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

By Henry Patterson


There is something incredibly rewarding about making items by hand. There has been a huge increase in the number of people who are knitting or crocheting clothing or items for their homes. If you are thinking about doing so and want to know more about the various indie dyed yarn options that are available, here are a few things that you will want to consider.

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.

Exotic fibers can be a lot of fun to work with and many of them have qualities that sheep's wool can't match. Some options can be better at insulating against moisture or cold. Others will be better for individuals with sensitive skin. If you are set on using an exotic type of fiber you may find that indie dyed products are your only option.

If you buy mass produced yarn from a large retailer you may find hundreds of balls that are all from the same dye lot. This means that they have all been dipped at the same time and the color is usually very uniform. If, however, you are buying from a smaller producer there will usually be fewer balls from the same dye lot. If you are looking at buying small batch products, try and make sure to buy enough the first time you are there so that you don't end up with mismatched yarn.

Picking the yarn you will buy for your project will be a very similar process regardless of whether you are buying from an independent dyer or if you are purchasing from a mass producer. For example, you will still need to choose the right product for the project you will be working on. Any experienced knitter will tell you that if you don't use the right kind of yarn, your project will not turn out as expected.

An experienced knitter or crocheter may be able to read information about a particular product and know whether it will work for them or not. If you are a beginner, however, you may find that you need more than just a basic description to pick out which yarn will be best. If you think you fall into this second category, it may be a good idea to buy from a physical store in order to make sure that you get the product you need.

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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