About

Hi , I’m Mel, the maker and indie dyer behind Gentle Knit Yarns. I create thoughtfully hand dyed yarns, inspired by the calmness of nature and all things soft, gentle and cosy.

My yarn studio is nestled in the beautiful countryside of West Yorkshire in the UK. Here I create specially curated hand dyed yarns in pastel, tonal and unique colour palettes.

Inspiration for my yarns

Inspiration often comes from the small things in life that make me happy.

Something as simple as the colour of a pretty cup I’m drinking my tea from can spark the idea of a new colourway. Or maybe the subtle shades of a morning sky, watching as pink clouds float across the sky .

A good story, picture or beautifully bound book cover can also give me a ideas for new colourways or themes. I’m an avid reader of many genres and adore children’s literature and illustration.

The watercolours of ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Helen Oxenbury and Raymond Briggs pencil drawings are simply superb. I also love the delicate art of the Flower Fairies and Brambly Hedge.

But my favourite inspiration comes from Mother Nature. Her colour palette is effortlessly soft and harmonious and never fails to lift my spirits.

Living with views across the Aire valley, and being only a short distance away from the stunning Dales countryside, I am surrounded by the beauty of nature to inspire me.

From the windows of my studio I can see rolling fields and woodland, and depending on the time of day, weather or season, the landscape constantly changes it’s mood and colour.

I only have to step outside and take a breath of fresh air to feel the spark of new ideas and creativity for my yarns.

Yarndale

I also give a special mention to the Yarndale show in Skipton as the inspiration for the creation of my business.

It is possibly one of the biggest festivals of hand dyed yarn and fibre arts in the UK.

I first visited this amazing event in 2015. As a long time knitter and crafter I was curious about the types of hand dyed yarns on display here.

I had only ever used commercial yarns before and hand dyed yarns were both new and exciting to me. I was also interested in the yarn dyeing process and keen to learn and develop this new skill.

All the amazing vendors and beautiful yarns on display are truly inspirational. They gave me the idea to try yarn dyeing at home and the courage to create my business here at Gentle Knit Yarns.

Thank you so much for reading my story and for visiting Gentle Knit Yarns today. Please feel free to browse my shop, I hope you feel inspired and enjoy the selection of yarns I have carefully created for you.

Kind regards

Mel