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A Beginning Knitter's Guide To Using Indie Dyed Yarn

By Henry Patterson


If you are an experienced knitter, chances are you have experience using a wide variety of different fibers. A beginning knitter may not have this experience and may be looking at the wide variety of indie dyed yarn options on the market without knowing how to select the right product. If you are just beginning and need some guidance, here are a few things that you might want to consider.

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.

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.

It can be difficult to find independently produced fibers if you are living in a smaller town or in a more isolated area. In this case, you may want to look online. A number of websites offer products that are hand dyed or made in small batches by artisans and you should be able to find out any needed information about the product you are buying.

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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