Hand-Dyed Yarn NZ

Start with the pattern: Compare its weight, washed gauge and total metres with the selected yarn. The range includes fingering/4 ply, DK/8 ply and worsted/10 ply bases. A weight name alone does not make two yarns interchangeable; single-ply and plied merino create different fabrics.

Expect individual skeins: Shade depth and colour placement can vary within a batch as well as between batches. Photographs show a colourway’s character rather than an identical repeat. Buy enough together, compare skeins before winding and keep the labels. For larger projects, alternating skeins every few rows can help distribute natural variation.

Check colour pooling in a swatch: With Malabrigo, pooling can change with stitch count and tension. Swatch your intended stitch pattern to see how the colour gathers before starting a large piece. Decide whether to blend skein differences or use them as a deliberate colour progression; alternating does not promise perfectly uniform colour.

Socks or softer-wear projects? Broadway Hand-Dyed Sock and Malabrigo Ultimate Sock contain 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon for added reinforcement. Pure-merino bases are different: Mechita is a soft single ply without nylon, while Broadway’s hand-dyed DK ranges suit garments and accessories. Choose the fibre and construction for the amount of rubbing the finished item will face.

Wind and care for the selected base: Wind hanks or skeins into a usable ball before working. Follow the individual label: Malabrigo Worsted is non-superwash, while the other listed bases have their own superwash care directions. Hand-dyed does not mean every yarn has the same washing method.