Monday, May 13, 2019

A Beginning Knitter's Guide To Using Indie Dyed Yarn

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.

One benefit to using smaller batch products is that it might be easier to find products that are made from more exotic fibers. This can be a definite benefit if you want to use natural fibers but you are allergic to sheep's wool. The smaller batch artisan products may be more expensive but if it means that you can actually wear or handle the piece you have completed the extra expense will be money well spent.

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.

The internet can be a great place to find companies that hand dye materials or dye them in smaller lots. Just keep in mind that since many of these sites offer custom colors or are making things in smaller batches that there may be some color differences between what you see online and what you order. Look for producers that allow you to contact them with questions before you order a particular product.

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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