Wednesday, May 15, 2019

What You Need To Know When Shopping For 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.

You may wonder what the difference between mass produced and independently produced skeins are. Mass produced are often made with synthetic dyes and there may have been thousands of skeins dipped in such a way as to produce yarn with an even, uniform look. While this appeals to many people, some crafters want more naturally produced options instead and turn to independent dyers instead of mass producers.

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.

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.

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.

Some beginning crafters will prefer to buy their materials from physical stores or stalls at yarn or fiber festivals. This is a good idea especially if you are at all unsure about which yarn to buy. An experienced seller should be able to recommend different weights and styles of fiber that will suit a project best and can also look at a project that is being worked on in order to give you advice.

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.

For some crafters, it will be a natural progression from buying products to dying their own. If you have purchased some natural fibers that have not yet been colored it might be a good time to try your hand and to dye it yourself. Make sure you read the instructions so you have all the needed tools and materials on hand.




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