Big things are afoot here behind the scenes at Tempestry headquarters this summer. It’s become increasingly apparent that we need to source our own yarn, and we’ve spent the last couple months figuring out how to make this happen.
We are delighted to share that we will be working with Kraemer Yarns, a longtime player in US textile and yarn manufacturing, to mill a unique line of Tempestry yarn.
There are several reasons we’re super excited about this development.
First, generally but especially in these tumultuous times, it seems like a good move to shorten supply chains as much as possible. Our current yarn comes from Peru by way of the mid-west US before reaching us here in Anacortes, Washington, and this year there have been major supply chain issues even before Covid-19 hit (and it’s only gotten worse since). Having yarn custom milled and dyed for us in Pennsylvania, then simply shipped across the country, should alleviate much of this uncertainty.
Second, and hugely important to us, is that Tempestry kits will eventually feature US merino wool, and that our work will be supporting good jobs, many of them union, within the domestic wool and textile industry, And of course an inherent plus in all of this is the smaller carbon footprint of not shipping hundreds and hundreds of pounds of yarn thousands and thousands of miles.
More on this in the months to come, including a Kickstarter campaign through which you will be able to pre-order new yarn Tempestry kits or donate to this effort and receive completed Tempestries and other goodies as thanks for your support.
We are so grateful to have you on this ride with us as we tackle what seemed an insurmountable task just six months ago.