This has been a year of celebration for us at Miss Babs, having achieved 20 years in business. This is also a year when we have been working hard to ensure that Miss Babs, as a business, will continue into the future.
Let me start by thanking my wonderful customers for 20 amazing years! This journey has been one I would not necessarily have foreseen when I started dyeing yarn in my kitchen and driveway, but I am so proud of what we have created together.
The big news is: I am retiring at the end of 2025. While my time in charge of Miss Babs is coming to an end, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the business I have poured so much of my energy into!
As of January 1, 2026 I will be selling Miss Babs to Ivy Campbell. Ivy has been my number 2 for the last 3-4 years, and has worked with us for the last 12 years. She has a deep understanding of the business and a great eye for color. When she joined us for the summers when she was in college I already had her earmarked as my successor!
It was important to me to sell the business to someone I knew would continue to care for our customers, maintain a strong sense of the importance of customer service, and support our staff into the future.
The rest of the team is not changing. As many of you know, we have a low staff turnover, so you will still hear from the same people, see the same people at shows, and receive consistent color and yarns.
As is the situation when change comes, it is often bittersweet. I will miss the daily contact with color in the form of yarn, but am looking forward to daily contact with color in various painting mediums. When there will be times when I am needed at the studio, I can show up as a set of extra hands. However, I am looking forward to connecting with family and friends in a way I have not been able to do over the years.
Thank you again for a wonderful 20 years of color!
42 comments
Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement. You, your amazing staff, and your yarns have provided me with great joy and beauty. I wish you happiness and good health. May you go from strength to strength.
Best wishes on your Retirement (aka- more time to knit)! I have so enjoyed the collections you have developed over the years. I can’t tell how many of the 20 years that I have been knitting with your yarns, but fell in love with your sense of color and the quality of your products beginning your first year of the XRX Knitting Universe expo in Chicago… my stash has been built over multiple price points, and I chuckle when I pull something out to knit, and wonder how long it has been since it was “that” price ( because you seldom raise prices)! I am looking forward to seeing where your crew takes Miss Babs going forward!
I discovered Miss Babs yarns only a few years ago through the Adventure Club. After years of being someone who never knit with fingering yarn, and complaining to new knitting friends at a retreat about the fact that I signed up for a club thinking it would all DK yarns, the Velvety Air Wrap became my favorite knitted object. Did it take me, one of the slow knitters of the world, an age to make it? Yes. Was it worth it, watching all the lovely colors (I changed a couple of them) flow through my hands? Absolutely.
I appreciated hearing your story at the 20th Anniversary Celebration/Retreat. You are leaving the company you built in wonderful hands. Enjoy a well deserved retirement!
It was a pleasure to work with you and knit with your yarns over the years and I hope you have a wonderful retirement! You will be missed, but so glad that the rest of the team is staying.
Thank you for 20 years of bringing us beauty. Congratulations on your retirement. May the future be rosy with happiness and new dreams.
Very best to all of you in the upcoming transition! I have long been a big fan of yours for the awesome colors and excellent advice on choosing yarn and color for each project. Customer service does not begin to describe the wonderful relationship you all have with us, your customers. The future looks to be in excellent hands. Babs, thanks so much for your vision over the years. And what others have said – you will be very busy in retirement! Wishing you health and happiness always!
We have been customers/friends of yours for nearly the entire time.
We met you at Stitches in Chicago years ago. My sisters and friends
(all 5 of us) have bought multiple skeins of your beautiful yarn. We have
made many stunning, warm and cozy projects. I got the hitchhiker shawl pattern from you and still knit one or two a year. You have meant so much to us and we wish you all the best❤️ Theresa, Maureen, Kathy, Sue and Diane PS We have pictures of us together
Congratulations on your retirement. I haven’t been a customer for too long but I absolutely adore your product.
Congratulations on a well deserved retirement. I met you in one of your first years at Stitches West. You did a special order for me in the Pookie colorway. You were so kind when I told you it was in memoriam of a favorite kitty. You were always a first booth every year when I went to Stitches. Not only for your amazing dyeing talent, but the kindness and care you showed your customers. May you have many wonderful, happy moments in your next chapter.
Congrats on your retirement! You have made so many people happy with your beautiful yarns & wonderful service to your customers! You built a wonderful community of knitters & I will miss you! Enjoy your retirement! May it contain as much happiness for you as you have brought to knitting with your yarns!