Friday, October 5, 2012

Big Changes at Gynx Yarns.

There are going to be some changes here at Gynx Yarns.


One standard I have always had is that I would only buy yarn bases from what I believed were ethically-treated sheep. For over a year now, I have been using one base in three different weights (sock, DK, aran) that was certified organic. However, yesterday I was told that the source I buy my yarns from is no longer able to get this wool. They have found a replacement that they believe will be almost identical to what I am using now, but it would be a few months before they would be able to get any to me. There will also be a small price increase with this new source of organic wool.

So I was in a bit of a dilemma yesterday. How will I get through the next few months until this new yarn is released? What if I don’t even like the new yarn? After some conversations with a few people whose opinions I trust, I believe I have come to a solution, and honestly, it could lead to some exciting things.

I have found another source that gets their merino from ethical sources. Are they certified organic? No. Do they still care about the welfare of their sheep? Yes. What has always been important to me and my company is not a certification, but just that the animals that we receive wool from have been treated well and are cared for. This new source would allow me to add things like superwash bases, nylon blends, even some blends with a bit of sparkle. If, once I examine this new organic yarn, I decide that it is on par with what I have been selling, I will continue to have organic yarns in the shop as well.

One thing that is for certain is that the Gynx Sock, Gynx DK, and Gynx Aran lines will no longer be produced once my supply runs out. Because of this, I will no longer be taking custom orders until I have everything figured out. While this new organic base may very well be indistinguishable from my current bases, I just can’t know for sure, so I can’t promise anything. If you have enjoyed working with these bases or have wanted to try them, it would be highly recommended that you get what you want now.

I want to know what you, my customers and supporters, think about all of this. How do you feel about non-organic, but still ethically-sourced wools? The possibility of superwash or other additions? Please feel free to tell me your opinion either on the blog, on Ravelry, or email me at gynxyarns@gmail.com

I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Gynx Yarns, and I thank all of you who have helped me get to this point.