Introducing the new Common Threads Publication
Today is a very exciting day for me, as the Editor of the new HVTP publication, Common Threads, which will launch this fall. If you attended the Summit in April, you’ve already been made aware of what we’re working on here, but for many it will be fresh and exciting news.
In a mission to increase the profile and reach of our organization and what our members are doing, we’ve decided to launch a companion publication to the Common Threads podcast, featuring fiber artists, essays, stories and more in each bi-annual issue (October and May). These issues will focus on the work of our HVTP members and their creations, but we’ll also have room for some new voices within New York and surrounding areas, too.
There will be opportunities for so many talented people to be featured within the pages—your products could be included in visual layouts and arrangements, your yarns on display in our pattern feature sections or even a full profile in our member and artist interviews. Our photoshoot locations, models and supporting garments will be as carefully considered. I’ll dive into each of these elements and how they’ve been considered leading up to the release of our first issue, but for now, read on to find out how you can participate in this project! If you don’t see the answer you need, ask in the comments below or contact us.
Common Threads Issue 001: Abundance
Submissions for our first issue, coming in October 2023, are open now and close June 11.
View our Issue Mood Board on Pinterest
This issue’s theme is Abundance, and we’ll capture the warm, glowing tones and golden light of early Autumn in our August 2023 photoshoot. We’re focusing on warm tones (natural brown, oatmeal and brown-gray, warm white and deepest chocolate) for this issue, so check out the mood board and keep it in mind when submitting your products and ideas.
Yarn Support Needed
Each issue of Common Threads will feature designs pulled from the catalogue of the many talented designers throughout our region. We’ll have these patterns re-knit in regional yarns, and photographed on a model for the new issue. In the pages of the publication, they’ll be displayed alongside other yarns appropriate for the project.
Yarn Support Terms
We have two types of yarn support in each issue—feature and highlight. A featured yarn is one used in the re-knit of one of the featured patterns. This yarn support is used for the sample featured in the issue’s photographs. Samples will be used for display by the HVTP for 1 year, and are then returned to the member who sent the yarn support.
A highlight yarn is photographed in yarn form, either solo or within a group of other yarns for a flat lay or featured pattern’s additional yarn suggestions. Highlight yarns may sometimes also be used for swatches. Highlight yarns are not returned and may be used by the HVTP for issue promotion.
New Pattern Yarn Support: Sock Yarn
We have an exclusive, new pattern in each issue, and this issue it’s a sock pattern. Designed by HVTP member Mary Anne Benedetto (Apriori Knits), we’re looking for yarns with the following characteristics:
yarns designed for socks
non-superwash sock yarns
no-nylon sock yarns
fingering weight yarns
Yarn Support: Worsted, DK & Aran Weight Yarns
We have a trio of beautiful shawl and scarf patterns this issue that capture a sumptuous, cozy and elegant feel. We’d love to include worsted, dk, and aran weight yarns with one or more of these qualities:
yarns with a slight halo
very smooth yarns
round or multiple plied yarns
yarns that have multiple colors available (natural or dyed)
Each sample will require between 600-900 yards of the featured yarn, and we’d like to try and highlight 3-5 additional yarns per pattern.
Sample Knitters Needed
Are you a speedy knitter with a little free time this summer? We need your help to get the samples done for this issue’s photoshoot in August! We are hoping to send out yarn in early June, with samples being received by our editorial team in the first week of August.
Writers Needed
We’re looking for a few different print pieces this issue, and would love to give some members the opportunity to write for us. Here are a few of the themes we’re interested in receiving submissions for:
Abundance, as a concept of having or searching for more, for enough or for the just right amount. Growth and harvest, gratefulness and appreciation could all be adjacent themes here.
Colorful fibers: a deep dive into a unique category of colorful fiber. Some examples might be the many different colors of Shetland sheep or huacaya alpacas, a tutorial for creating a range of heathered yarns through blending, or an exploration into crafting with the deepest, darkest tones of fiber.
Synthetic-Free Socks: exploring the growing trend towards non-superwash and no-nylon sock yarns within the yarn industry, or the durability of these sock yarns. This could be a research piece or a piece that involves interviewing other makers.
We are open to your interpretation of these topics and other idea submissions you have that are not listed but you believe fit within the issue’s themes and messages!
Coming Soon: Product and Prop Calls
We’re not done with everything needed for this issue—we’re just getting started—and will have a product and prop call to follow shortly where members can lend their finished products, garments and props to upcoming photoshoots and visual features.
