ALCHEMY / yarn & fiber products | workshops | community | custom processing
WHERE SCIENCE AND MAGIC MEET
Alchemy values small farms, small business, and local art.
We believe there is power in the connection between fiber enthusiasts and fiber farmers.
01 / ABOUT ALCHEMY
FOR THE LOVE OF FIBER
Alchemy Fiber Mill is a small-batch working fiber mill making heirloom-quality yarns and fiber products. Located in the heart of Easthampton, MA mill district, Alchemy has been transforming raw fiber into products for local farmers and fiber enthusiasts since 2023 with a little bit science, a little bit magic.
WOMAN OWNED SMALL BUSINESS
02 / ABOUT MALINDA
PROPRIETRESS / FIBER ALCHEMIST
BACKGROUND
Malinda Lesko
Malinda has a background in fiber science and apparel design, bringing passion and creativity to Alchemy Fiber Mill. She also has professional experience working in learning and development spaces, particularly instructional design, training, and learning management systems. Malinda has been "fibering" most of her life (thank you Mom, Gram, and Great Gram!). Her first fiber love was sewing, but her yarn stash is quickly catching up to fabric.
COMMUNITY
Malinda creates a warm and welcoming space, with workshops and fun events like the monthly Fiber Lounge, empowering people to explore their own creativity together, and learn new skills. She teaches a range of fiber related classes at Alchemy, Hoop & Bee, WEBS, and local retreats.
Malinda is also a board member for Western MA Fibershed, a local nonprofit focused on strengthening connections along the supply chain from farmers to consumers to build a thriving regional fiber economy.
03 / MAKING
SPINNING A LEGACY
Alchemy is dedicated to reviving fiber milling in Western Massachusetts. Fiber arts allow us to be part of a living tradition that blends history, agriculture, art, and innovation. Who makes your yarn?
YARN AND
MORE
04 / EVENTS
GATHER. LEARN. MAKE.
Find your people. Inspo and creativity abound!
Try a workshop. Or maybe some impromptu knowledge sharing at Fiber Lounge!
Take a moment for yourself. Make all the things!
Community and learning are central to Alchemy's mission. Whether you're brand new to fiber or are looking to improve your skills, we're always adding new plans and ideas onto the calendar. Let us know what you'd like to see!
05 / CUSTOM PROCESSING
INTENTIONALLY SMALL. LOCAL FOCUS.
Did you know that nearly 80% of Massachusetts farms with sheep have less than 25 sheep in their flocks? (source: USDA Census of Agriculture) Alchemy operates Belfast Mini Mill equipment. The cottage industry scale means smaller minimums (a single fleece in most cases!) to meet the needs of our local and regional farms. Plus, this opens options for hand spinners and fiber artists as well... you can get that fleece at the next fiber festival!
We are accepting new small order custom processing clients only (less than 5 fleeces) for batts, roving, or corespun. Reach out to get on the waitlist to schedule in-person drop off. Please do not ship fiber. We request that all incoming wool be personally delivered to the mill to evaluate incoming fiber and ensure we understand what you want from your fleeces. Plus, we’d really like to meet you!
Our large orders production queue is full for the year. We are not currently accepting new clients for large (more than 5 fleeces) yarn orders. If you would like to be added to the waitlist, send us a message.
Fiber Requirements
We mostly process sheep's wool with a staple length between three and seven inches. Our spinning equipment handles breed-specific fiber well (without needing to blend) and does best with consistent fiber lengths. We do not have a dehairer/fiber separator for dual coat breeds. Though some guard hairs will come out in processing, they cannot be completely removed on our equipment.
Fiber must be well skirted and free from felting, insects, mothballs, or extremely dirty material/debris. Yes, Alchemy is a little bit magic, but there are limits to our magic! So if you don’t want it in your final product, remove it now. Fiber with burrs, wood chips, hoof trimmings, heavy vegetation or other materials that may damage equipment will not be accepted. We reserve the right to reject any fiber for any reason. Fiber should be delivered in clear plastic bags with no holes, loosely tied and labeled with your name, fiber breed, type of processing (roving, 2-ply yarn, etc.), as well as phone number and email.
06 / CONTACT
SAY HELLO
Questions, collaborations, press or just want to talk? We'd love to hear from you.
Thanks for your patience! As a production mill, most often equipment is running (and loudly). The best way to reach out is here or email. No matter how you reach out, the same person is responding, so please refrain from contacting via multiple methods at the same time.