Best hand-dyed yarns
From natural plant-dyed yarn to fabulous variegated yarn, there are loads of different types of hand dyed yarn to choose from!
As much as we love all types of yarn, no knitter or crocheter's stash is complete without some gorgeous hand-dyed yarn! Many people will choose hand-dyed yarn based on the types of dye or fibre types used, but the best thing about hand-dyed yarn is that you're getting a truly unique product to use with your knitting or crochet. You can get lots of hand-dyed yarn in solid shades, and the variegated yarns really show off the unique results that come from hand-dying. It's really important to check the washing instructions with hand-dyed yarn as many will be hand-wash only, and remember that each yarn is unique so colours and shades will vary. We've picked our favourite hand-dyed yarn producers for you to check out, so prepare to add to that stash!
Fruitful fusion yarn
If you're looking for some hand-dyed yarn in a huge variety of colours, from subtle shades to bright variegated yarns, then you should definitely check out Fruitful Fusion. All of their yarns are hand dyed by Ishrat, who first learn to hand dye yarn when she was living in North Africa and now dyes all of her yarn from her dye shed in Nottingham. As well as producing fabulous yarns, Ishrat also collaborates with other dyers, clubs, fundraisers, events and yarn shows - so she's definitely one to keep an eye on!
Buy now at fruitfulfushion.co.uk
Yarn Studio UK
Here at gathered we have to admit to being a bit obsessed with bright colours, and if you're anything like us then you'l love the shockingly bright hand-dyed yarns from YarnStudioUK. These hand-dyed yarns produced by Chris from Devon come in a few different styles, from bright multi-coloured variegated yarns to strong two-tone colour combos! He also offers an additional yarn winding service too, so if you have trouble dealing with those tricky skeins he'll wind them into a handy yarn cake for you!
Fibre Art Studio
Yoriko from FibreArtStudio based in Canada creates magical-looking hand-dyed yarns that are out of this world! Her hand-dyed yarns come in a range of fibre types, from mohair to silk and of course merino, and her colours are incredible - we especially love her sparkly galaxy collection!
More like this
Irish Artisan Yarn
The hand-dyed yarns by Irish Artisan Yarn are perfect for if you're wanting a special yarn for your project that has that little extra bit of luxury. These gorgeous yarns are available in a range of elegant shades as well as some interesting fibre combinations, such as their Yak 4ply yarn which combines yak, silk and merino fibres to create a super-soft luxurious yarn!
Buy now from irishartisanyarn.com or buy now on Etsy
Rushlade Wool
The beautiful 100% wool yarn from Rushlade Wool is all made from sheep sheared on their own farm in Devon, spun locally and hand-dyed on the farm too! It's a great choice if you're concerned about the traceability from sheep to skein, and as well as all of their yarn being hand-dyed they also offer some stunning shades made from natural plant dyes such as onion skins, sloe berries and purple sprouting broccoli!
Buy now from rushladewool.co.uk
Malabrigo yarns
If you're looking for a luxury hand-dyed yarn at a reasonable price, then check out Malabrigo yarns. All of their yarns are hand-dyed in small batches using the kettle dye process, so you know you're getting a unique yarn. Originally produced from their base in Peru, their yarns are available all over the world and are popular among both knitters and crocheters.
RiverKnits
For those who are new to RiverKnits yarn, be prepared to be spoilt for choice! This UK sourced and hand-dyed yarn is available in a HUGE range of different types - whether you're after marled, heathered, variegated, solid or semi solid yarns - in rainbow brights, pretty pastels or natural dye shades - RiverKnits have a yarn that is perfect for everyone!
For the love of yarn
Lisa from For The Love Of Yarn is a regular at yarn shows (virtual and in person), which is where we first came across her stunning hand-dyed yarn. She creates some beautiful solid shades of yarn, but it's her variegated yarn that really sets her yarn apart in our opinion! All dyed in her studio in Scotland, as well as individual skeins you can also get yarn kits, yarn bundles, special charity fundraiser yarns and even yarn club subscriptions, where you can get yarn sent to your door every month - we can't think of anything better!
Buy now at fortheloveofyarn.co.uk
Or why not treat yourself and take a look at our pick of the best yarn bowls for knitting & crochet, or the best stitch markers for knitting & crochet.
Jelly Beans Yarns
If you're more into deep and elegant shades than neon brights, then you'll enjoy the gorgeous yarns from JellyBeanYarns. All hand-dyed using non-toxic acid dyes on commercially spun superwash yarn, it's a great choice for your special knitting or crochet projects!
Manos Del Uruguay
We're big fans of Manos Del Uruguay, not just because they produce beautiful yarns, but also because their yarn has fair trade at heart! Manos del Uruguay is a non-profit and fair trade organisation that was founded in 1968 to help give Uruguay's rural women jobs, income and independence using their traditional handicrafts skills. Each yarn has a tag containing the artisan signature and the name of the village where it was produced, and all of the yarn is hand dyed, produced in Uruguay, and comes in a wide range of yarn weights, fibres and colours! We can't recommend this yarn company enough!
Unique Yarns Co
So far we've already shown you lots of unique yarns, but here's a yarn producer that is firmly owning that category! Unique Yarns Co create a range of different and innovative yarns including some you definitely won't have seen before! Many are hand-dyed, such as their multicoloured recycled tape yarn, hand-dyed paper yarn and wool yarn dyed using natural dyes derived from mineral rich rocks! While you're looking, make sure you check out their incredible glow in the dark and colour changing yarns too!
Cotswold Alpacas
Alpaca yarn has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, and it's no wonder as it's super-soft and hypoallergenic. If you fancy giving some a try, then we'd recommend checking out Cotswold Alpacas! All of their yarn is sheared themselves from their herd of 45 Alpacas on their farm in the Cotswolds, and after being spun in Wales they then hand-dye their yarn using natural plant dyes.
Kaleidoscope City
Here's another hand-dyer that creates stunning variegated yarn! Kaleidoscope City make a range of interesting hand dyed yarn colour combo's, from deep rich colour changes to natural bases with stand-out speckles and splashes - you're sure to find a unique yarn for your funky knitting and crochet projects!
The Urban Purl
The Urban Purl is based in London and creates stylish hand-dyed yarn with an urban edge! Made using the kettle dye technique, expect interesting artisan colours and some splendid speckles all made in small batches, so check in regularly to see what's on offer!
Sheep on Mars
From variegated sock yarns, vegan shiny silk yarn to chunky thick & thin yarn, you'll find plenty of hand-dyed yarn to choose from SheepOnMars. Many of the yarns are hand-dyed by Natasha in Nottingham, but you can also find lots of other fibre products such as glitter yarn and rustic wool available on her Etsy store too!
Elizabeth Pawle Yarns
We just had to fit in one more yarn dyer that is as obsessed with neon brights and dreamy colour combo yarns as much as we are. Elizabeth Pawle creates gorgeous eye-catching yarn that is perfect for colour-lovers! And it's not just her yarn that we love, she's also one of our favourite abstract embroidery artists, check out her work at elizabethpawle.com
Lazy Sunday Yarns
Lazy Sunday Yarns create hand dyed yarn to order, so each yarn has been made especially for you (although you can find some pre-made ones if you just can't wait). Focussing on gorgeous complimentary colour combinations, you're bound to find a variegated yarn that you'll fall in love with!
We hope this list has helped you to find the perfect hand-dyed yarn for your next project! If you're treating yourself to some new yarn and need to know a bit more about how to use it with a pattern, check out our yarn weight conversion chart and beginners guide and out guide on how to substitute yarns. And if you're feeling creative, why not try making your own yarn with some clever upcycling? Find out more with our tutorials on how to make t-shirt yarn and how to make plarn plastic bag yarn!
Authors
Matt Spiers is a crochet artist and designer who has been overseeing Gathered's crochet articles for over 2 years. He previously worked as Digital Assistant for Simply Crochet magazine and is our in house video editing pro. What started as a hobby a decade ago led to Matt developing a passion (and then a career) with crochet. As well as still regularly writing and designing for Simply Crochet magazine, Matt is a crochet artist in his own right, having displayed and created crochet installations at festivals and fibre events across the UK. You can keep up to date with Matt at @onemancrochet on Instagram.
