Breaking Yarn: Knitting Success With PrintRunner

You might not expect to find a nod to the iconic TV show “Breaking Bad” from a small business selling soft and plush products, and yet that’s what Breaking Yarn is all about. Aside from their clever name, this venture celebrates the hit series by referencing the show in their catalog.

Get to know the story of this PrintRunner customer and how print products helped boost her business!

The Breaking Bad Connection

Meet Michaeli, a talented dyer and founder of Breaking Yarn from sunny Albuquerque, New Mexico. And yes, she is from the same city as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, a happy connection that would bring about exciting concepts for her own business.

Michaeli, the brains behind Breaking Yarn

Michaeli recalls how she came up with Breaking Yarn, and how the idea struck her like lightning. “Back in 2019 when I started to think about what would make my yarn unique or stand out from all the other indie dyers, I thought about where I come from and what we’re known for! Almost instantly, the name Breaking Yarn popped into my head.”

Her yarn’s vibrant colorways are named after the show’s characters, memorable props, and fictional entities — Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Pink Teddy Bear, Lily of the Valley, Gray Matter, and Golden Moth, among others.

She has a few more colorways in the works and hopes to release them when her schedule allows.

Twists and Turns

Michaeli had been figuring out how indie dyers did their yarn wraps for a while. And while she attempted to DIY her own, it didn’t quite hit the mark — not at first.

“I didn’t want to have to cut them and put even more time into my already handmade product,” she said.

She came across PrintRunner in a Facebook group for indie yarn dyers while researching label options. One of the members said they used bookmarks with no hole from PrintRunner for their yarn wraps. 

“I immediately jumped into the design process for my bookmarks, and they were perfect!!”

The PrintRunner Experience

What started as a curious exploration grew into trust and loyalty in the brand.

“PrintRunner made everything extremely simple to get a great result. The [online] design [tool] interface was easy to use, and the printing was quality. The staff members I worked with on custom sizes (so cool) or approving my design were very professional and helpful. 

I have gone through several iterations with my yarn wraps over the years since I started using PrintRunner. I used to print different wraps for each yarn base, but now I have one simple design that I can add information to.”

On top of that, these bookmark-turned-yarn wraps not only enhanced her brand’s image but also simplified her packaging process. 

“PrintRunner has helped me take my business from ‘extremely handmade’ (which isn’t a bad thing) to handmade and professional! They have also saved me both time and money.

I no longer have to hole-punch a business card, add a sticker, and tie each skein with a string to hold it in place. I am very proud of the product that I am producing now for stores and my customers around the country!”

Breaking Yarn has spun a pop culture fandom into a thriving business. Their story proves that with creativity, resourcefulness, and the right marketing tools, small businesses can make it big. 

Ready to level up your brand? PrintRunner’s printing solutions can help. Visit us today!

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