Knitting entrepreneurs Jo and Kate celebrate the anniversary of their business The Golden Skein by sharing how they met on an online Knit-a-long.

The Golden Skein Limited began one year ago in 2013, yet the owners Jo Milmine and Kate Ellis have only physically met twice! How is this the case? In 2012 Kate was asked to co-host a knit-a-long on the iMake group on Ravelry, of which Jo signed up straight away.

(images: Kate and Jo’s Knit-a-long profile images)

Kate’s (or Kateswirl) profile image was of a blue leaf, whilst Jo’s (or Shinybees) image was of her dog wearing a woolly hat, so neither of them even knew what each other looked like. So what triggered this friendship? Jo was the slowest Knit-a-long participant, and her long persistence to knit her damask allowed conversation to spark and flourish between the pair.

(image: Jo’s demask)

It was while Jo was living in South Africa that she had the idea to start a yarn club. The idea was to create a group much like a wine tasting club, to introduce the plethora of local indie dyers. Whilst emailing Kate for suggestions and advice she realized that Kate was also looking for a yarny venture. Kate popped the question: Are you looking for a business partner?  The rest, as they say, is history!

The first parcels of yarn were dispatched in December 2013. TGS’s main club is the Power of 3 club – each quarter, subscribers receive 3 skeins of 100g of sock yarn, dyed on varying bases, by 3 different Indie dyers to the same inspiration picture. The Power of 3 Club has been well received and has produced some fantastic and varied yarns.

(image: Happy New Decade by Nick Ford)

(image: Harvest by Lorna Rande)

Sign ups are open now, with dispatch on 1 September 2014, for the Power of 3 (3 skein club) and the Slimmer’s club (1 of the skeins).

For more information on The Golden Skein Limited, check out the website at www.thegoldenskein.com