We know you love the subtle variation and depth of colour hand dyed yarns give – and so do we! New at Loop are some gorgeous hand dyed beauties from Cowgirlblues. We now have their plump double knitting and the delicate lace weight for your knitting delight. Cowgirlblues has inspired our Spring window display and some new knits too!
Spring Window at Loop with Cowgirlblues
We caught up with owner Bridget Henderson to find our more, plus make sure you read to the end of the post to find out how to enter our Cowgirlblues giveaway! This giveaway is now closed, but we’ll have lots more in the future!
Tell us how Cowgirlblues started and the story behind the name
I worked for many years as a corporate strategy consultant, in South Africa and in Europe, specialising in organisational change, did an MBA in one of the top European business schools, worked at big corporates, travelled extensively, and burnt out completely. So I took a time-out to find myself again, and started “playing” with craft.
My strategic consulting brain kept telling me that their had to be a business opportunity given the large pool of fantastic quality local natural resources (merino wool and mohair, South Africa is the worlds’ biggest mohair producer) to which very little value is added locally. Most of our fibres are exported and processed internationally then sold back if you want to buy knitting wool for example.
So I continued exploring and decided I was going to try and start a business.
The name came next. I’m a big fan of Tom Robbins, a quirky American author, who wrote a very quirky book called ‘Even Cowgirls Get the Blues’. It was an inspiring re-read, one of the themes is about a return to a stronger connection with nature, and it has some interesting feminist ideas too. I have struggled with depression since I was a teenager, so “the blues” is an important element of my personal story. And I saw this photograph of me, taken on a summer holiday on the Wild Coast, and it kind of all came together and “cowgirlblues” it was …Photo courtesy of Bridget Henderson
I started working with finished product … scarves, shawls, bags, etc and still do a lot of that. But at the first Wool Week in South Africa in Johannesburg in 2013 there were a lot of people asking for knitting and crochet yarns. They liked my colours and so I started experimenting with the yarns. In early 2014 Michelle from Scaapi approached me about export, and it’s grown from there.
The palate for your yarn is very distinctive, how did you develop your colour range? And what inspires you regarding choosing colour names?
The colour range is quite interesting, again, I allow it to develop very intuitively. I play with colour a lot, it’s extremely therapeutic – colours talk to moods, feelings, states, ambitions, dreams, hopes, and I try to capture those things in my colours. So the colours often emerge. I don’t like to waste colour at the end of a dyeing day, so will often put not-exhausted dye bath water together and interesting things happen. Recreating the happy accidents isn’t always easy, but it’s working so far.
Customers also can be very inspiring – they will ask for things I wouldn’t necessarily consider, and that leads to new thoughts and ideas about colour.
The names can be difficult – I try to find names that mean something to me, associations with the particular colours, often natural ones, often food and plants. Living in Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain I spent a lot of time walking on the mountain. Our fynbos floral kingdom is quite spectacular and different seasons yield colour shades, tones and combinations that are very inspiring.
Tell us more about the yarn base you chose.
My yarn bases are all South African. I work with several local suppliers and to a degree am driven by what they have available as I’m still a very small customer so haven’t yet been able to develop my own blends, but hopefully that will come. And I believe in using as much local content as possible, only good quality yarns, and we have plenty of that available so I guess I’m very lucky.
Cynthia at Cowgirlblues winding yarn
How does living in South Africa inspire you?
I’m inspired both by living here and by opportunities to travel, which are as much about the travel as they are about giving perspective on SA from a distance.
We have an extraordinary access to wild open spaces here – on the Cape Peninsula I’m surrounded by ocean, mountains, fynbos, the desert is close. And we’re in a fairly precarious position at the end of a continent, quite buffeted by wild storms, strong winds, harsh sun. It’s a very real place to live. You can’t avoid the humbling reality that as humans our position on the earth is fairly tenuous.
I’m inspired by the wildness and intensity of life here and I think that reflects in my colours – they kind of reach out to you and you want to touch the yarns. Loop Spring Window with Cowgirlblues Lace
What’s on your needles at the moment?
I’m currently knitting several things … I always have a bunch of projects on the go.
This one is a crochet project, it will eventually be a blanket, made from Cowgirlblues Lace …
Photo Courtesy of Bridget Henderson
Thank you Bridget for taking the time to answer our questions.
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Another reason we’ve fallen for this yarn – it’s superwash! Of course you won’t be machine washing your lace knits, but the reassurance that a project will survive a cool wash in the machine makes it ideal for baby knits!
Cowgirlblues DK (CW from Top) Rainforest, Spring , NaturalCowgirlblues DK (CW from Top) Fire Lilly, Manarin, Argentine.
We used three balls of the DK to make the 6-12 months size of the adorable Little Boy Blue cardigan. A simple slip stitch rib makes a charming detail on the yoke, perfect for a little boy or a little girl.
Just for display, we finished it off with an Acorn and Will brooch, though cute it is not the best idea for a little one! The pattern uses a little button tab to close the cardigan – check out our button blog post if you need some inspiration!
Also starring in our spring window is the prettiest spring shawl, Ishbel by Ysolda Teague. Loopette Fiona, who knit this sample, used a contrast colour to show off the fine lace and make a striking two colour shawl.
Ishbel by Ysolda Teague, in Cowgirlblues Lace, colours- Silver Fox and Blossom.
A two colour Ishbel takes one ball of each colour of the Cowgirlblues lace, with enough to make a second shawl with the colours reversed.
This competition is now closed! Fancy trying out this new yarn? Well you’re in luck as we are giving one lucky reader the chance to win two balls of the Cowgirlblues Lace, perfect for lacey summer shawls like our Ishbel sample above! To be entered into the competition, just leave a comment letting us know which shade of Cowgirlblues Lace is your favourite – and if you can’t chose just one, let us know which two you’d use for a bi-coloured knit!
This competition will close at midnight GMT on Wednesday 8th April. The winner will be selected at random and announced on next weeks blog post – Good Luck!
Happy Knitting and Happy Easter!
P.S. Remember we’re closed Easter Sunday – 5th April
141 Comments on “Cowgirlblues – Hand Dyed Delights!”
I would definitely need two colours: there is no way I could settle on just one. How about lavender and aubergine?
Good Morning
Here is my choice of color: Airforce! I hope to win! !!!! I’ll come visit you in late April! I just two days in London so as the last time it is essential! vital I come home LOOP !!!!!
Good day and goodbye
Sylvie
Gorgeous colours, so two favourites: Charcoal and Prickly Pair, or Silver Fox and Airforce (at least based on my computer’s rendering of the colours . . .)
Without a doubt guinea fowl. All the colors are fantastic. Fingers crossed I am the winner so all my knitting friends here in the USA will have a new yarn to lust after.
Been eyeing up these for ages now because the colours are perfect but can’t really afford at the mo. I would come out of my comfort zone and try something crazy like Jade and Lemon
I would choose Mandarin and Aubergine. Enjoyed the interview as I am a transplanted South African. It’s so uplifting to see what people are doing with the natural resources.
Only one!!! Well if you insist I’d choose Rainforest. I love greens. I’m always on the outlook for green yarn that has a bluish
undertone. This one does. That said, the combo of blossom and
silver fox for Ysolde’s Ishbel is irresistable.
Wow weee… I would have to choose blossom as my fav as it is definitely the sign spring is on its way. Only this morning walking my pooch a saw some lovely blossom on a hedge the same colour it also reminds me of strawberry ice cream yum yum.
Hello! So beautiful your story and the yarn colours! Sea grass is jumping out at me as I live by the sea, pair this with Sable please for warm grey coastal colours shawl. Thank you for sharing from South Africa!
interesting story- I’ld love to visit S Africa, and see it for myself. Great blanket too-so many beautiful combinations.
looking out at the garden-lavender and spring would be amazing.
good luck everyone…
So many combinations to choose from but for me personally if I had to choose 2 then it would be Caramel and FireLily together yummy or a single colour would be FireLily alone. Such a beautiful colour.
All exquisite but I particularly love the aubergine/lavender combo, having tried and failed to get my daughter to choose those in the shop this week (and having ended up with something I love somewhat less). Gorgeous range.
Spring is the one I would choose, I adore greens. Difficult choice as they are all gorgeous, can’t wait to knit the beautiful Ishbel shawl to add to my ever growing collection!
We know you love the subtle variation and depth of colour hand dyed yarns give – and so do we! New at Loop are some gorgeous hand dyed beauties from Cowgirlblues. We now have their plump double knitting and the delicate lace weight for your knitting delight. Cowgirlblues has inspired our Spring window display and some new knits too!
I would definitely need two colours: there is no way I could settle on just one. How about lavender and aubergine?
I would love Spring and Natural, just right for the time of year
I like Sable and Spring as I love the colours together for the Ishbel shawl.
Ruby grapefruit and aubergine !!!
yummmmm…
Inspiring story. Well done cowgirl. Awesome name! Big fan of Tom Robbins books too
Inspiring story. Well done cowgirl. Awesome name! Big fan of Tom Robbins books too
Sable and guinea fowl, for sure!
Sable and sage would be my choice of this fabulous looking yarn.
Candyfloss has my name written all over it!
Really hard to choose – Airforce and Sea Grass look nice.
So so difficult, but I would choose guinea fowl and aubergine. All gorgeous though!
I’d love aubergine and airforce.
ooooh! Spring & Guinea Fowl would make a marvellously buoyant combination. What lovely yarns with a fascinating back story.
I would love Airforce and Violet. Gorgeous colours!
Fire Lily just jumped out at me straight away. Gorgeous colour.
This is hard! I think I’d go for Jade and Spring.
They’re all so beautiful.
I would love sable and Blossom. Such an interesting read!
I’ll say aubergine and lavender, but it’s hard to choose.
I love Sable and Aubergine, but if I had to choose one, it would definitely be Sable! Dusty Rose is a close third!
Beautiful colours and so hard to pick just one – but Seagrass is the one for me.
Coffee bean is lovely- and washable sounds great!
Sable and Candyfloss would be my choices- too hard to just pick one!
my favourites :Guinea Fowl and Sea Grass
Ooo…airforce and silver fox I think :-) for a dashing air ace shawl!
Violet and Blossom, but very hard to choose!
Good Morning
Here is my choice of color: Airforce! I hope to win! !!!! I’ll come visit you in late April! I just two days in London so as the last time it is essential! vital I come home LOOP !!!!!
Good day and goodbye
Sylvie
These are exquisite! Can’t wait to try these yarns out. Seagrass is gorgeous! Thanks for the giveaway.
soooo hard to pick, but would be Aubergine and Airforce as they are so me colours
Oooh! I’m not sure…silver fox and aubergine I think….
I’d love them all! But whittling it down to two: Aubergine & Sea Grass
I love caramel and airforce!
So difficult to choose! Love Guinea-fowl
Aubergine and Lavender look beautiful together
These colours are amazing! I love aubergine, but I think jade and hot cocoa would make something beautiful together too.
Guinea fowl with a hint of Airforce suits me!
Sable and Airforce would be lovely for my wardrobe. Thank you for this opportunity!
Oh, love the guinea fowl!
Oh, the colours are so so lovely. I couldn’t plump for just one and I can’t stop looking at Lavendar and Airforce. Thank you for the chance to win.
Easy choice – aubergine.
All year round colour.
I’d go with aubergine and silver fox – all super colours and hard to choose
Charcoal and Fire Lily would be my choice. Love the crochet blanket!
Such gorgeous colours – sea grass and candy floss for the ishbel shawl would be just fabulous!
sable and lavender make my heart sing
Gorgeous colours, so two favourites: Charcoal and Prickly Pair, or Silver Fox and Airforce (at least based on my computer’s rendering of the colours . . .)
Dusty Rose is my choice! Sable is pretty as well for a neutral.
I think Fire Lilly and Manarin would look beautiful together!
dusty rose and guinea fowl would look fab in a crochet blanket
Without a doubt guinea fowl. All the colors are fantastic. Fingers crossed I am the winner so all my knitting friends here in the USA will have a new yarn to lust after.
I love the look of them all, but if pressed would pr obably choose Airforce or Lavender ♡
Airforce and seagrass surely!
If I were knitting with two colors, Sable and Lavender; if just one, then Lavender would be my favorite. It’s hard to choose, they’re all gorgeous.
Sable and candyfloss. After much deep thought and deliberation! Gale
I’d love Jade – just my shade
I’m loving the silver fox and blossom! What beautiful yarn and colour choices!
I love Lemon and Silver fox together!
Sable and airforce!
Great interview. My choices would be sable and aubergine for a lovely all year round shawl.
Thank you!
My favourite shade is Aubergine.
Been eyeing up these for ages now because the colours are perfect but can’t really afford at the mo. I would come out of my comfort zone and try something crazy like Jade and Lemon
Sable and lavender are my favourites for an Ishbel shawl.
Must I just choose 2?? Lemon and silver fox….but all colors are wonderful.
Loved the interview
Happy Sunday and thanx
I will love sable and airforce it was a great interview
Beautiful colours! I love sable and guinea fowl together and I can’t resist aubergine for a one colour project because I love purples.
I like them all, but I will go with Lavendar and Spring. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would choose Mandarin and Aubergine. Enjoyed the interview as I am a transplanted South African. It’s so uplifting to see what people are doing with the natural resources.
Silver Fox and Blossom … That Ishbel is to die for ❤️
Sea grass for me! Another month and we can go to the beach here in the mid-Atlantic USA.
Oh yum! Seagrass and Argentine are too tempting!
Those are so pretty (and the interview was really interesting)! If I had to choose one, I think it would be Coffee Bean.
Love silver fox and lemon!
I love them all but think Rainforest & Sage would make a nice combination. Very interesting interview.
So hard to choose – beautiful palette and a wonderful story. The two-colour Ishbel looks great, and I would choose Airforce and Blossom. Thanks!
these colours are just a delight for the eyes! Jade and silver-fox look delicious. I might have to just take a trip down to Loop tomorrow!
Thankyou for your blogpost about Cowgirl Blues. It was inspirational. I would choose Spring and Lavender. The colours say it all!
The colours are just gorgeous but I really love Blossom, it’s so delicate.
Very beautiful colours – airforce is my favourite (just about!). Loved reading Bridget’s story too.
Seagrass is my favourite and my best ;-)
If I had to choose two colours airforce would be the second.
It’s really hard to decide! I love the silver fox and blossom, and also the sable and lavender.
I love the pinks and the blues so to narrow it down – I would love to combine Dusty rose with Airforce
Tibetan Red and violet are simply delicious!
Lovely article as always :) Jade for me, please.
Only one!!! Well if you insist I’d choose Rainforest. I love greens. I’m always on the outlook for green yarn that has a bluish
undertone. This one does. That said, the combo of blossom and
silver fox for Ysolde’s Ishbel is irresistable.
I love coral and caramel
Oh they are lovely! Would have to be Sable and Ruby Grapefruit!
Wow weee… I would have to choose blossom as my fav as it is definitely the sign spring is on its way. Only this morning walking my pooch a saw some lovely blossom on a hedge the same colour it also reminds me of strawberry ice cream yum yum.
Sable and lavender look beautiful together. Absolute spring garden colours.
Beautiful colours. I think I would go for the delicate mix of blossom and sea grass.
wow, that lemon, spring, coral combo in the first photo just sang to me right off the page! gorgeous. got yarn envy now ;)
Seagrass and candyfloss but any of the shades would be wonderful.
Sable and Aubergine are my choice of colours
Love this yarn. Silver Fox and Blossom would be my choice.
So many lovely colours, I think my favourites are sable and prickly pear xx
I love the lavender blue
Hello! So beautiful your story and the yarn colours! Sea grass is jumping out at me as I live by the sea, pair this with Sable please for warm grey coastal colours shawl. Thank you for sharing from South Africa!
Lavender and Aubergine for me, the two shades are just up my street. Its nice to see the face behind the name and the history of the yarn.
Perfect! So choosing is not easy…….but those two purpley ones, aubergine and lavender, are the ones that speak to me most. Just gorgeous…..!
Guinea Fowl And Airforce! :-)
I would love two balls of Silver Fox. Thanks for the giveaway! !
Dusty rose and airforce.
All are gorgeous though and I can’t wait to try this yarn – hopefully sooner rather than later :)
Guinea fowl & sable
Silver fox and seagrass for me beautiful
interesting story- I’ld love to visit S Africa, and see it for myself. Great blanket too-so many beautiful combinations.
looking out at the garden-lavender and spring would be amazing.
good luck everyone…
I would choose Dusty Rose and Sable! Love all the colours though. I will try this yarn soon!
Sable and lavender would be my choice, but on the other had so would just about any of them, beautiful colours.
Beautiful colours. So difficult to choose just two colours, but I would go for Airforce and Sea grass, please!
Sea Grass and candy floss definitely!
What lovely colours and therefore it’s very hard to choose.
I would use Sable and Airforce.
I can see guinea fowl and seagrass looking lovely round my neck on a chilly day….
So many combinations to choose from but for me personally if I had to choose 2 then it would be Caramel and FireLily together yummy or a single colour would be FireLily alone. Such a beautiful colour.
aubergine! no wait…lavender…..well, maybe spring! They are all amazingly beautiful!!!
Beautiful colours, but, if .i was lucky I would choose Lavender and Aubergine . Always look forward to reading the bog. thank you. Triciax
For me, Aubergine and Spring. However, all the colours look lovely. Just added this yarn to my “to try” list.
Sable and aubergine are my favourites & would really make a gorgeous addition to my wardrobe when made into a shawl or two!
Love them all but Sanle and Aubergine would be my choice.
Whoops typo! meant to type Sable and Aubergine!!
I think Lemon and Silver Fox together would make a fantasticly cheerful spring/summer shawl.
I love spring and silver fox! It’s been very hard to choose
Love blossom and candy floss
I love Aubergine, but i think Sable and Aubergine would look great together too.
Guinea Fowl and /or Dusty Rose – so very luscious – yarn to dream about!
Loving airforce and jade!mixed with the cream…pretty yarns : )
Prickly pear and Sable would be my two favourites. Like everybody else I couldn’t choose just one of these lovely colours…two was tricky enough
I think Blossom and Sea Grass would combine to make a beautiful spring colour shawl.
All exquisite but I particularly love the aubergine/lavender combo, having tried and failed to get my daughter to choose those in the shop this week (and having ended up with something I love somewhat less). Gorgeous range.
The lace has so many gorgeous colours. I am really taken with Sage. I would pair it with Prickly Pear. Thanks!
I love Blossom and Airforce, it would be an interesting combination ^-^
Seagrass. So beautiful. They are all stunning. Like the gorgeous colours you really find in nature on a warm sunny day. Delicious.
Well, sea grass is the favorite, but natural is an essential close second. All beautiful colors.
I simply love the look of this yarn and think that the colours are to dye for :0) particularly, Sea glass and Guinea Fowl.
Spring is the one I would choose, I adore greens. Difficult choice as they are all gorgeous, can’t wait to knit the beautiful Ishbel shawl to add to my ever growing collection!
All so beautiful, will choose Silver Fox and Blossom.
So beautiful. I would have to choose one each of ‘natural’ and ‘lemon’. Thank you.
The Sea Glass is beautiful.
With spring in the air a dual coloured dusty rose and natural colours together makes me think of the fragrance of a perfect rose!
I think Aubergine looks lovely.
Fabulous colours! I adore aubergine-love to eat them too!
Sea grass and Guinea fowl for me!
Oh…..so very hard to choose, since they are all beautiful!!! But I think sable and blossom would make a perfect spring shawl for me!
Oh my goodness, Blossom! And charcoal!
Airforce and Seagrass – divine.
Possibly too late for the competition due to internet problems but just love the lavender and aubergine – in fact love them all!