FAQs and wool care

Knitting with my yarns
Due to the natural dyeing process, colour may vary between skeins, even if dyed in the same pot. I recommend alternating skeins when knitting to avoid pooling and remember, purchase what you need for your project.

Before starting a project where you plan to pair a dark colour with a lighter shade it is especially important to swatch and do a wash test. This is to test for any bleeding, there’s nothing worse than knitting something only to find the darker yarn bleeds and causes back staining on the lighter yarns.

How I set the colours: Heat in the dye pan will bind the colour to the yarn. After it has cooled I soak in an unscented wool wash and give the yarn a gentle rinse before drying. I will only work with dyes that have high light and colour fastness. Cutch, Madder, Indigo and Avocado skins to name a few, these dyes have been used for centuries because their excellent qualities are stable and stand the test of time.

Will my knits bleed? It’s possible, especially on non-superwash wool and in darker or vivid colours. The dye molecules are larger in these colours and excess dye may remain after I have set and rinsed the yarn. You may find excess dye released onto your hands when you’re working with it, this is called crocking. Crocking has to do with the pH value of your skin…let’s not get into the science of it but it’s nothing to worry about, the dyes are all non-toxic. Minimal bleeding is normal but never-ending bleeding is not, please get in touch with me if you find this happening.

Do you use raw or extracted plant dyes? Both raw and extracts offer wonderful choices so I like to keep a variety on hand in the studio. 

Should I rinse with vinegar to set the colour? The colour is set, if you do experience bleeding, it’s from loose dye particles left on the yarn. Rinsing with vinegar alone is a myth and will likely alter the colour of your yarn.

Is there anything that can alter the colour? Some deodorants contain aluminium, alcohol and antiperspirant chemicals that can react with the natural dye in the yarn. Don’t panic, I’m not saying avoid deodorant! Try a natural, pH-neutral brand – it’ll be much kinder to your knits and your skin.

How do I wash my finished knits? Scented washes are not always neutral, so go for a pH-neutral, unscented wash to keep your knits tip top. Just a few drops in cool water then allow your project to soak for a few minutes. Try not to cause too much agitation. Dry flat, in a shaded spot.

Knots in the skein. I use an electric winder to make up my skeins and knots can’t always be spotted. Sometimes ends are fused at the mill, these are harder to spot but will be neat and remain strong in your knits. Please bear in mind a few tiny knots might sneak through. If you come across one, split-splice the ends and felt together for a clean join.

Do I need to knit a swatch?
I recommend it, yes. I provide stitch per inch information for each yarn but every knitter has a slightly different style to the next. If you do decide to knit a swatch be mindful of how much yarn is required for your project – you may need to use the swatch to complete your piece.

Colour representation
I do my best to provide an accurate representation of my yarns by shooting in natural light, however, the colour of the product may vary from the photos on different devices and monitor screens.

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