Chat with Crochet Designers Vashti Braha and Doris Chan, Part 3

Here is the official transcript from Crochetville’s live chat with crochet designers Vashti Braha and Doris Chan that took place on our Facebook page on Friday, January 10, 2014. They joined us for a talk about their wonderful new yarn, Lotus, designed by crocheters with the special needs of crocheters in mind. We had so many questions that I’ve had to divide this blog post up into multiple parts. Links to all the parts can be found at the end of this post.

(Note: Text appears as it was entered during the live chat.)

We hope you’ll join us on our Facebook page for future chats with more of your favorite crochet designers.

Transcript of Live Chat with Crochet Designers Vashti Braha and Doris Chan, Part 3 of 3

Doris: Someone back there mentioned the high-low dye, yes that’s part of the beauty of Lotus.  It is a subtle hit of sheen with the rayon throughout.

Wickedcrochetlady: Look up my pop top items ravelry to see what yarns I use with them.
Vashti: Newsletter on yarn color chips: http://eepurl.com/LY_mP
Amy: Okay, only 9 minutes left, so I think we’re at the end for new questions. We’ll try to get to everyone I have in the queue.
Doris: Hey Karen, we are still getting the feel of the industry.
Ana: true. I will try it. because i am looking forward to using the lotus yarn and the pop tabs together. how do i look you up on ravelry ?”wickedcrochetlady”
Vashti: Here’s link to lots of different crochet stitches swatched in Lotus (scroll down): http://www.flickr.co…57636555007406/
Amy: Karen, I think they said they’re working on other yarn weights and fibers, but it’s going to be a slow process. I know I’m anxious to see what they come up with.
Ana: ok great!  thanks
Amy: But it’s hard for just two people to come up with the funds needed to branch out into a bunch of new yarns. We don’t want them to get over-extended.
Magiccrochetfan: The color chips are very cool, that is a great thing to offer!  People are asking about color-changing yarn, which is great, but if the colors are going to be expanded, i personally would rather see more solids first.
Karen: Doris, you said getting feel of the industry, re:sizes, thread, and/or watercolor?  What yarn weights now?
Vashti: Karen – ok, noted. My Mom requests watercolor shifts too 🙂  Also, thread: I want to and that’s a whole different kind of process. Not sure the time involved there!
Coffeedog: lol. we wants all the yarns and we wants em now!
Doris: Karen, RE: Yarn designing, yarn selling, yarn.
Amy: I know, coffeedog! It’s hard to be patient, isn’t it?
Doris: Lotus already was over a year in the making.  Seriously.
Vashti: Yarn weights: right now, 1 yarn in one weight (Lotus, sport weight. I love 3.5 mm for jewelry up to 4.5 mm for clothing so far.)
Coffeedog: luckily we have Lotus to play with in the meantime. I think it’ll prove very versatile!
Karen: That is a good weight to start with!
Mrsmhwillia: agree, coffeedog
Katchkan: I am looking forward to trying it out.
Vashti: Not only the learning curve but the initial investment is huge. You have to buy the biggest batch you can FIRST and then more unexpected costs get added along the way, before it’s even public!
Doris: Sportweight, great, drapey sportweight was a ginormous hole in the yarn offerings.  We needed to fill it.
Karen: I am looking forward to trying it too.
Coffeedog: Yikes
Amy: And then you need to make sure what you’ve created is really going to sell before you have enough money to invest back in creating another type of yarn.
Vashti: Coming from designing side of industry, I was shocked by the differences when dealing with the manufacturing side of things — tools, yarns, etc.
Vashti: Amy: whew.
Julie: Thanks so much for going through the process of creating this wonderful yarn! Love you guys!
Amerz: hear, hear!
Doris: One caveat.  The darker shades do bleed color. Many other yarns do as well, so this is not a particular issue. Make sure you wash/rinse/block separately, cold water.
Mrsmhwillia: Looks like I may have to place an order…..SOON!
Craftyone: Is Lotus dyelotted?  I ordered 3 ball of teal for the Lapa top to make a medium but will probably need to adjust up in the hip area; worried about running short and the color not matching.
Vashti: Yes to dye lots. (Teal is going faster than many other colors.)
Amy: After Coneyhotdog’s question, we’ll select the winner for the two balls of Rose Red Lotus yarn.
Coneyhotdog: Doris, would Lotus work well for your Swirl Sweater on the website?  It seems as tho it would.  I’d like to make it next.
Linda D: It is beautiful!
Amy: So nobody leave!
Karen: Understand, that teal was the first to catch my eye!
Doris: Yes, coney.  There is already a sample of a Teal Lotus Spirals by LadyGryphon of ravelry.
Amy: The teal is what I ordered, too!
Karen2430: Really looking forward to having this new yarn available!!!
Craftyone: Hope, I’m going to have enough.  Otherwise I guess I’ll have to get a contrasting color for a trim or something.
CrochetWithDee: me three
Vashti: omgoodness coneyhotdog you gotta see LadyGryphon’s
Doris: coney, go to ravelry and check the Spirals design page, I believe it should be or soon be a featured image.
Vashti: See bottom right column of newsletter for Spirals top in teal.
Amy: Okay, I think we’re finished with questions. That means it’s time to select a winner.
Coneyhotdog: I’m going to have to check this out  Thanks. I am glad it isn’t wool.  I don’t like itchy sweaters.
Coffeedog: yes, ladygryphon’s is awesome! there’s a pic of it in the Vashti Lounge group
Amy: Doris or Vashti, one of you type in a number from 1 to 26.
Magiccrochetfan: Doris and Vashti, thank you so much for all your inspiration and hard work in creating this yarn for us.  I have been thinking about ordering some; will definiitely have to do so now!  Sportwt. seems like a perfect wt. for so many things and I LOVE to crochet w/ plant fibers so it seems perfect.  Love the color range too <3
Doris: Thank you all for being here!
Katchkan: Your yarn is definitely on my list to try. Soon.
Ana: I just read teal and all I can think of is my mother asking for flowers
Craftyone: Thank you for all the information and having this chat!
Linda D:*Hugs* I miss you guys!
Doris: Fourteen, for the fourteen shades of Lotus available now
Coneyhotdog: This was great.  Thanks, Amy And Doris and Vashti!
Amy: Perfect, Doris!
Doris: miss you, and thanks for the card, Linda!
Mrsmhwillia: Thanks so much ladies!
Peachesetteaberry: yes, thank you all for hosting this chat for us.
Janet: Teal is a great color, and makes a wonderful contrast to many other colors!
Amerz: A lot of great information – thanks for the chat Doris and Vashti and thanks for hosting, Amy.
Vashti: The minute chat ends I’m shipping out a bunch of yarn orders so your order can go out today. Just sayin’.
Doris: AMERZ! Love you!
Amy: That means our lucky winner is Katchkan, Kathy White!
Katchkan: Thanks for the great chat and information.
Magiccrochetfan: Thanks for doing this Amy!
CrochetWithDee: your shipping is *incredibly* fast!!!
Mrsmhwillia: 🙂
Amerz: Love  you back, Doris!
Peachesteaberry: congrats katchkan!
LindaD: Thanks for hosting Amy, and Doris & Vashti, you guys are an inspiration by following your dreams!
Vashti: Thanks everyone for your comments and feedback and questions and I always want to hear from you: vashtibraha AT gmail DOT com  (and here in Crochetville of course.)
Katchkan: OH My. I get to try sooner than I expected.
Doris: Honestly, Dee, James does the shipping.
CrochetWithDee: crochetulations Kathy!
Amy: I want to thank each and every one of you for attending the chat today. I’m so glad you were with us.
Linda C: I was amazed at how fast my order came across the country. Like 2 days!
Amy: And special thanks to Vashti and Doris for joining us and giving us an insider’s look at their new yarn line.
Vashti: Yay Dee! Fast shipping = happy crocheting.
Coffeedog: w00t! congrats katchkan!
Doris: Please ask any other questions at Ravelry, either my forum or Vashti’s Crochet Lounge.
Karen: Thanks for this chat Amy, Doris & Vashti.  I will have to buy some of this yarn really soon!
Craftyone: Congrats Kathy!
Juanita: Thanks for hosting it and thanks to Doris and Vashti for their yarn, designs and everything.
Katchkan: I will be sure to do a blog post about your yarn once I give it a try.
Doris: Katherine White?
Amy: I hope you all had as much fun today as I’ve had!
Karen: Congratulations Kathy!
Vashti: Katchkan that would be awesome!!
Amy: Yes, Doris!
Coffeedog: *clinks mugs*
Janet: Thank you Doris, Amy and Vashti! I will have to buy some of the yarn asap!
Amy: The thread designer extraordinaire, Kathryn White!
Doris: THREAD genius Kathryn White?????
Vashti: I have a warehouse FULL of Lotus…
Doris: OMG!
Coffeedog: oooh… lotus doilies….
Katchkan: Well maybe not a genius but yes that’s me…
Doris: You are too modest, as befits royalty.
Linda D: Kathy quit being modest!
Amy: Yes, Kathy, you ARE a thread genius. Trust us!
Katchkan: But Linda that’s who I am… You don’t want me to really change do you?
Linda D: Never!
Amy: Whatever you all end up making with Lotus, I hope you’ll come post photos on the Crochetville forum and/or Facebook page, or just share a link to your Ravelry project page with us.

Her Doris Chan Crochet group on Ravelry