I have stayed quiet on this subject. Some of my friends are familiar with the details and my feelings on the matter. I was going to pretend this person didn't exist. You know, Stay Calm and Dye On! But I can't. This is blatant and it isn't cool.
I would be less upset if it were a stranger because, guess what? I'm not the only one doing long color repeats! We all put our own spin on the idea though and other dyers have their own methods and colorways, packaging, way of photographing and displaying...etc.
In this case, we both sponsor a Ravelry sock knitting group. She has actually won my sock yarn in a drawing for this group and has questioned me about my dye techniques. I was vague but honestly it's not really that hard to figure out. I was told something along the lines of, "no worries, I'm probably not going to ever do this."
I started dyeing reclaimed yarn in long color repeats because I could not afford to go to my LYS or shop online. I wanted to do it better and avoid some of the issues consumers find with one particular brand of self striping yarn. I opened my shop because my stash of hand dyed reclaimed yarn had grown beyond what I was able to use. I research all my yarn base and colorway names to make sure I'm not duplicating anyone else's work. I make sure that my work is unique and my own.
I feel like I've been stabbed in the back. I had already been censoring myself to avoid such a thing happening with someone unknown. I will no longer be posting colorway previews and I'm seriously thinking about getting a new account at colourlovers.com so my palette ideas aren't stolen as well. I'm adjusting to this new guarded way of thinking. I tend to think the best of people and it's not in my nature to assume someone is out to steal my ideas.
THE GOOD NEWS:
I have had to reevaluate my dyeing procedure so I can increase my production. I have a new yarn winding tool that will allow me to dye Sockie Maki faster. I'm still working out the kinks but soon there will be a larger variety of Maki in the shop.
I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to keep doing what I do. Maybe a little differently but definitely better and MORE.
*I am not going to name names. I'd prefer that the drama stay off Ravelry. The mods have enough crap to deal with.*
