Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Dupre.
Hi Kara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I have been a knitter and crocheter for as long as I can remember. My grandma taught me when I was really young and I have carried the crafts with me throughout my life. I had always used acrylic yarn and thought of wool as scratchy and uncomfortable. (I was wrong!) Once I learned about hand dyed yarn, I knew I had to try it. It was instant love! I quickly realized I wanted to learn how to dye it for myself. I started learning to dye and sharing my journey on Instagram. Eventually people took an interest in what I was doing and I opened an Etsy shop to sell my hand dyed yarn. My shop launched just over 2 years ago and has been slowly growing since!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, I can’t complain. Instagram made it really easy to reach people who would be interested in my art. Hand dyed yarn is obviously catered to a very specific group of people – primarily those who knit, crochet, and weave. There was a learning curve for me as far as becoming a business owner. I am very much still learning! Tracking expenses, managing an online shop, learning the ins and outs of social media and building a brand… it’s all a lot to taken, so I go at my own pace and learn day to day. Learning to dye had its own learning curve, too. There’s a lot of trial and error in order to achieve a final result I am happy with.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
When I think about what I am most proud of, the first thing I think of is the fact that I am running my own business, 100% on my own. I’ve had to research and learn so many things and somehow I have managed to accomplish goals I never thought I would.
I am such a fan of color. People have told me they are surprised by the color combinations I have come up with for the yarn I dye. Often, they say they would not have thought to put certain colors together, which makes me feel proud. It’s always so rewarding when someone says that what I have created is beautiful to them.
I’ve always tried to keep the colors I create unique. It can be difficult to stand out in an industry that is growing so fast. It seems like I discover a new dyer every day!
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Social media has been huge for me in terms of making meaningful connections with people in the yarn and knitting community. As someone who is a little shy in person, being able to communicate through social media has made it easier to start relationships with people. My biggest piece of advice for someone starting out in a new-to-them industry would be to engage with other makers/creators in the field. Share advice, ask for tips, build personal relationships. It’s a lot easier when you already have things in common! I discovered my knitting bestie through Instagram (or maybe she found me!) and we are both now a part of a local knitting group she created. We also teamed up to create a knitting podcast called the K2 Together Podcast where we chat all things knitting, but we also incorporate many hot topics in the knitting community, including sustainability, social media, building community, social justice, and more.
Pricing:
- Average skein of yarn ranges from $24-$32
Contact Info:
- Email: thekineticknitter@gmail.com
- Website: etsy.com/shop/thekinetcknitter
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekineticknitter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thekineticknitter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxF1aC4MPXNjY-6yW2aSLRA
- Other: k2togpodcast.com
Image Credits
Kara Dupre
