One of the benefits of PKG membership is the chance to interact with local makers. Our recent tour of Brooklyn Tweed’s headquarters in SE Portland was an incredible experience. Customer Service Lead Jamie McCarthy and Office Manager Jen Hurley were our wonderful hosts, leading us through the gorgeous headquarters. Luigi Boccia, co-owner of Brooklyn Tweed, told the story of how the brand started. Jared Flood, while an art student in New York, started a blog for knitters in 2005. Over the following decade, it grew into the exclusively US-sourced-and-spun wool yarn company. Today, Luigi heads up Business Development and Jared is the Creative Director. Luigi stressed the business values of Brooklyn Tweed: respect for the wool, respect for the designers, respect for the team, respect for the producers, and respect for the customers. Respect for the customers is demonstrated on the Brooklyn Tweed Resources page, which is packed full of information about knitting techniques, sweater size selection, and how to read charts and patterns. Their website isn't just a retail platform, it's a gift to their customers. One highlight was Jared talking with Amy about her 5190 Miles shawl made from Loft. It’s not every day you get to share your finished project with a maker. Our visit serendipitously occured on the launch of Ranch 01, Brooklyn Tweed’s first small-batch, breed-specific yarns. This limited edition collection is completely sourced and produced in the United States. Richly hued with natural dyes, the Rambouillet wool is a real treasure to fiber enthusiasts. We even got to do a little shopping of it ourselves. It was an amazing day! What is your favorite Brooklyn Tweed yarn or design?
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