FAQ

When will my order ship?

We generally strive to ship in under a week, but we ask for up to two weeks time when new collections have been launched. Our core bases (Chester Sock, Minnie DK, Genny Worsted) are generally considered in-stock and ready-to-ship. Our other bases (Hattie Floof, Gladys Shawl, Tortie Sport, Minnie DK, Genny Worsted, Chubby & Chunky Trevor, our Summer bases and Piper Fiber) we generally consider to be "dyed to order" and as such may take slightly longer. We are both dyeing and shipping orders in the shop Monday through Friday, so turnaround times still are generally less than a week.

What kinds of yarn do you stock?

We currently stock protein fibers that are ethically sourced and will continue to expand our offerings. Our current bases are below.  For a more in-depth look at our yarn bases, you can take a look at our Yarn Base FAQ

Hattie Floof: 50g, 437 yards, 70% mohair/30% silk (lace weight, size 0)
Chester Sock: 100g, 437 yards, blend of 75% superwash merino/25% nylon (fingering, size 1)
Gladys Shawl: 100g, 438 yards, single ply blend of 70% superwash merino/30% silk (fingering, size 1)
Tortie Sport: 100g, 287 yards, 80% alpaca/20% silk (sport, size 2)
Minnie DK: 100g, 246 yards, 100% superwash merino wool (DK, size 3)
Genny Worsted: 100g, 191 yards, 80% superwash merino/20% alpaca (worsted, size 4)
Chubby Trevor: 115g, 136 yards, 100% superwash merino (bulky, size 5)
Chunky Trevor: 150g, 82 yards, 100% superwash merino, single ply (super bulky, size 6/7)

Summer Fingering: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 438 yards
Summer DK: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 246 yards
Summer Worsted: 65% silk/35% linen, 115g skein, approximately 181 yards

Occasionally, colors will come in a specific base (e.g. tweed) and those will be outlined in the description. 

Do you dye any vegan/cellulose/cotton/etc yarns?

No, and we don't have plans to - dyeing cellulose yarns (e.g. linen, cotton, bamboo, tencel) is a different process than dyeing protein (wool, alpaca, silk, camel, nylon, Angora, cashmere, mohair) yarns. We do not have the space to stock additional types of yarn, mordants, and dyes. We can recommend dyers who specialize in cellulose yarns if asked! We do offer our Summer bases for folks who have wool allergies, since silk is a protein fiber. 

Could my yarn look different from the photo I saw?

Yes & no - that's the beauty of hand dyed yarn! We follow tried and true recipes each time, but small batch dyeing can have varied results. Computer monitors and phone screens may also affect the perception of color ways. Additionally, yarns do vary on bases - e.g. the Summer base is going to be more heathered than 100% wool yarn due to it being a cellulose blend. 

We advise you order as much yarn as you need for your project at one time to ensure that we can match the skeins in your order as best we can.

Our photos are typically photographed both in a light box and in indirect natural light. Colorways are generally photographed on Chester Sock yarn. 

The yarn I want is out of stock! 

Oh no! Well, good thing we don't believe in false scarcity here. If you're looking for a color we don't currently carry, we can still dye it up as a custom dye. All we ask is a minimum order of four skeins. The only exception to this is one of our wholesale customs (those are only available for customers of that local yarn shop).

I don't live in the US - can I get your yarn?

Currently, shipping is offered to the UK, Canada, Japan and the USA. Email us at hello(at)dyemadyarns(dot)com if you'd like to order outside the US and we can probably figure something out! 

I'm really more interested in seeing your yarn in person. Where can I do that?

We get it! You can check out our list of stockists and where we'll be for festival this year here. You can also come by our shop front in Columbus, Ohio! Our online catalogue does not reflect in store availability, so if there's a specific color you'd like to see, we recommend contacting us to make sure it's in stock. 

I want to stock your yarn in my shop! Do you offer wholesale?

Oh wow! How flattering!! Email me at hello(at)dyemadyarns(dot)com and let's chat! 

Can my yarn be caked?

We do not cake or ball yarn for online orders - mostly because we are not good at it. If you need some help figuring out how to do that on your own, check out these videos. Also, if you're buying indie hand-dyed yarn, you deserve a swift and a ball winder! 

How to wind yarn with a Ball Winder & Swift
How to wind yarn without a winder or swift

Help! I accidentally ordered the wrong weight of yarn! 

If your order has not shipped, please contact us at hello(at)dyemadyarns(dot)com so we can correct this before the order goes out! If your order has shipped and you have mistakenly ordered one of our core bases (Chester Sock, Minnie DK, or Genny Worsted), we are happy to organize an exchange for you. If you have mistakenly ordered one of our yarn bases we dye to order (Hattie Floof, Gladys Shawl, Tortie Sport, Chubby & Chunky Trevor, as well as our Summer bases), we do not accept returns. If for some reason, you are not happy with your purchase, please contact the shop at hello(at)dyemadyarns(dot)com.

What is your packaging like?

We aim for eco-friendly shipping! Our shipping materials are biodegradable, recyclable, or compostable, and minimal. No, we don't use plastic packaging to pack our yarn. 

Wait, why were you named Ramen Needles? 

I had been operating under this name (as an Etsy seller of finished goods, as a pattern designer, as a shitposter on Twitter) since 2010, when I was in college. When I first learned to crochet, I was very excited by amigurumi and NeedleNoodles book was my gateway into fiber arts. I wanted to come up with some clever and punny and she was my inspiration for a food themed name (plus what food does a college kid eat more than ramen?) When I started my business, it made sense at the time to just use the same name I'd always been going under, but the person I was at 20 is not the same person I am at 30. 

Wait, you're Dye Mad Yarns now? I liked Ramen Needles! Why did you change it? 

After 10+ years of using this name, it was pointed out to me that maybe I shouldn't be using it, and after some reflection, I think they were right. Some folks felt that Ramen Needles was cultural appropriation, and some were initially under the impression that I was an Asian woman (I am not - I am a white nonbinary person). I have worked hard to dismantle white supremacy in myself and in my work, but even with that work, I still have more to learn. Anti-racism is a lifelong, ongoing commitment. I continue to welcome feedback that will make this company safer and more inclusive. ⁠To see the full statement of our name change, please refer to this post

So where did "Dye Mad" come from? 

Dye Mad is a pun from the phrase "Die Mad About It", which comes from New Orleans-based writer Melanie Dione. First recorded use of the phrase comes from her tweet about having sex just because she wants to! 

Who the heck is Chester?

He's a goose! He is made out of concrete and we love him. He has a cousin named Gladys who is plastic and she's our show goose. 

Can I see a more in-depth look at your store policies?

Sure can! You can find those here