Penny Stitch Craft

Penny Stitch Craft, owned by Marianne, is a business born from a deep passion for hand-dyed yarns.

 

After attending a yarn workshop in Liverpool, Marianne became captivated by the dyeing process and couldn't wait to experiment further.

 

A friend gifted her a DT Crafts Dyeing starter kit and she began experimenting with a microwave and empty ice cream tubs. Initially, she was setting up her business to create and sell upcycled project bags for knitters and crocheters - each bag unique and made in limited quantities, helping to reduce landfill waste. However, when she shared a photo of a mini skein set she had dyed with a K&K group, a friend expressed interest in purchasing it. That moment became the catalyst for launching her hand-dyed yarn collection.

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Marianne's colour inspirations stem from her love of fantasy books, TV, film, myths, legends, tabletop role-playing games, and Xbox gaming. This year, her dyeing projects draw inspiration from George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones novels and Dungeons & Dragons RPG.

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Penny Stitch Craft specialises in 4ply and DK yarns, particularly for knitting socks and garments.

 

Marianne primarily works with 100% Bluefaced Leicester and Merino Nylon yarns. Her collection also features plant-based 100% Tencel and a Merino-Tencel blend. Additionally, she has created a selection of hand-dyed wool and silk embroidery threads for stitching enthusiasts.

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The dyeing process is an ever-evolving learning experience for Marianne and she finds great joy in watching how colours blend and develop. Her dye studio is her happy place, where she enjoys exploring how different fibres absorb colour and the unique tones that emerge.

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Marianne’s journey began with a BSc (Hons) in Knitwear Design and Production at De Montfort University. Now, 30 years later, she has come full circle, teaching knitting and crochet workshops while also selling her hand-dyed yarns.

Interestingly, yarn dyeing was not covered in her degree course, making her self-taught expertise even more significant. Over the years, she has witnessed remarkable changes in the hand-knitting yarn industry, with a growing awareness of British-reared fibres - a development she finds truly exciting.

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Visitors to Penny Stitch Craft’s stall can expect to find a collection of hand-dyed wool and plant-based yarns, embroidery thread sets, upcycled fabric project bags and tool pouches. Other handcrafted items include clay stitch markers, branded wooden sock blockers and crocheted earrings made from Marianne’s hand-dyed yarns. She also stocks Eucalan wool wash and a curated selection of knitting and crochet patterns by independent designers Marina Kelly Art, The Crochet Chain and Kath Andrews Designs.

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For this event, Penny Stitch Craft will showcase newly released colourways. Marianne is also introducing a Corriedale non-superwash yarn collection this year, expanding the variety of fibres available to you.