I didn’t start out as a yarn purist — I became one the hard way.
Like many makers, I began with easy-care yarns designed for convenience. I spent hours knitting garments I loved. At first, they looked beautiful. But after a year of wear, the truth appeared. Sweaters stretched. Fabric lost structure. Colours faded into something duller than what I had made.
That disappointment sent me searching for answers.
I began studying fibres — not just how they felt, but how they were processed. That’s when I learned what superwash really does: a chemical treatment that removes wool’s natural scales so it behaves conveniently, but often ages poorly.
I couldn't unlearn that.
I started dyeing yarn myself, experimenting first with plant materials like avocado skins and purple cabbage. The colours were beautiful, but they faded and shifted.
Beauty without longevity wasn’t enough.
Over seven years and more than 500 dye batches, I refined my process which became The Apothecary Infusion Method™ — a way of dyeing yarn that prioritizes fibre integrity and long-term beauty.
The Knit Apothecary exists for knitters who care what their garments look like years later, because if you’re going to invest your time in making something, the fibre should honor that effort.
