Where does yarn come from, and what makes it interesting? It’s not a question I’d truly considered until talking with spinner and fiber artist Tina Degenkolb of Elfenwolle. This knitter knew she wanted to utilize truly unique yarn in her work, but the bold colors and materials she sought existed only in her mind. “I was determined to make something different than machine-made yarn: something individual,” she says.
Inspired by the raucous colorways of her imagination, Tina started her creative journey at the source, collecting and washing sheep’s wool, then dyeing and spinning it into yarns with whimsical names like “Troll King,” “Forest Dancer,” “Crazy Witch,” and “Cherry Cherry Baby.” As she explains, “I dye my fibers, then look at them again and again until the right name comes to mind — I love names with a connection to the mystical world, but sometimes the wool seeks out its own name.”
Not content to keep her colorful creations to herself, Tina’s hand-dyed fibers now inspire clients and customers around the world to create their own fanciful knits. Read on to learn more about Tina’s dyeing process, and shop her collection here.
Tell us about your creative background and how you created Elfenwolle.
Spinning and fiber are my passions, and I create fiber blends in unusual combinations. I began dyeing in the ’90s with sheep wool; around that time, I started using my first spinning wheel. Making my own yarn fascinated me, and I sought out less common fibers, mixing, spinning, and selling them at local markets. In 2013, I opened my Etsy shop with a little help from my daughter. I chose the name “Elfenwolle” for my business because I like stories about fairies and elves — there is something peaceful about them that is so appealing to me.
You create and sell hand-dyed, handpainted, and handspun fibers and yarn in wild, bold colors. How did hand-dyed fibers come to be a priority for you in your work?
I love sheep and their wool: Every breed has a unique fiber. I wanted to knit with handmade yarns, so I began to collect, wash, dye, and spin sheep wool; I was determined to create yarn that was truly unique, and with dyeing, you create your own colorways. I use an electric kettle, a dye brush, and my colors, processing my yarns on a spinning wheel. I only dye what is personally appealing to me, since I’m just doing it for the fun of it; thankfully, my customers appreciate my work.
“Summer Light” Handpainted Fiber for Spinning, $20
Walk us through the process of how you go from an idea to a finished product.
It begins with a fascinating richness of colors in my mind, typically inspired by a landscape or a picture. When I get an idea, I start mixing colors and create a dye test. Next, I wait for the wool to dry to see if the results will work with my intended idea; sometimes I change the colors until they’re in complete harmony with my vision. I finish the dyeing process with various sorts of braids, hand-painting each fiber in a particular colorway. Finally, I let the fibers dry again until I can give a name to every braid.
“Olive Dancer” Handspun Yarn by Elfenwolle, $40
Do customers often share the finished pieces they create from your fibers?
Yes! My customers often send me pictures on Instagram — I’ve included some photos below — and in my Elfenwolle group on Ravelry. It is always beautiful to see how a customer’s creation turned out.
What have been some of the most exciting moments or proudest achievements of your creative career thus far?
My most memorable moments include receiving caring comments from customers, and getting my first orders from America, Japan, Indonesia, and France. I treasure my clients and my friends at the wool market who support my creative process.
What’s on the horizon for your shop?
I want to add even more interesting fiber blends to my line. I’m also looking forward to gaining new clients, especially those who are discovering the mystery and wonder of spinning. I regularly teach courses in Berlin, and I would like to make spinning more well-known in Germany.
53 comments
DeUno from DeUno said 4 years ago
So beautiful! Great shop! Congratulations on the feature!
Francine from HomespunHeartofMine said 4 years ago
You have impeccable taste for choosing the color palettes for your hand dyed wool, Tina! I LOVE the Olive Dancer yarn....BEAUTIFUL!!! You have such talented customers as well! :D Congratulations on the feature and many blessings for your continued success!
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 4 years ago
Wow! So beautiful yarns! I love the colors palettes. Congratulations on the feature!
Jovita from alabatis said 4 years ago
Lovely shop! Congratulations on the feature!
LisaJ Aldrich from PrettyShabbyChicShop said 4 years ago
Beautiful shop! Congrats on the feature. :)
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 4 years ago
Beautiful shop! Congratulations on the feature!
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
Colorful, soft... perfect winter supplies. Great shop. Congratulations Tina of shop Elfenwolle
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
What a beautiful and colorful choices! Congratulations on the feature ♥
Monica from ThreeBarDGifts said 4 years ago
Congrats on the feature! Your beautiful, soft-looking yarn must be a joy to knit with! Best wishes!
Sherri from ButterflyFeetDigital said 4 years ago
Beautiful colorful yarn, congrats on the feature!
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
So pretty! Lovely shop you have- congrats on the feature.
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 4 years ago
very creative and beautiful!!! I really love colorful stuff. Congratulations on the feature!!
Debra Gilstrap from gilstrapdesigns said 4 years ago
Great feature and I love your bold beautiful colors. Much continued success!!
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Excellent colors! Congrats on the feature!
Etrennes from Etrennes said 4 years ago
Beautiful shop! Marvelous texture and colour material. Wishing you all the best for continued success!!!
Maria B. from TheNorthWayStudio said 4 years ago
Absolutely gorgeous feature! I just want to reach out and touch all the gorgeous yarn! Congratulations!!
Madeleine Keller from ThoseGoodVibrations said 4 years ago
such beautiful colors! Thank you for sharing :)
Loribeth from MomentsOfArt said 4 years ago
Your creations are beautiful. I'm even more impressed now that I know you make your own yarn!
Suzanne Rorick from SRorickArt said 4 years ago
I love your wool blends and the colors are gorgeous!
Ombretta from indielabvintage said 4 years ago
fantastic colors! congrats!
Olesya Bagriy from BelkaUA said 4 years ago
Beautiful story and shop!!! Congratulations on the feature!
benna and hanna from bennaandhanna said 4 years ago
Beautiful colors! Hopefully I can go back to knitting and get yarn from Elfenwolle. Congrats and More Blessings.
Lemonada Designs from LemonadaDesigns said 4 years ago
The shop name makes the shop and color more amazing. Congrats and more blessings.
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 4 years ago
Loved the woolen socks !
Barbara Gable from CrazyLovely said 4 years ago
I love your colorful shop! Congratulations on the feature
DivineOrders from DivineOrders said 4 years ago
GLORIOUS! Congrats on the feature. Thank you Tina for sharing your whimsical thoughts, phenomenal visions and amazing arts with us. - Peace.
Judy W from JudyHandmadeCreation said 4 years ago
Beautiful yarn! Congrats on the feature! :)
Renee from RandMhandmade said 4 years ago
Beautiful! I love your shop so much!!
accentonvintage from accentonvintage said 4 years ago
Beautiful yarns! Congrats!
Kim Cole from BeachDaisyJewelry said 4 years ago
Beautiful and colorful!!! Congrats on the feature. I love using yarn with many colors - it is so fun to knit or crochet with them!!
Jafeth Moiane from handicraftafrica said 4 years ago
Great work. Congrats!
V S from ModernGift said 4 years ago
Beautiful shop! Congratulations on the feature!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 4 years ago
Beautiful colors! Congratulations on the feature!
Olga from LinenAndTailor said 4 years ago
Great shop! Congratulations on the feature :)
Acquanetta Ferguson from OliveandBrook said 4 years ago
Beautiful yarn! Congrats on the feature!
Shulamit Raanan from ShuliDesigns said 4 years ago
Congrats on a great feature! You are so talented... I love your work!!!! :-) I wish you all the best in the future!
Ashley from WAXandWANEshop said 4 years ago
Wow, what gorgeous color palettes! Congrats on the feature! I just recently took up weaving so I'd love to incorporate some of your lovely creations into my next piece.
Monika Moroz from NickoArts said 4 years ago
Congratulations on the feature of your beautiful shop and much success :)
viena bone from bonesreusablebags said 4 years ago
Amazing colors and schemes! So awesome that you keep it fun! Congrats!
Teerasak Borkam from TribalAndHarem said 4 years ago
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Wiigora from Wiigora said 4 years ago
lovely shop congratulations on the feature <3
R. Anne from LnRworks said 4 years ago
Congrats on the feature!
AMSkrafts from AMSkrafts said 4 years ago
You have such beautiful wool yarn, colors and blends! We especially love how the names seem to match the colors too. Thank you for sharing, and congratulations on the feature!
emaxtees from EmaxTees said 4 years ago
I saw something like that on Facebook video, but your products are better, congrats!
Kfir from KinArtBoutique said 4 years ago
Inspiring! Well done :)
Nadia B from BasicKnitwear said 4 years ago
Cozy shop! Congratulations on the feature!
Carrie Cronkite from CCsSoapinaPouch said 4 years ago
Congratulations. Your yarn is so beautiful and I love the name of your shop and how you came about it.
Teerasak Borkam from TribalAndHarem said 4 years ago
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alldayetsy said 4 years ago
Wow I love the colors!
Brenda Bordas from brendabordas said 4 years ago
Beautiful work and so interesting that you dye your own colors in the wool. Fantastic loved the story.
Mariza Aparecida Queiroz from bymarizacrochet said 4 years ago
Beautiful very nice naturals wools :)
Isabella Menscer from JustSayingHiDesigns said 3 years ago
These are so gorgeous! I can't wait to use some in my next knitting project. Congrats on the feature!
Lira Allayarova from LiraAllayarova said 258 days ago
Thanks to such talented people like you, we have the opportunity to create felted clothes. Felting clothes was my hobby, now the meaning of life. Good luck in your work!