Rubber Neckin' in the Fiber Community: A Quick Summary of the Dumpster Fires That May Be Causing That Pain on Your Neck.

The fiber community has seen its fair share of dumpster fires. We have seen scandals come and go. And even if you don’t want to admit it, we know that you or someone you know has been a keyboard warrior at one time another—the warrior who ‘speaks up’ in the face of injustice. 

There are specific topics, attitudes, and general asshattery that makes this community rise up. So here I am to give you a summary of dumpster fire causing topics that make all of us rubberneck. It’s the type of junk that makes us suit up to prepare for a cyberwar of words. 

1. The ‘woke’ knitter who calls out indie dyers, designers, and influencers only to find out that they are sleepin’ at the wheel. 

• These folks certainly make us clutch our pearls every once in a while when they dare share their inner thoughts with us. They are the ones who call out designers for taking a stance against racism. They are the ones who think they are helping you navigate the tricky waters of today’s economy and society by reminding you that “racism isn’t real. And guess what <insert knit company name here> I am very disappointed that you cherish humanity and that you feel like everyone deserves basic human decency; I will no longer support you!” I understand that this is one last skein sold, but these folks perpetuate the idea that we all need some sort of white to succeed. But to these folks, we say, good riddance. That is one less cart jack that I will have to endure.

2. The Fiber Karen who is upset that an indie dyer isn’t mass producing 

• Fiber Karens, Farens if you will have no damn heart. They truly are vultures who will stop at nothing to get what they want. They believe that their dollar is worth more to an indie dyer than their own self-respect, and this is just unbelievable. The faren will stop at nothing to tell you just how disappointed they are that you didn’t create enough for THEM, fuck everyone else. These folks have a copernic-us world view where they, the card-carrying shoppers,  are the center, and everything revolves around them.

3. The predatory partnerships

• Now this one should scare ya’ll. Companies try to prey upon makers, their ideas, their likeness etc. to create a product that could better appeal to the general public. These offers are often presented as ‘partnerships’ when you are stuck doing all the work for peanuts. It’s sickening that these companies use up and coming makers who are just looking for a break. If I’ve learned one thing, contracts are always important. Never sign a deal without knowing exactly what you are getting yourself into, don’t tell my husband I said that. 

Now I’m not too worried about our community because we all know what to do when someone shows up and acts a damn fool. So continue to be your sassy selves and continue to get em’.