Willow on The Water & Lois The Wool Wagon.
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber Officer
If you find yourself on Whidbey Island on a Saturday morning, a trip to the Bayview Farmers Market near Langley, is highly recommended. Yarn lovers will find a real gem in the form of Lois The Wool Wagon. Step inside and you will find an array of beautiful hand dyed yarns from owner of the Wool Wagon and “Professional Yarn Temptress”, Willow Dawn. I caught up with Willow to discover more about her yarn journey and her trusty Wool Wagon.
The search for the perfect shade of green led willow to the world of yarn dyeing. After being taught how to knit by a friend in later life, Willow tried various types of yarn in shades of green, but the “right” shade eluded her. She decided to create her own using dyes bought from a craft website, whilst stocking up on fabric supplies for tie dyeing with her daughter. She created a green yarn that she loved, and was immediately hooked on the art of yarn dyeing.
When asked about her favorite fibers, Willow told The Woolpack, “I do particularly enjoy mohair, so many of my personal makes are with mohair. I spend most of my energy on dyeing superwash merino yarns, as they are the best sellers”. Willow is also known for her sock yarn “It’s the star of the show and loved by all who try it. It’s 85% extra fine merino and 15% nylon. It is so plump and squishy. The fiber is sourced from Australia only from vetted farms, (with no mulesing), and is spun in Italy.”
Willow on The Water yarns come in a range of shades and colors, and when dyeing, Willow has no constraints. “I don’t believe that there are colors that don’t “go” together. Pick a bouquet of wild flowers. No matter what you pick and put together, it is always beautiful. Nothing in life is only one color, we will see different shades and depths layered upon each other. I love the depth achieved by using at least three shades/colors per colorway. I am definitely not shy with dye!”
There is a lot to be learned from Willow’s attitude to her craft. “It’s when my mind is still. I am just playing with color and trying new things. No pressure, no right or wrong and at the end of the day, it’s just yarn. I strongly believe that every human needs a creative outlet. It can be fiber arts, visual arts, music, cooking or gardening. Anything that allows one to express themselves!”
In 2019, Willow approached the owner of her local yarn store (Sea Bre’s in Coupeville), and asked if she would consider stocking her hand dyes. The answer, of course, was Yes! As more people found Willow on The Water yarn, Willow looked for more opportunities to spread the word about her hand dyed skeins, and her local farmer’s market was recommended. During her first season at Bayview, she sold from a tent. “It was wonderful, except for when it wasn’t.” she tells us. “One weekend the rain came in sideways!” When she watched a local potter arrive in her van and simply drop the back gate to reveal a mobile store Willow was inspired, and the search for her Wool Wagon began.
The Wool Wagon arrived in her life in February 2023 and after some detailed refurbishment inside and out, Lois went into service on April 15 2023. “What I didn’t know is that her top speed is 45mph! I wish I were exaggerating, but as a result, we don’t travel nearly as far from home as I had hoped and planned!”
A visit to meet Willow and Lois is a lovely experience, and it is worth traveling to see them. They are a regular feature of the Bayview Famers Market (10am to 2pm every Saturday, mid April to late October), and Skagit Valley Farmers Market, at Christianson’s Nursery, Mount Vernon. You still have time to catch her and squish her beautiful yarn before the season ends. During the winter months Willow on The Water yarn will be available at Sea Bre’s Yarn, and you can also get all the latest news on Instagram @woolwagonwhidbey.
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