Kitty Grrlz existed before the knitting and yarn spinning did - the name came from my two cats, Jinx and Bug Juice. Only Bug Juice is still with me but the name is a constant reminder of the original "Kitty Grrl" - Jinx.

In 2004, I was making jewelry and I did the DIY Trunk Show in Chicago as part of the "Crafty Librarians" . . . well, something happened at that show that changed my life . . . I learned how to KNIT!

The local Stitch n Bitch group was there offering free lessons, so of course I went up and tried it. They provided acrylic yarn and metal needles. They showed the cast on and then the knitting. I was all thumbs, seriously. I never thought I would get it! I felt like an idiot and was sure the girl trying to teach me thought I was too. BUT . . . when I got home I went out and bought some purple yarn (my favorite color) and started knitting. I just knit and knit and knit . . . I ended up knitting a long rectangular object that today most resembles a table runner (yes, I do still have it!).

That was the beginning. I jumped into knitting full speed ahead and by the next year at the very same show (2005 DIY Trunk Show), I was there with hand knit items. Lots of them. AND, I wore the sweater that I knit. Enthusiastic and happy that I'd found something I really enjoyed . . . knitting was calming and I loved working with the various colors.

But, you say, don't you spin now more than knit? Well, yes, I probably do, but had I never learned to knit . . . I wouldn't have come across the Yarn Wench. In the summer of 2006, a fellow librarian forwarded a link to her Pirate Yarns. I was definitely intrigued so I bought one and I was hooked! It was so soft! (I didn't know wool could be so soft!) and I just became entranced by her art yarns! I still use the occasional craft store yarn, but using hand spun has definitely spoiled me and I do prefer it over any other kind!

Then, she started selling hand-dyed fiber, and of course the wheels were turning . . . if I could buy the fiber and spin my own, then I could sell the yarn AND the knit items with my own yarn! It just sounded so fun . . .

So that's what I did. I took a class in December 2006 and bought my wheel December 17, 2006. I have been spinning and selling my hand spun yarns ever since!

Kitty Grrlz is all about color, texture and individuality - I pride myself on using soft, wonderful, colorful fibers and spinning high-quality unique and functional yarns for your smaller knit, crochet or fiber art projects, or to use along with other yarns for larger projects. What you can do with my hand spun yarn is only limited by your imagination - I hope it inspires you to create!