Meditating Through Colourful Yarn

Anyone who has dabbled in knitting or crocheting will be well-versed in the rabbit hole that is the world of yarn.

- Ms Lois Teo has been hand-dyeing her own yarn since 2019. ST PHOTOS: GIN TAY

There are all kinds of materials — including merino wool and cashmere — and weights, not to mention colours, gradients and speckles.

It is a rabbit hole that Ms Lois Teo has lived in for the last few years, as she has been dyeing her own yarn since 2019.

"I encountered hand-dyed yarn through an international yarn exchange in 2016, and was intrigued because it was variegated. I discovered it was hand-dyed when I googled the label," the 54-year-old says.

At that time, most commercially made yarns came only in single, solid colours. These days, mass-produced yarns also come in multi-hued colourways.

"But they still don't have that same character or variation that you get with hand-dyed yarns," says Ms Teo, who is married.

While researching the making of hand-dyed yarns, she decided to experiment with it at home, using common household items.

The journey began with her standing over her stove, armed with a pair of rubber gloves, a mask and a pot.

"Over time and with experience, I have acquired a few more suitable tools. But those simple items were all I needed to get started and it really hasn't changed that much," she says.