Dye Techniques

 

Here at skein we love experimenting with different dye techniques.  Each dye technique creates a unique looking yarn and knitted fabric.  In order to unravel (pun intended) the mystery of our unique colourways, we have provided a little summary and swatch to help you choose the right yarn.

Semi-Solid Colourways

These colourways have been dyed using various shades of the same colour.  Most semi-solid colours will knit up to produce a fabric that has slight differences in shade (like the one pictured), or almost solid with a slight tonal variance. 

 

Tonal Colourways

Tonal colourways have been dyed using layers of different colours.  These colourways will produce a subtle flow of colours that won't pool or flash.  A great way to add some understated colour to your project. 

 

Variegated Colourways

Variegated colourways have lots of colours splashed in random sections.  These colourways produce a knitted fabric with lots of colour variation.  Because the colours have been placed randomly, the knitted fabric will have a 'dappled' like appearance which will not stripe or pool. 

 

Dip-Dyed Colourways

Dipped dyed colourways are skeins that have been dipped into three or more dye pots.  These long repeats of colour produce a knitted fabric featuring lots of colour variation, with plenty of striping, flashing and pooling

Speckle-Dyed Colourways

 

Yarns dyed using the Speckle Dyed technique have been randomly splashed with lots of colour, creating a 'speckled' effect.  These colourways knit up to produce a fabric speckled with colour that won't pool or flash.

 

Gradient and LCR Colourways

Gradient and LCR (Long Colour Repeat) colourways have been dyed to produce large colour block sections.  These yarns will knit up to produce very large stripes or colour blocks which alternate in size.  While Gradient yarns typically have 3-4 colours per yarn, LCR colourways have 5 or more that repeat twice.

 

What do you mean by 'pooling' and flashing'?

Contrary to popular belief, not all hand-dyed yarns pool or flash.  However, yarns that have been dyed with regular, long-colour repeats like this Dip-Dyed yarn..

...do cause flashing and pooling.  Flashing and pooling occur when a repeated regularly colour knits up in the same area row after row, causing a big puddle or flash of colour.  These yarns are meant to knit up this way. Here's an example:

Our Dip-Dyed colourways are the only ones that will cause flashing and pooling.  If you wish to use these yarns but don't want pooling to occur, it is recommended that you alternate skeins.  Alternating skeins is easy: all you need to do is knit two rows using one skein, then attach a second skein and knit two rows, continue to alternate skeins as you go. For a step-by-step guide (video included), see this blog post. Alternating skeins will help to break up the long repeats of colour and hence reduce pooling. 

Notes on buying hand-dyed yarn

  • Speckles and spots of colour may be present in some colourways; this is common with hand-dyeing and adds to its unique charm.  When knitted up, these little pops of colour will add a lovely depth to your knitted fabric.
  • Yarns are dyed in batches, so please make sure that you order enough for your project. Note also that dye lots do vary between batches, so colourways may not match.
  • Colourways will vary depending on the fibre content of the yarn.  We have summarised above how each yarn will dye up, but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
  • We put a lot of effort into photographing and displaying our yarns online. However, it is difficult to produce 100% accuracy of colour due to the large discrepancy between monitors and how they display it.  It may help to view our yarns over on Ravelry, which has a wonderful database of customer pictures and projects.
  • Slight colour differences can occur within dye lots; it is therefore recommended that you alternate skeins to prevent colour blocking.