CRAFTY SUSTAINABILITY. Foraged Fibers, a local yarn biz, works with farms, teaches local classes, and is planning to expand. (Submitted photos)

The fiber industry is global, with products often milled overseas and colored with chemical dyes. “The more people I talked to, it seemed like (there was a hole) in the craft market (for all-organic yarns),” said Britta Harris, owner of Foraged Fibers.

Inspired by a previous well-known Eau Claire knitting shop, Yellow Dog Knitting, and an alpaca farm and yarn store up in Cable, Wisconsin, the idea of helping local farmers create products with their fiber while also offering them a new customer base inspired Harris.

“Land management is at the core,” she emphasized. “The wool is grown on the ranches of the Shaniko Wool Company ... in the western United States (Colorado, Oregon, Nevada) ... (and goes) from the rancher to Meridian Mill House, North Carolina, then to Chippewa Falls.”

Foraged Fibers owner, Britta Harris.

Unique to Foraged Fibers, each turn of a new season inspires a new product base, naturally hand-dyed and herself. “The summer palette, coming out on June 10, is dyed using organic indigo, cochineal bugs, dried marigolds, and a combination of those to get a different spectrum,” Harris said.

Adding in her own garden-grown florals and fruits, Harris creates a beautiful array of seasonal fibers. With three different weights (thicknesses) currently available for the spring, Harris hopes to reflect the fiber options to fit what crafters might make each season.

“It was important for me to show that you could do this business and you could create a
product … with the smallest carbon footprint possible,” Harris said.

Emphasizing the want and necessity to work with more local fiber farms, and creating more partnerships within the area in order to also grow Foraged Fibers, Harris plans to expand her footprint in the Chippewa Valley. Currently, she offers knitting classes in Chippewa Falls at Creative Charm alongside selling her products at the Menomonie Farmer's Markets and Eau Claire Artist Markets.

“I love when I have repeat customers, and when people show me what they’re making with my
yarn it inspires me to be more creative and inspires me to brainstorm new products that they can’t find anywhere else," Harris said. "The design of the business is set up to be responsive in that way. It’s not the same every season.”

Catch Britta Harris’ Foraged Fibers at local markets by following her schedule on Instagram (@foraged_fibers) and Facebook. Interested in browsing available products? Head to the Foraged Fiber website.