Thursday, May 9, 2019

How To Pick The Right Indie Dyed Yarn For Your Next Project

By Henry Patterson


Even an experienced crocheter or knitter may occasionally struggle with which yarn to use in their next crafting project. If you are thinking about trying out indie dyed yarn instead of mass produced options you may feel even more lost. Here are some things that you may want to consider next time you decide to look outside the big box stores and try some small batch or hand dyed wool instead.

When someone buys a product from a big-box craft store or even many smaller, more independent knitting supply shops they are often purchasing materials that have been made on a very large scale. A particular dye lot may have been used to color thousands of skeins of yarn. The color is consistent and there is consistent labeling that lists the weight of the yarn and what kind of fibers have been used to create that skein. Independent dyed products are usually produced by individuals or smaller companies and are made in smaller quantities.

Many people love the idea of using something other than cotton wool but cannot handle something made from sheep's wool. An indie dyer will often work with exotic fibers such as alpaca which can be tolerated by many people. If you know that you are dealing with allergies, an independently produced skein may be just what you need. Just make sure that you read the fiber content to make sure it is not blended with sheep's wool.

One thing that can be frustrating no matter where you are buying from is running out of material to work with. Every knitter has had at least one experience where they had to go back to the shop to buy more skeins to work with. If you are going with a small batch or hand dyed product this may be a big problem. You may find that there can be a huge color variation between dye lots in smaller batch products.

As with mass-produced materials, indie dyed options should also describe the weight, how many strands, what the fiber content is and swatch information. This will help you decide whether a particular product is too thick or thin for the item you are working on. Many times it will be listed on the label although if you are buying right from a producer they may pass on that information verbally.

If you are just beginning to experiment with independently produced fibers you may want to do your buying from physical stores rather than online. An experienced seller should be able to discuss which options will be right for your project and give you important information on how to care for your garment or project when it is completed. Different fibers will need to be cared for in various ways once your project is done.

An increasing number of websites are beginning to offer small batch and hand dyed products. Look for websites that offer clear information about the weight of different skeins and the fiber content that each option has. That way you can be more confident about products that you are ordering. Just be aware of any return policies as some may not offer this feature, especially with custom ordered products.

Another option is to dye your own fibers. This can be fun as you can experiment with different color combinations and fiber types. Just make sure to read any instructions carefully before beginning and be prepared for your first few batches to be works in progress.




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