Colour Collab: Winter Inspirations
When we think about the countless ways we find inspiration, we can’t help but reflect on the incredible influence from the talented spinning instructor team at the School of SweetGeorgia. These remarkable artists do more than teach techniques; they open our eyes to see, spin, and experience colour in fresh new ways. That’s why, in 2025, we are thrilled to celebrate these amazing instructors with limited-edition colourways created by what inspires them in our Colour Collab: Winter Inspirations collection!
To create these new fibre colourways, we asked our instructors to share pictures and ideas that express what inspires them during the winter season. The pictures they shared were truly extraordinary, and our talented dyeing team worked their magic to transform those ideas into vibrant, meaningful colourways. We couldn’t be more excited to share them with you right now!
Debbie Held: Winter Skies
“I recently snapped some early-morning photos of the sunrise as I was walking. I was marvelling at how changes in cloud coverage gift us bright, clear colours in cooler months, even all the way down here in the Deep South.“
Debbie’s Courses & SweetGeorgia Content:
- Spinning Textured Yarns
- Spinning with e-Spinners
- Spinning with Supported Spindles
- Blending Boards: From Rolags to Roving
- Explore Debbie Held’s SweetGeorgia articles
Debbie Held is a freelance writer, international fibre arts educator, and contented spinster who almost always has a spindle in hand. She is a recurring contributor to Spin Off and PLY magazines, Schacht Spindle Company, SweetGeorgia Yarns, and more, including her column, Her Handspun Habit, for Interweave.
Debbie lives on an urban farm in Atlanta, Georgia, watching the Shetland sheep grazing below her windows. Her upcoming book, The Spinner’s Blending Board Bible, (preorders available) is set to be released in spring 2025 by Stackpole Books.
Diana Twiss: Shadows on Snow
“I have always been surprised and delighted by the colours found in shadows hitting the snow. We often think of shadows as being shades of black or grey, but there is a variety of blues and purples in the shadows. A great example of this is seen in the painting. In the winter, the sun is lower in the sky, and it leads to a dramatic contrast of light, warm colours hitting the snow against the deeper, cooler colours of the shadows. It’s icy and cool, yet somehow visually complete. “
The original inspiration was a painting by Vasily Khudyakov named “February Lace.”
Diana’s Courses & SweetGeorgia Content:
- Colour & Fibre Play
- Colour & Fibre Play II
- Spinning with Suspended Spindles
- Next-Level Spindle Spinning
- Explore Diana Twiss’s SweetGeorgia articles
Diana Twiss is an experienced fibre arts instructor with a strong background in adult education and fine art. Passionate about fibre, fabric, colour, and texture, she has introduced countless beginners to the joy of creating yarn and has helped seasoned spinners explore new techniques, colourways, and fibres to elevate their skills. She has a particular love for spindles, appreciating their simplicity, beauty, and portability.
Based in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Diana regularly teaches fibre arts classes for the Langley Weavers and Spinners Guild and at events such as Fibres West in Cloverdale, Knit City in Vancouver, and Valley Yarns in Surrey. Since 2010, she has travelled to Haida Gwaii on three memorable occasions to lead two-day spindle spinning workshops for the Haida Gwaii Arts Council.
Katrina Stewart: Sprinkles of Joy
“Anything from holiday baking to getting outside in nature to knitting by the fire. These are all the things that inspire me and that I look forward to in the winter.”
Katrina’s Courses & SweetGeorgia Content:
Katrina Stewart, a professional photographer by trade, has been passionate about fibre arts her entire life. She learned to knit and crochet as a child, but her love for fibre truly ignited when she began spinning in 2014. She believes that every braid of fibre or skein of yarn holds the potential for a unique, functional piece of art to be treasured for years.
Katrina is the co-owner of Crafty JAK’s Boutique, a fibre arts company based on the beautiful West Coast of Canada. Known for her love of colour, she draws inspiration from the natural beauty around her and enjoys sharing her knowledge with others.
Kim McKenna: River Walk
“Ancient Greeks had a legend about a bird they called the Halcyon bird, halcyon meaning “conceiving at sea.” They believed Halcyon birds bred far from land and built floating nests from fish bones. It was said that for a few weeks every January, the god Aeolus calmed the winds and the sea so his daughter, Alcyone, who had been transformed into a Kingfisher bird, could safely build her nest. Since then, any periods of peace and calm are referred to as Halcyon or Alkyonides days.”
Kim’s Courses & SweetGeorgia Content:
- Spin-In Clinic
- Tension Systems
- Working from Fleece
- Nuances to Spinning Better Yarns
- Spin a Hand-Dyed Braid Five Ways
- Explore Kim’s SweetGeorgia articles
Kim McKenna’s fibre journey is a harmonious blend of science and art, driven by curiosity and a love for colour. For her, no day is complete without dedicating time to fibre preparation, spinning, weaving, or knitting. She constantly challenges herself to learn new skills and refine old ones, remaining mindful and attentive as she works. When questions arise, Kim researches and experiments until she uncovers the answers. This balance of knowledge, intuition, and observation allows her to understand the unique qualities that fibres and yarns contribute to knitted or woven fabrics.
Kim also finds joy in sharing her expertise. As a contributor to Spin Off and PLY magazines and as an educator, she delights in helping others grow their skills. Her greatest reward comes from seeing her students improve and experience the thrill of spinning yarns that speak to their hearts.
Rachel Smith: Wesley’s Field
“This photo was taken out at my in-laws in rural Ontario, overlooking my nephew’s field (hence, Wesley’s Field). They have the most amazing skies, and this particular Christmas season was cold! “
Rachel’s Courses & SweetGeorgia Content:
- Spin to Knit a Hat
- Spin to Knit Socks
- Spin to Knit a Sweater
- Spinning Sheep Breeds
- Spinning Luxury Fibres: Silks
- Spinning Luxury Fibres: Camelids
- Spinning Luxury Fibres: Goats & Rare Fibres
- Explore Rachel’s SweetGeorgia articles
Rachel Smith, a knitter and handspinner, creates spinning content through Wool n’ Spinning and fosters a community for handspinners of all levels, sharing her love for making yarn. She has been knitting and sewing for many years, with spinning becoming a passion after a friend helped her get her wheel running smoothly.
Rachel lives just outside Vancouver, BC, with her husband and two children. When not crafting, she enjoys being outdoors, camping, hiking, and capturing moments through photography. Rachel also works as a critical care RN in a large ICU.
The Colour Collab: Winter Inspirations
Having these instructors as part of our team has been a true gift. They’ve helped us build a vibrant, welcoming community far beyond what we imagined when we started the School of SweetGeorgia. Whether they’re answering questions in our forums, sharing their expertise, or inspiring us with their creativity, these instructors make our community stronger, warmer, and brighter.
In the coming months, we’ll be spotlighting how each spinning instructor approached their colourway, from concept to process to the final yarn. Spinning yarn offers endless possibilities, with countless variables to explore. And we’d love to see how you spin your fibre! Share your creations with us on the SweetGeorgia Discord server, in the School of SweetGeorgia forums, or on social media like Instagram using the hashtag #sweetgeorgiayarns.
If you’re not yet part of the School of SweetGeorgia, you’re missing out! Not only are there over 100 courses, but as a member, you’ll also gain access to the forums, where you’ll find all the instructions for the School of SweetGeorgia courses to speak with directly. We’d love for you to explore what the School is all about! Use the code EXPLORETHESCHOOL to enjoy a 14-day trial for just $1. Come join us and be part of something special!
Join Our Fibre Prep February-Along
We can’t wait to see how these colours spin up and how each instructor will use their personal Colour Collab: Winter Inspirations colourway. We’re so excited to celebrate this amazing team, and we hope you will join us! These colourways are available now in our SweetGeorgia shop, and many of us here are gearing up to use them in the upcoming Fibre Prep February. For all the details, visit our Fibre Prep February page, we would love for you to join us!
SweetGeorgia Yarns fibre photography by Greta Cornejo.
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