🧶 How It Started

In 2021, I was searching for eco-friendly yarn in just the right shades of orange, gold, and purple to make a shawl for my dear friend Sophie. I couldn’t find anything that felt quite right, so I tried dyeing the colors myself.

I didn’t plan to fall in love with the process, but something about it stayed with me.

Over time, I began to rearrange my world to make more space for what lit me up. That quiet pull eventually became Yarning: a shop devoted to plant-based fibers, custom-dyed colors, and the joy of making beautiful things by hand.

It also sparked my own line of hand-dyed yarn: Yarning by Rachel.

Sophie wearing her shawl in hand-dyed eco-friendly yarn

Meet our Staff

Rachel

Rachel is the owner of Yarning Fiber Arts. She taught herself how to knit in 2001 and has averaged several hours of knitting every day since 2018. Though she is accomplished in many kinds of knitting, her favorite is lace shawls--the more intricate, the better! Knitting is a spiritual practice for her and has brought her infinite peace and joy. She would be honored to share the practice with you and is eager to support you in your fiber arts journey. Rachel is grateful beyond words to have the passion and the means to bring Yarning to life...thank you for your part in it!

Jacq

Jacquelyn “Jacq” Bilbro is a lifelong crafter and self-taught crocheter and knitter. She lives the belief that crafting and creative expression are integral to mental wellbeing. Yarn and the repetitive motion of creating fabric has been integral to her personal wellness journey. With over 15 years experience crocheting, she became a Craft Yarn Council certified crochet instructor in 2025. Jacq is passionate about sharing what she’s learned to help others create joy around them.

Find her at yarndreamin.com or @yarn_dreamin on instagram and youtube.

M-E

Crochet and Mixed-Media Fiber Artist Mary Ellen Gitachu is a lifelong lover of the fiber arts. In recent years, she has found renewed inspiration through fiber artists who expand crochet beyond tradition—blending it with canvas, mixed media, and storytelling. This artistic exploration has deepened her connection to her heritage and transformed her practice into one that celebrates identity, narrative, and creative expression. Today, ME continues exploring the world of fiber art, learning to knit, and working with natural fibers. She especially enjoys teaching crochet and encouraging others to experiment, learn, and discover their own stories through yarn.

Nat

Nat is a multi media artist from Austin, Texas who has experience in knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and felting. Nat’s other skills include comprehending written patterns and exploring the use of alternative materials accompanied with traditional finer art techniques. Nat began making fiber arts throughout the Covid pandemic and is inspired by the way the arts bring people together as well as the notion of a handmade item.

Guest Instructors

Chelsey

From the moment Chelsey’s friend taught her how to do basic stitches nine years ago, Chelsey has knitted every day since. She has been knitting, crocheting, and designing on her own, progressing through reading and learning from complicated patterns. Chelsey has been teaching knitting for over two years from beginner to advanced classes. She approaches knitting as a type of rhythmic artwork and is excited to share fiber arts with everyone.