South Carolina Fantasy Fibers

Catherine's Artifields exhibit

story by Kimberly Brass / pictures by Fred Salley

“(It’s) my way of making the world more colorful and happy,” Catherine Simpson, the media specialist at North Vista Elementary School, said. She initially started SC Fantasy Fibers when dyeing fibers in her kitchen as an outlet during graduate school for her knitting projects. Before she was a librarian, the Michigan native was a classroom teacher. As an elementary school librarian, she said she gets to share her passion for reading with students. “The name of my brand actually comes from my love of reading science fiction. And her love of knitting started after college. She said people said she should sell her work: “I didn't think much about it until I learned to dye. I quickly learned that I can dye much quicker than I can knit, and SC Fantasy Fibers (SCFF) was born,” Simpson said. Simpson and her good friend Marney Baker Boatwright talked about where she could go with dyeing one day in the back of the yarn shop. Simpson “jumped head first into playing with dye and color. I draw my color inspiration from just about everywhere I go. When I was on vacation recently, I took a picture of a parrot's wing so I could remember the bright blue to navy transition.” And after talking to her husband, Jason, SC Fantasy Fibers was a reality. “Marney and I got a booth together in the 2018 S.C. Pecan Festival, and that gave me the confidence to do more shows,” Simpson said. “Four years later, SCFF has been to 30+ markets in North and South Carolina.”

And for almost two years now, Simpson is also a vendor at the City Center Farmers Market in downtown Florence. “I wanted to sell at the Market because it was one of my favorite places to shop as a customer. The community at the City Center is unrivaled both as a customer and as a vendor,” Simpson said. “Plus, all the businesses/farmers are local, which means the candle I bought is supporting a teacher, not a big box company.” Not only does she work a booth at the City Center about twice a month during cooler months (September-April) and once a month during hot months, Simpson is pursuing a long-term goal of being a certified SC product. What’s more, she is leading workshops on silk dyeing or felting. “To me, SCFF is more than just my small business,” Simpson said. At her booth, Simpson has yarn in all colors and sizes that started it all. She also has creations for sale made from yarn – hats, shawls, baby blankets, washcloths, and an octopus or two. Felt creatures are also in the booth line-up. “One of the crowd favorites is our felt ball fidgets,” Simpson said. “Parents love them because they are silent, and kids enjoy rolling and playing with them.” For October, Simpson will have dinosaur hats at the market. “They are one of a kind and something I think that children are going to love.”

As for her favorites, “My top two are Sir Octie, my crochet octopus, and my scrappy shawls. I currently have three shawls that were made from leftover yarns from other projects. I can repeat the patterns, but there will never be the exact shawl again.” For now, Simpson is living into the present: “At the moment, SC Fantasy Fibers is a side gig that allows me to travel and meet so many awesome people.” When Simpson isn’t working her main career or small business, keeping her company at home are her supportive husband Jason, Lexie the dog, and Hokie Pokie the hedgehog.

The City Center Farmers Market is open yearround from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. It is located at 200 Sanborn St. in Florence.

Catherine Simpson