Meet the Maker: Erin Battle of Yarn Matter

I first picked up crocheting during the pandemic lockdown in 2019, and I soon discovered the fiber community on Instagram which introduced me to hand-dyed yarn! I thought it would be fun to try dyeing my own yarn, and as I was looking into the process I learned that you could use kitchen scraps/natural dyes too. I started out using onion skins, avocado pits and skins and whatever other scraps I could find (before I knew better) in my kitchen to experiment. I got completely hooked and have since transitioned to using natural dye extracts for repeatability. I have always had an eco-conscious mindset, so I knew that non-superwash bases were going to be my main focus as well. I am located in Austin, TX and have now been dyeing yarn for about 2.5 years!

I think my favorite part of the process is developing new colorways. It can definitely be frustrating at times, but it is so rewarding when you finally achieve the color you wanted. I’ve learned so much from colorway development and it really tests my knowledge of color theory. One of my ongoing goals is to show the versatility of natural dyes, so I love pushing the limits to see how far I can take them and what colors I can create.

Where do you get your inspiration for colors?

My colors are often inspired by my own experiences, memories and interests, along with general color palettes I tend to gravitate towards.

How do you come up with names for the colors?

This is entirely dependent on the collection and inspiration! For example, my Nutcracker collection colorways and their names were all based on scenes and roles played in the production. My Pastel Delight colorways were all named with treats and desserts in mind. I also like puns, so where I can I’ll try to drop a little pun in the name! If colorways aren’t tied to a specific theme, my colorway names are pretty generic to be honest!

Which color best reflects your personality and why?

According to the chart from the Dibble Institute, I think I’d be best described as a combination of purple, blue and yellow! The purple and blue reflect my analytical and perfectionist side, but the yellow reflects my “extroverted introvert” and people-oriented side.

I’m really excited about the Aurora Pullover by Courtney of Tinderbox (@ilovetinderbox). She used my Extra Pure Sock base for her sample, and I’ve been dreaming about a version in Blue Raspberry with a Marshmallow Fluff pocket and tie! There are so many other good combinations that would work too though. I wear sweaters pretty much every day, so that design definitely spoke to me! It’s looks so cozy but not bulky.

Of what you are sending us, what are your favorite colors or color combinations?

I obviously love all of them, but Saltwater Taffy is my favorite variegate because it combines all of my usual go-to colors and I’m really proud of how the colors blended together. I also really love Marshmallow Fluff and how it can pair with literally any colorway in this collection! It’s just such a good neutral, you really can’t go wrong with it. But I also love the warmer colors together: French Macaron, Strawberry Lemonade, Peach Fuzz, and Candied Lemon (all the colorways that make up Starburst Sky). They make such a fun summer combo!

Don’t hate me but… I’m going to talk about gauge swatching. From my experience both as a maker and a tech editor, I’ve learned just how important swatching is! I’m not the biggest fan of doing it either, but I do have tips for making sure you get it right. A common tip I see is to make your swatch bigger than the measurements in the pattern so you’re not measuring the outer edges. That’s important, but it’s also important to block your swatch and DON’T stretch it out aggressively! I don’t even pin my swatches anymore, because you need to see what the fabric naturally wants to do. If you force it to stretch, it probably won’t stay like that anyway and you’ll get an inaccurate gauge reading. Unless there’s lacework or something that needs help opening up, don’t pin a stretched out swatch. Simply massage the fabric with your hands to open it up and then leave it be until it dries.

I grew up in Canada (Ottawa, Ontario), and only moved down to Austin in 2020! I studied Mathematics and Engineering in undergrad, and I have a Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (more specifically, Controls Engineering)!

If you didn’t dye yarn, what would be your dream job?

I would pursue technical editing full-time (right now it shares time with dyeing) because I love that it uses my mathematical brain, but is still part of the fiber world!
If I were to move away from the fiber industry, I think it would be really fun to be a baker. I don’t have much time for it anymore, but I do love baking tasty treats, especially for others. 

Do what makes you happy! I stepped away from the engineering/tech field because I needed a break from it. But that lead me to crocheting, natural dyeing, and technical editing which I absolutely love and am so grateful to have turned  into my full-time job. I know this wasn’t the question, but the piece of advice I live by is to step out of your comfort zone and create opportunities for yourself. That’s really been the theme of how I’ve gotten to where I am and shaped the person I am today!