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 backstaining on the lighter yarns.
How I set the colours: Heat in the dye pan will bind the colour to the yarn, then a long steam to set. 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 releases on to your hands when you’re working with it, this is called crocking. Crocking is 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 extract plant dyes? Raw plant material, always. The colour has more of a natural shade this way and I just love the process of working with the plant instead of a liquid that I had no hand in extracting. You may find the odd madder root or dried flower in your skein!
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 could actually 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 at least 30 minutes. Try not to cause too much agitation, even in the coldest of water, can cause damage to the stitch work of your hand mades. Dry flat, in a shaded spot.
Knots in the skein. I re-skein all my yarns to check for knots. 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 product 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 accurate representation of our products by professionally lighting and photographing, however the colour of the product may vary from the photos on different devices and monitor screens.
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