Q: How did you get started dyeing?

A: We got started dying back in 1991. ÊMy friend, Catherine Theron, asked me if I'd be interested in getting into the thread-dying business. ÊNeither one of us knew a hoot about dying, but Catherine had been using some over-dyed thread in a few kits she was designing. ÊA lot of stitchers were asking her to do the threads separately, and that's when she called me.

We started out with 32 colors, and used the dyer Catherine had been using for her thread kits. ÊMaggie, our dyer, lived nearby Catherine in Glastonbury, Connecticut. She was really a rug hooker and teacher but she agreed to dye the threads for us. ÊWe, now use another dyer here in Ohio. ÊHer name is Amiee and is a graduate of Berea College in Kentucky. ÊHer major was fiber and fabric dying, and we feel blessed to have found her. We started very slowly with a newsletter that we offered to shops and retail customers. ÊThe newsletter contained news and advice plus designs of Catherine's and other great designer-friends of ours.

It was about in 1993 that Beth from Fanci That (http://www.fancithat.com) started to use our Sampler Threads in her designs. ÊThat was the beginning of our success in this over-dyed business as Êmore and more designers started designing with our threads. We are so grateful and honored to these and subsequent designers who have help our business to grow.

Q: What are some of your oldest colors? What are your best sellers? Do you have a color that is your favorite?

A: Some of our oldest and most popular colors are OATMEAL, EVERGREEN, MIDNIGHT, DRIED THYME, and SABLE. ÊSome more recent popular colors are PINE, BLUE SPRUCE, CHERRY WINE, CRANBERRY, and NUTMEG. ÊMy favorite color is Buckeye Scarlet, named after our beloved Ohio State Buckeyes. ÊI, also, like Tropical Ocean and Avocado.

Q: How do you come up with new colors?

A: We enjoy doing our Limited Edition colors. ÊWe give our dyer free reign and she comes up with some pretty interesting colors. ÊSome of the more popular colors might be eventually added to our regular line of colors. ÊWe had one of our shop customers tell us that when they come home from the Nashville Market they have a run on their shop for the Limited Edition colors. ÊThey may never stitch with them but they just like to add them to their stash (like me with fabric).

Q: Do you have any advice for stitching with Sampler Threads?

A: When stitching with Sampler Threads, I like to do each cross stitch as I go. Ê This way, I get a better progression of the color. ÊAlso, another technique I like is to stitch in different directions to achieve a special look, ie: vertically when stitching a tree trunk. ÊMost of our colors are color-fast but may bleed a little because of the hand-rinsing where we may not get every bit of dye out. ÊCaution must be taken with all hand-dyed fibers. ÊWe advise using our instructions on the back of every one of our color tags. ÊThis is the only way to avoid disappointment.

Q: When you stitch, what do you stitch?

A: Unfortunately, I don't have much time to stitch. ÊI only get a few hours in the evening, and have too many other things I like to do such Applique Quilting and Rug Hooking. ÊWhen I stitch, I like counted thread the best (I get too bored with just cross stitch). Reproduction needlework is my favorite, and was what got me into this business. ÊGive me a really great reproduction sampler and I'm in heaven. Ê

Q: What kind of changes have you noticed in the needlework industry, in terms of how and what people are stitching?

A: The biggest changes I've seen in the needlework industry is the eagerness of the stitchers to try new things. ÊI worked in a large needlework shop in Connecticut for many years and standard floss and Aida Cloth were the favorite, by far. ÊWhenever we'd try to get a customer to try something different, like an evenweave fabric or a different type of fiber the were unwilling to take the plunge. ÊToday, I see more and more stitchers trying new things and the businesses and designers have responded with a variety of wonderful things like beads, buttons, ribbons, fibers of all kinds, overdyed linens, wonderfully colored fabrics, etc. ÊEven the quilt industry has responded to make quilting more innovative.

Q: What is the best part of your job?

A: The best part of this job is interacting with all the shop owners and designers. Because we only sell wholesale (this is our way of supporting the needlework shops) we have very little chance to meet all these wonderful stitchers who ultimately stitch with our Sampler Threads. ÊI would love to hear from these folks. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to get in the chat rooms. ÊWe always welcome e-mail (gentleart@aol.com). ÊWe have made so many wonderful friends in this business that I'm convinced needlework people are the greatest.

© 2007 Theresa Venette. Articles on this site may be reproduced in needlework group newsletters or other handouts with permission of author and proper attribution. Send questions, comments and suggestions to: xspeddler@yahoo.com