from a nice organic chicken and I wish the camera could catch the color so that you could she the high and low lights in it. The yarn is soft and fluffy and very nice up against the skin. I would love to make a whole chevron blanket out of it to cover my bed.
Alright beauties, Krista has so generously offered a skein of her amazing DK yarn in a color of your choice (I know it will be hard to choose). I will also be offering 3 of you my design for free. It comes in 3 different sizes, the one in the photo being the largest.
 |
| Here is a sample of the awesome colors she has! |
To enter leave your email address and a name in the box below and then start going through the many different ways you can enter to win. You can do just one or them all! It is up to you! Now off you go to enter the giveaway! Good luck!
If you want to head over to Rain City Knits and make a purchase then Krista is offering a 10% discount to everyone if you enter OLOF10 at checkout.
Wow! I like a number of things at Rain City Knits. The fact that her bulky yarn is 137 yds per skein and a very good price; Treeline Green…I like the darker greens and they are hard to find; ok, I like all of her darker colours; the view outside her windows. I do believe I really like Rain City Knits. An Indie Dyer I shall definitely be buying from.
Kathleen
OOh!! Loving the bright colours especially the green and lightest blue. Gorgeous!!! Also loving the scarf and could totally the scarf/wool combo in my favourite colours!
Wow! What bright, vibrant colors. Gorgeous.
Very, very pretty. I really like the bright colors. I really like the orange, and the blue.
[email protected]
Love the colors! So vivid! That blue is calling to me, I swear!
The bright colors are such fun! I would love making a shawl with some of her fingering yarn, especially the Treeline colorway!
Love the Fried Egg colorway, it is so pretty and unique.
I love the blue teal DK yarn.
su3385 great colors
I'm new to the blog! I love that fried egg colourway too – so bright and happy! Just in time for summer 🙂 — Sarah V.
Such deep colors. Love the view. Easy to stay inspired looking at that.
NanaMamah on Rav
that yarn looks so wonderful. loving the purples and blues.
Pagecsa on Ravelry
I love the bright colours, so intense!
It's not often I find yarn with such vivid colours, they sure help chase the blues away in Vancouver 🙂
Thanks so much for your generosity. I also love the WOW colors that give me a lift here in gray Seattle. The cowl is adorable, as well.
Jan
janfromseattle on Ravelry
the colours are stunning but i have fell in love with Heliotrope and Magenta i think your cowl would look stunning in these colours 🙂
best wishes and good luck with the give away
Woolytanis on Ravelry
Thx so much for this offer! I love finding new shops on Etsy and with a great giveaway it is a bonus! Plus a pattern from you is great! Thx again
The yarn colours are delicious which makes it almost impossible to choose a favourite, I think it would be Heliotrope, but the Blue Teal and Rain drop Blue are fighting furiously for my attention
How do you pick just one favourite? I love the bright colours, here in Nova Scotia it's gray and rainy a lot too, so bright colours help to make life a little more cheerful on the gray days.
I love the Wasabi Green Sock Yarn. Thanks for the chance 🙂
Love the range and intensity of the colour Raincity offers. Karrie
Love it,lovely giveaway,thank you for the chance to win it.
Makes me miss living there. Love the beautiful bright colours, perfect for those grey winters there.
Wow, what an awesome view! The yarn is pretty, too.
Hello everyone! Thanks so much for your kind words. So lovely to read this!
I love all the awesome colors. Being of Irish heritage, I would so love some of her Kelly Green.
Oh my gosh, that electric coral! My favorite would be anything in that color… Gorgeous!
I love the Blue Teal sock yarn, I'm sure that Ravelry would have the perfect pattern for it!
lindarumsey on Ravelry
My favorite is the Royal blue sock yarn. Thanks!
Thank you both for your generosity. I would appreciate any of the colours, but if I have to choose the one of the blues please.
hennie on Rav
I love the color of this yarn: Treeline Green Sock Yarn – Superwash Wool and Nylon — it's gorgeous! Thanks so much for the contest!
I love her philosophy on natural dyeing. The yarns are so vibrant.
I love the apple green bulky yarn- so bright and fresh! I've had the chance to meet Krista at Knit City in Vancouver last year and admired her yarns and the cheery colours that she dyes!
lately i've been into sock yarns. your sock yarn in the midnight colorway looks beautiful :]
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wow, rain city knits is a new to me store and I'm glad I've found it! What vibrant colors! I especially like the offering of variety of weights and that there's even a larger skein option for worsted!
I LOVE the Heliotrope Purple sock yarn. What a beaty!
I love the Heliotrope color in any weight
I love all of the bright colors. My 2 favorite ones are the Babycakes Fingering 8-pack sampler set and the Treeline Green sock yarn.
I really like Steel Grey in all the weights. Natural is very nice too!
Great cowl pattern!
StaceyKnitsIt ravelry
I love the magenta sock yarn!!!
lmecoll on Ravelry
These colors are AMAZING!
Love the orange and pink yarn. It looks like candy!
Glorious colors
The colours look fantastic and it's nice to know there is a yarn shop to visit in gastown, I'll make sure to look for it the next time I'm down there. I totally agree with her in how colourful the yarn projects in the UK are so inspiring. I myself only crochet but knitted items are so beautiful one day I hope to learn how to knit.
Tory
Wow, what beautiful colors. And I love the photo of the view from the studio.
What a fun & simple design! & ooooh those yarn colors are so lovely!
The yarn looks yummy and that cowl is super cute!
I love the Rain Drop Blue sock yarn. I know what she means about bright colours for the rain in Vancouver.
What vibrant colors! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway! 🙂
Hi Tory
Thanks so much for your kind words. We don't have an actual shop front in Gastown, just a private studio.
There is an actual yarn shop very close by, but we're not affiliated.
Hope you have a good trip!
I love the lettuce green ombre sock yarn!
The sock yarn is beautiful!
Love, love, love the fried egg color.