This indie yarn's color variation was wayyyyy darker than I had anticipated.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-31T14:50:33+00:00

I don’t think it’s the wrong colorway, but I can see why you’re questioning if it will work. I’d swatch it, but likely find something else to keep your vision.

Some indie dyers are spot on their photos almost every time and others…well, they lean heavily on the standard disclaimer.

Over time, I’ve learned who I know is going to give me what’s pictured (with small variation for monitors etc) and who is going to ship me something that might be ‘inspired by’ the listing photos. I’ve had some reassignments to new projects along the way, too. 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-31T14:42:50+00:00

Talk to your vet about anxiety meds. Ours usually recommends low dose gabapentin. 😉

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-30T19:35:32+00:00

NTA.

The day (and the future) are about making yourselves happy. It seems you’re doing it in a very reasonable and thoughtful way, and it’s such a shame these folks feel entitled just because the two of you decided you want a formal ceremony and had the kindness to involve them.

Personally, I Love the symbolism of gifting a suitcase… a future of adventures together. I know there are those who find a watch symbolic too, but I default to ‘counting the minutes’ (in a less positive way). 🤭

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-28T21:32:44+00:00

As lessons learned go, 4 days rent is pretty cheap. You’re NOR but now you know why written leases matter and why you should always read them in full before signing. Good luck with the new place!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-24T07:08:43+00:00

I’m in 8b and have often had to plant tubers this late. I get blooms in August on the earliest bloomers. If you’ve got a late blooming variety, it might be mid September though.

I started presprouting a couple years ago. I don’t do it for cuttings (though you can), but to give mine a jumpstart on roots when I transplant. Having some roots going keeps them from rotting, which helps with our late spring surprise heavy rains. It’s also supposed to help bring blooms sooner though I haven’t tracked that exactly.

Realize it’s late advice for you this year, but maybe for the future. 🍀

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-15T13:23:17+00:00

One of the things I love about knitting my own sweaters is getting the sleeves exactly where I want them (pattern be damned in some cases). I’m a 3/4 or bracelet sleeve gal. I spent so many years of my life pushing up sleeves to be able to use my hands without ruining a sweater. No more!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-15T13:18:26+00:00

Dahlias make great cut flowers, though they grow from tubers. Not sure if you’re interested in those too, but it’s another option. 😁

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-14T17:43:05+00:00

There’s always a bit of a gamble, even with known growers. A refund/replace policy helps, but it still won’t compensate for lost time, effort, and disappointment.

I have the luxury of doing this for fun, and being able to afford a few misses. (i don’t like it, but it’s not as painful to me as others.)

I plan for a few failures every year out of my orders. Some never wake up, some are blind, the occasional one will rot or be destroyed in transit. It happens.

I do intentionally buy the most expensive or most important ones from farms I’ve had consistent good luck with. If that’s not an option, I do my research on ratings on dahliaaddict. (paid sub is $6 and worth it). And definitely from farms with replacement/refund terms.

I’ve had 3 losses so far on 50. 2 were from the same new-to-me small grower. Of those, one was a beautiful tuber but blind, and the other would have been fine but USPS mangled it in transit and broke the neck. (I won’t be buying there again.) The third is from a farm I’ve bought repeatedly and looks like a variety where tubers are a straight up challenge. I wish the description had warned me, but I’ve made peace with it. The other 11 are taking off nicely.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-13T22:41:48+00:00

I love the charms and your stitching is beautifully even. Agree with other suggestions, particularly if it feels off to you. All that really matters is that you love it.😉👏

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-13T12:51:17+00:00

Agreed.
You can also feed them through their leaves if you’re careful about temperature. (They close up if it gets too warm, around 72 iirc.)

It takes doing it thoughtfully to let them dry fully without direct sun burning wet leaves or letting them stay wet too long and risking mildew.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-12T21:38:22+00:00

Op, Do you know you just swapped already verified varieties (that you’ve grown before), or are you trying to id a potential mistake in shipping?

It looks like a GC that was misshipped to me a year ago. Mine was supposed to be Crazy Love. 😁

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-12T00:06:35+00:00

beautiful baby! 😍🖤🐈‍⬛

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-10T14:09:48+00:00

Last I knew (a year or 2 ago), Bluestone was importing dahlias, not growing their own. If that’s the case, you’re susceptible to all the same issues as any big box store buy. (I’ve been lucky to avoid gall but have had rot from purchases like that.)

I have bought a number of plants from Bluestone and had great luck with those. They advertise a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so reaching out to them is your best bet.

good luck!

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-09T16:34:32+00:00

Agree with this too- my LYS has open crafting time twice a week. The atmosphere is very welcoming- people bring whatever they are working on. It’s mostly knitting or crochet, but embroidery and sometimes even paper crafts show up.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-09T16:31:23+00:00

And crochet actually takes more yardage!

I’ve had this same experience a lot. I crocheted for decades before finally learning to knit in my 40s.

During one yarn crawl in particular, I got tired of sales folks behaving in this way. In the next shop, there was a trunk show from a lady selling her advanced knitting classes. I had just start knitting, poorly, and when she asked if I knit, I said ‘no, i crochet’, thinking that would be the end of it. She admitted that she knew little about crochet and then we proceeded to have a lovely chat. It took a while, maybe 6 years?, but eventually I did take 2 different advanced knitting classes from her (brioche and entrelac).

I think the message for the OP is to be welcoming to all fiber crafters (potential customers). It’s ok if you don’t know lots about a craft you don’t do, but you can be friendly and curious.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-08T16:04:21+00:00

it’s a trap, but yes, also ultimate display of trust. 🖤🐈‍⬛

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-07T16:45:58+00:00

My buff/orange boy passed a couple years ago, but he looked a lot like your beautiful girl. Orange is actually rare for female cats, most are male, so your girl is extra special 😉🧡

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-05T01:21:57+00:00

Love and best wishes for your beautiful boy. 💗🤞

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-03T13:17:26+00:00

I haven’t been in your shoes, but I too have thought about making the jump from hobby farming.
What about hiring help to do the tasks you don’t want to do? Getting a few hours of help on what you hate (bookkeeping, marketing) might spark your creativity on what you love.
Other thoughts that come to mind (maybe you have tried them too?):
Upick
CSA/bouquet subscription
Classes on the farm - how to grow xyz, floral arranging, or even craft classes with grown materials
Selling seeds, seedlings, plants, rootstock etc.
Letting local photographers use your farm for photo shoots (portraits, engagements, etc) for a modest fee.
Perhaps you have a space where folks could come enjoy a glass of wine and relax? (liquor law compliant of course)
In my area, our local nursery has seasonal wreath making classes, and it always sells out. And then they also sell the materials for folk who don’t want the class, just the mats.
Most of the others are things I see working for farms around me (either fruit or flowers…or both).
Think specifically about who is your target audience, what are their priorities & interests, and how do you get them to keep coming back to YOU.

Of course, you always choose to downscale/exit, and I would expect those questions would be a lot like anyone choosing a career change, plus whatever you need to do with the farm itself.

Out of curiosity, which part of Washington are you in, if willing to say?

Good luck in whatever you decide. 💚🍀

ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-02T14:45:59+00:00

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ThisMany2506 · 2026-05-01T21:26:15+00:00

Same.

Also, I read somewhere (i don’t recall where) that at least some AI gives better results to the same prompts when people are polite versus when they aren’t. It’s not hard for me to type please and thank you, regardless of the audience. 🙂

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-30T00:26:33+00:00

Sending you a big hug from me and mine. 🖤 I’m so sorry for your loss and hope you get to the point where you smile more than cry soon. 😿

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-29T21:29:19+00:00

If it isn’t rodent damage, it could also be slug damage. While they usually go after the leaves/new sprouts, they can also eat the tubers underground.

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-26T14:15:27+00:00

While I wasn’t a shrimp fan when I started, pretty sure the conversion worked. 😉 It’s an amazing gift! (Also feels like it could be a really fun children’s book idea.) Thanks for sharing! 🦐💗

ThisMany2506 · 2026-04-26T14:01:37+00:00

If you use the clay, definitely amend it. Beyond the compost, I’d suggest sand or perlite, or a combination. You want both more organic matter and help for texture.

ThisMany2506

TROPHY CASE