How do I wash my yarn?
All of our yarns are different, but we recommend hand-washing in cold water and laying flat to dry. If you use soap, please use a product developed for washing handmade items such as Soak or Eucalan; never use detergents or fabric softeners. Do not machine dry.
Some of our yarns are machine washable, please refer to your label. If you machine wash, you should use cold water and on the gentle cycle only. We recommend the shortest wash cycle available on your machine. Always use a cleaning agent intended for hand dyed yarns such as Soak or Eucalan; never use detergents or fabric softeners. Do not machine dry.
Please note that even on labels where machine washing is listed as an option, it may still cause your handmade items to appear aged more quickly. Some yarns will handle machine washing better than others, and the gauge of stitches will also affect this. We recommend machine washing your swatch before machine washing your project to make sure you are happy with the result.
If you’re using multiple colors, we always recommend washing your swatch before you you begin your project.
Where can I get one more skein in the same dye lot?
Because we dye in small batches, getting the same dye lot later can be quite difficult. We always recommend buying a little more than you think you will need for your project.
Sometimes that isn't an option, you already started, or changed your mind on what you want to make, or you did the math and really thought you had plenty. We recommend getting another skein in another dye lot and stripe the new skein into your project. You can break this skein up and stripe a little along with each of your skeins or stripe it with the second half of your last skein to make the transition less noticeable. We recommend the stripes be 2-6 rows each. You can also use it for your border, cuffs, button bands, necklines, etc. All of these are great places to sneak in another dye lot.
Yes, you can! We have a retail space in our dye studio located in downtown Fresno, and you can always order online. We do love to promote our retailers, and recommend that you visit a local yarn shop close to you. We take special orders from all of our shops, so if you don't see what you need at your favorite shop, ask them about placing a special order.
Can I buy yarn directly from you?
All of our shops can take special orders - no special order is too small, you can even order just one skein. Ask your favorite shop to place a special order for you. We will dye it just for you and send it to your shop!
My shop doesn't have the yarn/colorway I want, where can I get it?
Where is Anzula yarn made?
All of Anzula's yarns are spun in the United States, Canada, and Europe. Sabrina has visited all the mills that spin Anzula's yarns. Every skein is hand dyed and labeled at our warehouse in Fresno, CA.
Where do Anzula's fibers come from?
Anzula's fibers come from all over the world and we do our best to source the most ethical and highest quality fibers available. All of our merino is from non-musled flocks mainly from Australia with a small portion also coming from New Zealand. Our nylon is produced in Europe. Cashmere and silks are grown predominantly in China, and we work with our mills to make the most ecological and ethical choices. Our fibers are blended in Europe and Canada. All yarns are spun in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Are you looking for a 100% American made yarn? Gerty is grown, spun, and dyed in the USA.
Where is Anzula dyed?
Each skein of Anzula is hand dyed in downtown Fresno, CA. Before shipping, skeins are labeled by hand and checked one more time to make sure you get a perfect skein every time.
What kind of dye does Anzula use?
Anzula uses acid dyes. Acid refers to the acetic acid (vinegar) or citric acid. Acid dyes are safe for both the dyer and the environment. The dye is absorbed into the yarn and the remaining water is safe to dispose into the sewage system. There is a great article on how acid dyes work at Dharma Trading Co. (here) and we encourage you to read it if you want to know more about dyeing.
While natural dyes are lovely, they can be dangerous and on occasion create heavy metals. We believe that natural dyers are aware of this and they protect themselves and dispose of their runoff responsibly. We have made a choice to use acid dyes to avoid the risk of creating contaminants that need to be disposed of in special ways.
First, make sure you’re using cold water. Using warm-hot water will unbound dye that has been fixed and will cause fading and reduce washfastness. You can read a great article by Kimber Baldwin on water temperatures and dye here. (It’s a short article and there are pretty pictures).
It's pretty rare for our yarns to bleed in cold water, however it does happen. Here are some steps to prevent further bleeding.
For finished projects with multiple colorways: If your finished project is bleeding (or if you think it might), you can use a Carbona Color Grabber (or similar product) to pull loose dye/color out of the water so it doesn’t get a chance to adhere to the yarn in new place. If you have a large project, use extra sheets. We recommend using very cold water.
For finished projects in one color or for yarn still in a skein (stove top method): Make a mixture of 1 quart water and 1/4 cup vinegar in a clean pot. This pot should not be used for cooking afterwards so if you have a pot for dyeing, making soap, etc. that's the one to use for this. Use more water and vinegar for larger projects or multiples skeins. You want just enough liquid to soak and cover. Submerge your yarn/project and heat on low until steam appears, do not boil or allow the temperature to go above 180 F. Excessively high temperatures can actually make your yarn more prone to bleeding. Ideally you want a temperature between 165-180 degrees. Let it simmer for 10-15 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool completely. Once cool, rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
For finished projects in one color or for yarn still in a skein (microwave method): Make a mixture of 1 quart water and 1/4 cup vinegar in a microwave safe bowl. This bowl should not be used for cooking or eating afterwards. Use more water and vinegar if need to cover your project/yarn. Submerge your project/yarn and allow it to rest for a few minutes to fully saturate. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat 1 minute at a time until water is steaming. Wait 5 minutes, heat for 1 additional minute. Wait 5 more minutes and heat one last time for 1 additional minute. Allow to completely cool in the microwave. Once cool, rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
If you don't have a pot or a bowl that you want to use exclusively for dyeing, you can also place the soaked garment with about 1 cup of the vinegar solution in a heavy duty ziplock bag. Make sure the garment is fully saturated with water, dry fibers may burn in the microwave. Place it in the microwave with the opening closed but facing upwards to reduce spills in case it pops open. Press out excess air when sealing the bag, this allows it to expand with less chance of popping open. Heat slowly, about 30-45 seconds at a time. There is less liquid and the temperature will rise quickly, you do not want it to boil or for the temperature to go above 180 F. Excessively high temperatures can actually make your yarn more prone to bleeding. Once it's heated allow it to cool completely. This method will cool the fastest. If you notice there is still color in the water you can repeat the heating process once more. Once cool, rinse in cold water until the water runs clear.
What do I do if my yarn is bleeding?