Whiskey Knits: Sew Darn Cool

Whiskey Knits is the work of fiber artist and poet Taylor Xavier.

I bumped into Taylor at her booth at the June Everett Makers Market. She explained her process for dying wool. I was impressed with her dedication to her craft and wanted to know more about the work.

I emailed her some questions about Whiskey Knits. Her answers reveal that, like so many Everett entrepreneurs, she cares about engaging the community while doing what she loves.

Good things happen here.

Taylor Xavier, in her own words:

LiEv: How long have you been knitting? How did you get started?

TX: I'm coming up on ten years of knitting now. My mother and I started the hobby together as a way to spend some time together. It didn't really take off for her, but I fell in love with it almost immediately.

LiEv: What’s the story behind the name?

TX: I love cocktails! I mean, who doesn't? My educational background is food, and I've always been drawn to the moment of reveal. As a chef, I'm always looking for ways to surprise my guests through plating and presentation, and this really rings true with my art.

I spend days, sometimes weeks with a single garment, so I have the chance to really get to know my work before it's given to someone else. I live for that moment of watching someone open up their piece knowing that it's something intended for them to live in.

Craft cocktails, good company, and good design---that's the impetus behind Whiskey Knits.

LiEv: Can you explain your hand-dying process?

TX: My friends tell me that I make a lot of weird spaghetti. Basically, I open up the pores of the wool by soaking in hot water. Once it hits a certain pH balance, I add the dye, and combine it with citric acid to seal the wool and make it colorfast.

I work really closely with my suppliers to make sure that my processes are as safe as I can make them for the environment, because there are a lot of places that don't really care about the impact that they're putting on their surroundings. My dyes are from a Washington-based supplier, and it's free of heavy metals and toxins that are present in many colors that you'll find at a chain store.

LiEv: Do you deliver locally? Is your merch available anywhere else besides the Makers Market and Etsy?

TX: I do! I really want to engage with my community, so I offer delivery to any Everett address. Right now, I'm available on Etsy and through the Maker's Market, but I'm planning a really neat series of pop-up events at local venues once the weather gets cooler.

LiEv: Do you practice any other fiber arts besides knitting?

TX: I sew, knit, crochet, embroider, weave, and spin. If it involves textiles, I've probably tried it.

LiEv: You host Stitchin & Bitchin at Black Lab Gallery. What can attendees expect?

TX: Stitchin and Bitchin is probably my favorite night of the week. It's a really relaxed night at Black Lab, where you can bring your crafts and meet other makers while working on your own art. We have everything from knitting to poetry to chain mail creation. I offer knitting lessons, and we have a lot of free supplies for various crafts, too, if there's anyone that wants to get started, but doesn't have the materials.

LiEv: You’re also a poet. Can you tell readers anything about your forthcoming chapbook "The Moon Expects Some Answers"?

TX: Oh gosh, this book is a really big step for me. It's my first book, and I'm so honored to be able to debut in the Everett community. I'm deeply inspired by the poet Daniel McGinn, who released a chapbook that was written under all 13 moon cycles in 2015.

I was living in California when I wrote a majority of the poems that feature in the book, so I could see the moon often and spend some quality time reflecting underneath it. "The Moon Expects Some Answers" launches on August 24th at Zippy's Cafe where I will be performing as the featured artist, and I'll be touring through Washington with its release in October.

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Dear people of Everett: consider buying locally. Support artisans in your community. Keep our scene strong.

You can do this by visiting the monthly Makers Markets or by visiting small businesses who are hustling it.

When you vote with your dollar, vote Milltown.