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Susan Druding showing off the face
painting she received at her
grandson's 4th birthday party. |
Industry. Ingenuity. Innovation.
When we first saw the logo for Crystal Palace Yarns (see above) we thought of the Grand Palais in Paris. We weren't far off, because the logo is representative of the Crystal Palace of London's Great Exhibition in 1851. That event was a celebration of industry, ingenuity and innovation. And, to us, that is what Crystal Palace Yarns is all about.
With a commitment to providing attractive, fun, and reasonably priced yarns to knitters and designers throughout the world, Crystal Palace Yarns is in a constant state of flux: continuously changing and adapting their products to meet the needs and interests of their customers. One season they'll offer the newest, hippest novelty item; and the next season they'll present a new yarn that's destined to become a classic.
As a small family-owned company, Crystal Palace is able to be more selective about what they offer. Susan Druding and her team demand complete control over what will bear their name, choosing the styles, colors and designs that meet their stringent requirements for value and appeal. How do they know what will work with their customers? Susan and her staff keep a close eye on the knitting market and stay in touch with independent designers so they'll be first to know what's on the horizon of sought-after yarns, colors and design ideas.
Industrious and independent, Susan Druding and Sambra Neet were the founders of the company now known as Crystal Palace Yarns. They first opened their shop, Straw into Gold, in 1971 in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, CA. It was a 500 square-foot independent retail and mail order supplier of spinning and dyeing supplies for artists and craftspeople. Not long after opening the shop, Sambra relocated to Oregon, and Susan was left to run the business on her own.
Crystal Palace's Warehouse |
A marine-biologist turned textile graduate (M.A in textile history/design from UC Berkeley), Susan brought her energy, curiosity and extensive knowledge of textile art to the shop. She didn't sell yarns, but offered her customers spinning fibers, spinning wheels, spinning tools, natural dyes, acid dyes for wool and -- most importantly -- knowledge. Susan built a strong clientele by sharing her extensive knowledge of spinning and dyeing with customers eager to learn a new skill.
Over the years, Susan taught more than 1500 creative people how to spin, and her shop became known for its wonderful fiber-and yarn-oriented staff who made Straw Into Gold a nationally (and internationally) known supplier of yarns, books, fibers, and Ashford Spinning Wheels.
In the mid 70's, Susan and her team entered the world of wholesale distribution, supplying Ashford Spinning Wheels and other fiber supplies to crafts shops throughout the U.S. First called Textile Artist Supply (TAS), they added their own hand-knitting and weaving yarns and knitting needles to complement their wholesale line.
Andy MacEwan joined Susan as a partner in the late 70s and helped to grow the business. The expansion of the business proved to be a success, and in 1980, TAS was renamed Crystal Palace Yarns. Twenty years later, in 2001, Straw's lease in Oakland ended, so Susan and Andy made what turned out to be an excellent business decision: they closed the retail shop to concentrate on the wholesale business full time. Crystal Palace relocated and is now in an enormous warehouse in Richmond, CA, where it remains today.
Crystal Palace's Office |
Always an innovator, Susan foresaw the potential of internet marketing in its early years. In 1995 when most of us were just learning about the Internet, she set up the Straw Into Gold/Crystal Palace Yarns website, www.straw.com. The Web pages were a new way to share the company's core skill -- that of sharing their textile expertise and knowledge.
Over the years, the site has become an excellent resource for yarnies who want to learn more about their craft and materials. The site contains yarn and product information, a retail shop list and -- most notably -- an extensive free pattern collection to promote Crystal Palace Yarn products. The company has an active blog, Socks and More, and they post links to most of their free patterns on Ravelry. Although they encourage knitters with pattern questions to work through their local yarn shops, they're happy to answer questions when no shop is available.
Straw into Gold was always a place of textile education, featuring classes to help others learn. As the company transformed into Crystal Palace Yarns, it maintained its commitment to helping others learn about their craft and the tools they use. This, and the commitment to quality products, is what differentiates Crystal Palace.
The Great Exhibition of 1851, the first fair of its kind, was held in a temporary structure of glass and steel that people referred to as The Crystal Palace. While it was demolished after the event, its spirit of industry, ingenuity, and innovation was resurrected more than 100 years later. Crystal Palace Yarns presents us with a never-ending variety of clever, value-priced yarns plus patterns and tools to inspire us to also be productive and creative.
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Win a Crystal Palace Gift Package Worth Over $140
See details below »
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This new yarn is the big brother of the popular self-striping Mini Mochi. It's 80% merino wool & 20% nylon so you know it's got warmth and durability. This yarn has 3 stitches to the inch so it's terrific for the big, chunky styles that are on the runways this season.
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This fuzzy, plush texture yarn requires only a basic garter or stockinette stitch to become a gorgeous, plush garment that is perfect for autumn fashion. Perfect for sweaters and tops or even home décor like washcloths & bath towels. 100% mercerized cotton.
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Shimmering, glimmering Little Flowers is crafted of 66% rayon, 30% nylon & 4% metallic. Each pretty posie has the sheen of rayon highlighted with twinkling metallic. Use it alone or mixed with other yarns to create special accessories and gifts.
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This machine washable worsted-weight yarn gives you five stitches to the inch. Beautifully crafted of 100% Australian merino wool, it's superb for knitting and crochet projects -- great for children's garments. Also available in a variety of coordinating solids.
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The changing colors of self-striping Mini Mochi are breathtaking. This popular Crystal Palace yarn is 80% merino wool & 20% nylon to make it warm and durable. Ideal for socks, scarves, wraps, gloves, or any other fingering-weight garment you have in mind.
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Mochi Plus is an auto-striping, worsted-weight version of Mini-Mochi, giving you many more options for garments & accessories. You'll love the bright rainbow hues. And there are baby & unisex choices, too! Crafted of 80% merino wool & 20% nylon.
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With its blend of eco-friendly 52% bamboo, 43% merino wool and 5% silk, Panda Silk Print yarn offers softness, strength, warmth & sheen in a terrific fingering-weight yarn. Ideal for lacy scarves, lightweight wraps and silky soft socks. Comes in coordinating solids, too!
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Panda Silk DK boasts wonderful color combinations for knitting and crocheting. Using Panda Silk, you can now make coordinating sweaters, hats or scarves in Panda Silk DK. 52% bamboo, 43% superwash merino wool & 5% combed silk.
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You'll love the lustrous sheen and softness of pretty Party Ribbon. It's a versatile yarn that will knit up with another yarn or create a gorgeous garment on its own. There are 3 1/2 stitches to the inch, so it's great for quick-to-knit projects. Party Ribbon is 100% nylon.
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This ultra-soft 100% polyester fleece has superb texture and hues ranging from pastels to brights. Using large needles, you can use this yarn for quick-to-create baby and children's outfits and accessories that will be cherished for their softness and warmth.
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Susan Druding |
Any good story demands a great cast of characters. This one begins with Susan Druding and her original partner, Sambra Neet. Sambra left the scene after relocating to Oregon, leaving Susan alone to run the business. Let's just say that Susan was more than capable of handling things on her own...as a young thief learned when he tangled with the owner of a fiber shop he'd decided to rob. Susan recounts the story of their encounter.
"It was a young kid. He grabbed money from our primitive cash box at our first location -- and in those days we sometimes only took in $35 in a day. There was one customer in the shop who I didn't know at the time, and I yelled at her to 'Watch the shop!' while I chased the kid down the street and caught him. I slammed him against a building and demanded my money back. He gave it to me. Of course, I was only 30 years old then and could run fast!"
That customer turned out to be Lolli Jacobsen from Mendocino Art Center. She must have been impressed with the feisty shop-owner because Susan was later invited to teach several dyeing and spinning classes for Lolli.
Although she may be tough with thieves, Susan is a leader and collaborator who shares the design process with her team. First, she works with the various yarn mills to determine size, fiber content, and style to achieve a yarn uniquely designed for Crystal Palace. When she is satisfied with the yarn and has selected a color palette, usually in prints and coordinating solids, the staff helps name the yarn and the colors. Once a yarn is a "go," samples are distributed to sales reps and designers so they can help with the creation of patterns.
Loring Jones |
Still an active knitter, Susan also produces patterns, keeping abreast of trends via Sales Rep feedback, discussions with knitting shops, and by watching online blogs, internet knitting publications and forums. The patterns she selects to help promote Crystal Palace Yarns are offered free on the company's web site where they're downloaded by shops and knitters throughout the world.
One of the "trendspotters" Susan relies upon is Loring Jones, her son. Being only one year old when his mother opened Straw into Gold, Loring grew up with the company. He was always a happy presence at the store, and you've likely seen him modeling garments from many of the early Crystal Palace patterns. After a successful music career with the Mo'Fofessionals, a San Fransisco Bay area funk-jazz band, Loring joined Crystal Palace Yarns full time in the early 2000's. His friendly, lively nature, his love of the business and his inherited optimism make him an indispensable part of the company. Like his Mom, he works hard, but he does make time for his children and his new band. He and the Mo'Fessionals played a reunion benefit concert at Slim's in San Francisco, and are scheduled for another gig for New Year's 2011.
Mom might have given Loring a fabulous start with her company, but he gave her something any mother would appreciate: love. In the mid-1970's, Loring introduced her to the father of his pre-school friend, Jesse. Susan and Andy MacEwan hit it off and they and their sons eventually set up house together. Andy was a high school math teacher who, over time, became more and more involved in the business, ultimately joining Susan as a partner.
SIG Staff |
Susan and Andy have always kept a diplomatic work environment. Staff members do not usually hold specific hierarchical titles, and all are encouraged to participate in product development and other company decisions. The office and warehouse staff throughout the years has always been a very talented, hard-working and productive group of employees, many of whom were/are artists and craftspeople in their own right. They have all had a hand in helping to make the company the success it is today.
Among those who have contributed to the company's growth is Mouang Chao, who came to the US from Laos via Thailand in 1980. She and her family were Mien refugees, and struggled in poverty in Thailand before joining up with missionaries who took them to the US. She started working for Susan in 1989 packaging fiber and skeining yarns. After 21 years, Mouang is still with the company serving in a senior shipping position and she is very active in the production of sales and marketing material.
Designers who work with Crystal Palace include Ann Norling, Laura Andersson and others whose works are distributed to yarn shops by Crystal Palace Yarns.
Ann Norling Designs has been offering basic patterns that have appealed to a wide range of knitters for 20 years. Her famous "Fruit Cap" has been many knitters first project. Most of the patterns are written in several gauges so the yarn choices are unlimited. Ann continues to use Crystal Palace Yarns in many of the models, and her opinions have influenced the company's product development.
Laura Andersson is a Crystal Palace Yarns online designer and hosts the company's blog, Socks and More. She is also editor and creator of 50 Socks-50 States, a sock instructional book in CD format with patterns for all 50 US states, US territories, and Canada.
Crystal Palace Staff |
Other current designers for Crystal Palace are Gail Tanquary, Sandi Rosner, Dawn Leeseman, Barbara Breiter, Adrienne Fong, and Cathy Campbell.
As we all know, a company is only as good as its people. Susan Druding and the team at Crystal Palace Yarns are industrious, creative collaborators who have worked hard together to build a successful company admired for its integrity as well as its ingenuity. We hope you appreciate their products as much as we do.
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This adorable pullover is a terrific first sweater project for knitters who want to take the next step beyond scarves. It's knitted completely in the garter stitch and has an easy scoop neckline. Best of all, it's velvety soft and comfortable in Kiddo Print yarn Perfect for ages 12 to 4 years.
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Look at this fabulous pair of socks! You can create them with just two balls of colorful Mini Mochi. While they might look difficult, these socks use a fairly simple eyelet pattern for the front and back. The feminine, lacy details on the colorful yarn transform this pair into something beyond your basic socks.
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Designer Laura Andersson created these fingerless gloves to take advantage of the colorful, auto-stripes of Mochi Plus yarn. You'll love the texture that enhances the colors. Choose a color combination to complement your autumn wardrobe and get clicking! You'll want to make more than one pair.
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You'll love working with Crystal Palace's lovely, subtly shimmering Deco Stardust ribbon yarn. The pattern is a flattering tunic with mosaic trim that accents whichever main color of Deco Stardust you choose. Create this pullover for special occasions. The Lurex/nylon blend comes in 14 colors.
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Here's a last-minute gift idea that's perfect all year round. With just one ball of Panda Silk Solid you can quickly and easily create a 4" x 60" accessory that kicks up any outfit! Match it with Panda Silk Solid or create it in a single color, as shown. Panda Silk is 52% bamboo, 43% merino wool & 5% silk.
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Crystal Palace owner Susan Druding has created this oh-so easy baby blanket project in supersoft Cotton Twirl yarn. This blankie has straightforward construction to make it an excellent gift for your favorite wee one. It's a simple style that also looks great when knitted up in Cotton Twirl Solid.
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Are you a beginner who wants to knit something fashionable and easy? Here's a great project to help you transition from simple accessories to garments. Using the garter stitch and increases and decreases, you can make this cropped jacket in either Rave Solid or Rave Print.
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This season, cowls are the big fashion accessory. This beautiful and easy cowl scarf pattern from Crystal Palace can be created with a variety of color combos of Little Flowers and Kid Merino. You'll want to knit a cowl for each of your coats and jackets. Easy and quick to create on large needles.
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Using a simple repeat of the wave stitch, this neck accessory will be the ideal accent for your favorite suit, coat or jacket year round. Sensational as shown in Panda Silk DK Solid, and also pretty in Panda Silk DK Print. Finished measurements are 5.5" wide x 54" long.
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Enjoy the fun and softness of Crystal Palace's Lofty Wool in this terrific winter cap. This colorful project uses variegated shades of Lofty Wool Print and a coordinating solid hue of Lofty Wool Solid. Choose the color combination you love and get started on this headgear gem right away!
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Laura Andersson transforms a classic ribbed hat pattern by crafting it of soft Cotton Twirl yarn. Print out the free pattern, choose your favorite three contrasting solids, and get knitting. This is a great choice for your special someone when you knit it up in their favorite school or team colors.
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Need a last-minute gift or special accessory for a night out? This pretty little crocheted purse takes only 6 hours to complete. Designed exclusively for velvety Cotton Chenille from Crystal Palace, it's perfect for a "black tie" affair or any dressy outing! Finished size is 11" x 6.5".
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Cameo Print & Solid »
Labrador Print & Solid »
Meringue Print & Solid »
Musique »
Panda Wool Print & Solid »
Shag 100g »
Raggedy Print »
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You could win a Crystal Palace Gift Collection worth over $140. This fantastic prize includes two balls of Chunky Mochi, 4 balls of Mochi Plus, 4 balls of Mini Mochi, one pair of 9" single points in size 11, one pair of 26" circular needles size 8, one pair of 6" double points size 2, the CD book 50 Socks - 50 States, and one pattern for each Mochi yarn in the gift package.
To enter, you must correctly answer this question: "Who hosts the company's blog, Socks and More?"
Send an email with your answer to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. A winner will be drawn at random from all correct entries received. One entry per person, please. Entries must be received by 8/24/2010 and the winner will be announced on 8/25/2010 in our blog, Shear Bagatelle.
Congratulations! The winner of our Lantern Moon Spotlight gift package was Lynne W. of Costa Mesa, California.
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