Introducing Emma’s Yarn: The Emma Dobratz Story

Fiber lovers near and far, pull up a seat as I introduce Emma’s Yarn.  As you know I was in Florida last weekend and had my mind blown. Read this post later, but right now let’s get into this very special Saturday Spotlight.

 

the Story behind Emma’s Yarn

1. Emma I am so very excited to shine my light on you sweetheart, so let’t get started. Tell me your yarn story, do you knit or crochet? If yes who taught you?

I learned to knit when I was about 6 years old. When I was 10, I won a tri-colored ribbon at our town’s youth fair for my Owls sweater by Kate Davies, knit in Malabrigo Rios! I’ve knit on and off since then. I start more projects than I finish though.

2. Are you kidding me? you learned at 6 and knit a whole sweater at 10? An award winning sweater I might add! WOW, ok so this seems like it was destined, how did the yarn dye business start? How did you come up with the name?

My sister and I grew up in our mom’s yarn shop. Our mom is yarn obsessed, to put it lightly, and so when it came time to teach me ratios and chemistry (I am homeschooled) my mom used yarn and dye. I’ve always loved art and even though there was math and science involved, I loved dyeing the yarn. It kind of grew organically from there. When my sister, Aspen, graduated from college, she joined me in the business. It turns out she is really good at creating crazy beautiful color, too. Plus she is really organized. We absolutely love working together!

I went back and forth between many ideas about the name, but nothing seemed quite perfect. One day, while I was hanging out in the living room at Four Purls, one of our longtime customers turned friend, Nancy, said “Why not just call it Emma’s Yarn? That’s what we are all going to call it anyway!” It was perfect. Sometimes I look back and think that I could have gone with another idea or had a different logo but in the end I love that my name tells a story!

the balancing act

3. I absolutely LOVE that your sister Aspen works with you as well. That is one of the many things I love about you guys, the family dynamic..just love it! The name, it’s perfect! I know you are still in school, how do you balance school and being a business owner?

I’m fortunate in that I am homeschooled so my school week is pretty flexible. My mom, as a business owner herself and my teacher, helps guide me and the addition of Aspen to the team has brought us to the next level. We are now able to take wholesale accounts and support other LYS’s with trunk shows. I could not have done that on my own.

4. What is your best seller? 

It fluctuates. It’s really fun to see how different regions like different colors. In Florida our brights sell the best. In the midwest, it’s the darker colors. Overall Gypsy Market is the most popular everywhere, it’s a complex color and each batch we do is a bit different. As for our bases; The Hella Hank at 600 yards is such a good value and its super soft. It has a touch of cashmere and that that tends to be the overall favorite but for fades and multicolored shawls, Super Silky, which is soft and has a fabulous drape, and Practically Perfect, which is soft and takes the colors beautifully, are the winners. My mom’s favorite is beautifully basic, because it is a hard wearing sturdy yarn that is good for garments that get a lot of wear, and that is probably the base we sell the least of. Sock knitters like our Practically Perfect sock because it has a bit of nylon spun in.

The future

5. That Hella Hank is hella special! LOL Thank you for dyeing 10 questions in my honor! You Rock!! Tell me what advice would you give to someone looking to start a business like yours? 

I would have to say that no matter what, make sure to have fun with it! I find that I am the most creative when I’m having fun and taking risks with Aspen in the studio. So to stay creative, we have learned to find inspiration in everything and I think that as long as you are putting “having fun” at the top of your priority list, you will always have the creative mindset that it takes to do your best work! ~Emma Dobratz Click To Tweet

6. Listen to you spreading nuggets and you are only 16 years old! I love it! Emma, what are you most proud of when it comes to Emma’s Yarn

When it comes to Emma’s Yarn, I’m so proud of how much we have learned and grown into what we are today! I never thought Emma’s Yarn would go from being a fun school lesson to being an actual family business! I’m so proud of Aspen and myself for taking this journey together and building a business!

7. What’s next for you? 

First, I would like to add more bases to my line of yarn. Then, I would absolutely love to be able to travel with Emma’s Yarn all-around the world!

Well I can absolutely see that happening for you because you and Aspen have an eye for color; your yarn is fabulous!! Listen don’t forget me when you become famous. OK?

There you have it, now don’t you want some to add to your stash? Go to Four Purls and tell them GG sent you!

Knit on my fiber friends….knit on

GG