Who I am
The roots of Twisting Fibers Yarn Co. run deep in my family. My mom, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers were all incredible fiber artists in their own right. By the time I was 9, my mom had taught me counted cross-stitch, crochet, and sewing. My grandmother passed down the finer details of embroidery, and I still have linens made by my great-grandmothers.
I first learned to knit one summer in Girl Scouts at 12, and I’ve always been drawn to the ‘old-fashioned’ arts. In my 30s, I found my way back to crochet and knitting, and for my 40th birthday, I started spinning my own yarn. A few years later, weaving followed.
Somewhere along the way, the idea of creating my own line of yarn took hold — and when the time was right, it became a reality. Thank you for being part of this journey and for supporting my small business.
Why Peru?
As a teenager, I applied to be an exchange student. I was able to list where I’d like to go, and since I was studying French at the time, France was at the top of my list. Imagine my surprise when I opened the acceptance letter and saw I’d be going to Peru. I actually had to check a map — beyond knowing it was in South America, I wasn’t sure exactly where it was.
That experience changed my life. It opened up a world I hadn’t imagined, and I met people who were kind, generous, and full of life. When I returned home, I knew I wanted to give back to the people of Peru one day, though it took years to figure out what that might look like.
Today, Arequipa — the city I once called home — is one of the world’s leading producers of fiber and textiles. The quality of alpaca, llama, vicuña, wool, and cotton from this region is unmatched. Many yarn companies and well-known fashion houses source their materials from the mills there. By choosing to work exclusively with a mill in Arequipa, I’m able to support local growers and their families. On top of that, we donate 5% of our net income to provide school supplies and essentials to children and families in the area. One day, we hope to go even further — sponsoring teens as exchange students, with the hope that it changes their lives, just as it changed mine.
