Republica Unicornia

I HAVE YARN CONTENT, Y’ALL!

Introducing Gin-Soaked Barroom Queen, the deep pinky purple tonal that has been kicking around in my head for ages! My very straight-laced Southern mama loves purple and also The Rolling Stones, so naming this color after a line in H***y Tonk Women seemed like a natural fit. (It’s also her birthday today!)

I snuck four skeins on BFL Sock in the shop— it’s going to absolutely become a regular. It works really well with most of the jewel tone greens that I dye (ie, my favorites).

The third photo is of Gin-Soaked Barroom Queen sandwiched between Twinkler and Chocolate Raspberry Truffle, should you require a fade!

Happy Whatever Day it Is, y’all!

I’m having a bumpy week- it’s been raining- in the words of the incomparable , “since what feels like 1996,” which puts me behind on the yarn drying front, I feel behind on everything, and basic things that should work just…aren’t. I threw a full on temper tantrum on Monday.

I never quite know how to talk about the less-than-delightful parts of being a dyer— I’m ACUTELY aware that I have a dream job and I’m ridiculously lucky to be able to do this full-time. And also, it is a ton of physical and mental work and everything takes a very long time and, contrary to what seems like popular belief, no indie dyer is doing the backstroke through heaps of money a la Scrooge McDuck.

I do this because I genuinely love the work, and I haven’t found anything that makes me happier than painting sheep hair.

This is the final year I’ll be doing Advent and 12 Days boxes. I’m saying it here for transparency and accountability— I swore after last year that I’d never do it again, but here we are. I needed a second non-2020 year to see if I wanted to continue these as a tradition and…I have my answer. This project takes over my entire year, and as a one-person operation, doing Advent means I have to say no to other things I really want to say yes to.

I think y’all will LOVE your boxes— I’ve put so much of myself into them and I’m THRILLED with how the yarn is coming out. I cannot freaking wait to get these into your hands and see what magic you make.

Thanks for being here and thank you for your amazing continued support!

Sunday FO! These are plain ol’ vanilla socks in Agador Spartacus on BFL Sock.

My sock knitting mojo has been nonexistent since the pandemic started- vanilla socks are my out-and-about/travel knitting and I haven’t done a lot of either in the last 18 months, so these are a bit of a miracle. It’s actually cool enough to put them on this morning.

If you’ve never made socks, I HIGHLY recommend them. They’re portable, way less yarn- and time-intensive than other projects, and HIGHLY practical. There is something extra lovely about cradling your feet in something you made— it’s a little act of self care (and hand-knit socks hold up really well AND can and should be mended!). I wash mine in the machine on delicate and hang to dry— I’m still wearing pairs that are 4+ years old.

I can’t recommend the sock tutorial by enough- it’s the best and VERY beginner friendly. (I knit my first pair when I’d been knitting for all of 3 months).

SOCKS!

Happy Monday, y’all! IT IS GO TIME!

I’ve added a few more spots for the Advent and Twelve Days calendars- these will stay open through Wednesday, 9/15 at 7 PM EDT, so if you missed the first round of preorders, now is your chance!

Head on over to le website (link in bio) to snag yours!

We’re going back to the 80s this year with all the bonkers neon I can turn out! You’ll get a selection of fun 20 gram mini skeins on the Supersoft Merino Sock Base (75% Superwash Merino/25% Nylon, 92 yards) and 80s-themed extras! (I already have all of them picked out).

I’m offering both an Advent (24 minis) and a Twelve Days (12 minis), with the option of an add-on full-sized skein. We’ll also offer Zip since I know these are spendy. This year will feature a mix of existing and brand-spankin’-new Republica Unicornia colorways!

NEW! This year I have added the option for additional full-sized skeins if you would like to add on to your order (for a sweater or such). The full-sized skein will be neutral(ish) so it works with the neon!

Boxes will ship in early November.

These include US shipping and fun packaging. Also there will be shiny stickers (OBVIOUSLY!)

ALSO: a note about the use of Advent/Christmas here— I was raised as a Christian (and uh, used to be a pastor). While I am NOT religious at all anymore, I use this terminology because it is in my cultural wheelhouse and, for me, using other terms veers into the territory of cultural appropriation. I have no qualms about profiting off of my own people (about damn time, given my seminary student loans and debilitating PTSD). There is NOTHING religious about these boxes.

Hey y’all!

I’m here standing in a field with a sock project (plain vanilla in Agador Spartacus) to tell you that I’ll be signing off here and of email until Tuesday. I always need some concentrated down time after a big creative project (Fallow Time is a non-negotiable), and also I’ve been noticing that I’ve been doomscrolling more in this space. My physical and mental well-being are starting to suffer, so a real break is in order.

I’ll be back next week! Take care of you. Breaks, rest, and connecting with the things that make you feel like a human are VITAL. None of us are infinite and none of us are machines.

It most certainly does NOT look like this in Atlanta today as we get the remnants of Ida, but I have a finished object to share!

My by is DONE! It’s not blocked yet, so it’ll be even more of a shlanket! This was a giant project, and I’m so pleased with how it turned out. I love green (I think it’s a requirement of being a redhead), and this glowy green fade is *so* my jam. I faded in colors by striping the contrast color first and then the main color. The first photo is the “right side” and the second is the “wrong side.” The third is how I felt about this much wool on me in Georgia in August 🥵

Yarn is all mine on BFL Sock in

💚 Magical Mystery Tour
💚Luna Moth
💚Arsenic and Good Taste
💚30A
💚Empress Wendy (border)

TRANSPARENCY POST!!!

Y’all, we raised $1253.00 for .n.found.youth! It’s so much more than I could have done alone, and I’m blown away by your support!

Thank you so much to everyone who shopped the Pony Party— I’m working hard to get your orders packed today so you can have yarn and other goodies ASAP!

I’m so grateful to be here doing this thing with you, and what a way to kick off my 38th year of being alive!

This is the last update for a while- I’m going to catch my breath and then go all-in for Advent! There is still a good amount of yarn in the shop and it’s always open!!!

Happy Friday! Thank you so much to everyone who shopped yesterday’s update— what a fabulous Pony Party! I’m so grateful for your support and thank you also for all the birthday wishes!

There is still PLENTY of yarn in the shop, including a good bit of this heretofore (mostly) SECRET ELEVENTH PONY!!!! I couldn’t resist sneaking in this hot coral rainbow neon unicorn beauty, and I have to say, this is one of my favorites in the whole collection!

Meet Pinwheel! This yarn was so bright that when I had it hanging out on the clothesline, there was one least one very confused hummingbird. It’s ridiculously happy.

I’m taking some time away for the weekend, but orders will go out early-ish next week!

Don’t forget that through Sunday, 15% of total revenue goes to .n.found.youth, an Atlanta-based organization that helps provide support and shelter to LBGTQ+ youth. Everyone deserves the right to be their full sparkly self. AS ALWAYS- direct donations are best!

PONY PARTY IS LIVE! Don’t forget I’ll combine orders if you place multiple ones and refund shipping! Have so much fun, y’all! (And also a reminder the anthem of Republica Unicornia is “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”)

Thank you so much for your support and for making this collection a blast to do! I have had so much fun and squealed so much. The world is awful and also there is so much joy, too. Thank you for being a part of the good stuff. 💗

A reminder that I’ll be donating 15% of total revenue from 8/26-8/29 to .n.found.youth, an Atlanta-based organization that helps provide support and shelter to LBGTQ+ youth. Everyone deserves the right to be their full sparkly self. AS ALWAYS- direct donations are best!

What a sparkly, magical way to kick off my 38th year! ✨💖✨

TODAY IS THE DAY! The Pony Party kicks off at 7PM EDT and it’s also my birthday today! 🥳

I’m so excited that y’all are excited about this update— I’ve put so much of myself in this one and it’s been a delight.

So! Some things to keep in mind so the update is fun for all of us! Yarn Spouse work VERY hard to make sure that these run smoothly.

🌈Updates can move fast, so I do recommend setting an alarm (countdown is in Stories!)

🌈There is an IGTV preview video on yesterday’s post so you can get a sense of what’s going in, as well as colorway previews in my Story Highlights, so you can have a plan going in.

🌈If there is something you really want (especially a bag), go ahead and buy it first. I’ll combine and refund shipping- no need to ask! You can also create an account on the site which I THINK moves a little faster than other payment options.

🌈Colorways are repeatable, and I do offer dyed-to-order on 4 or more skeins on the same base in the same colorway! I don’t have all colors listed on the site, so if you don’t see what you want, please email me and we’ll go from there.

🌈 I am ONE PERSON. What I do is the opposite of mass production. I work in the capacity that is sustainable for me, and I also work really hard to make sure there’s a goodly amount of yarn and bags available, but you may not get what you want. Cartjacking is a possibility. Please take complaints about this (and all sad face emojis) elsewhere. I am not available to soothe feelings around me not being a factory.

I am so so so grateful for your support- making squishy rainbows has been healing and life-giving and makes me feel like my full self again. Thank you for being here with me. 💖

When I started diving into the Pony Project, I soon realized that I had no idea what most of my ponies’ names had been (turns out they’re all twee and some are just stupid 🤣).

I DID, however, know Baby Cuddles because this book was one of my childhood favorites. Baby Cuddles doesn’t want to take a nap and then disappears. Lickety Split looks for her everywhere and (spoilers) finds her snoozing in her cradle.

Baby Cuddles has bits of soft mint green and pink and blue speckles and it’s cute as can be, just like its namesake Pony!

✨✨✨

MLP Collection is coming Thursday, 8/26 @ 7 PM EDT, with lots of yarn in all new colorways inspired by vintage MLP, some returning favorites, and a smattering of project bags!

Instead of a sale, I’ll be donating 15% of total revenue from 8/26-8/29 to .n.found.youth, an Atlanta-based organization that helps provide support and shelter to LBGTQ+ youth. Everyone deserves the right to be their full sparkly self. AS ALWAYS- direct donations are best!