Why Dye Lots Are Important
I didn’t know what a yarn dye lot was or why it mattered for years, until one fateful day when I realized that an entire project was ruined because I didn’t heed the shopkeeper’s warning of “make sure the dye lots match!” Find out what a yarn dye lot is and why it matters in this helpful article.
Hi everyone!
I remember once when I walked into my local craft store to buy some yarn for a project and I was given the ominous warning, “make sure the lot numbers are the same!” I scoffed, said “OK” and carried on my merry way.
Turns out the salesperson was correct as my finished project was two different shades of purple. I thought the two yarn balls I used were the same color! That was the day that I learned what dye lots are and why paying attention to the lot number’s on your yarn label matters. I checked my yarn labels and even though my yarn was from the same brand and line, they were from different dye lots. That explained why the shade was off.
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Yarn Dye Lots
What Are Dye Lots:
When your yarn is made and dyed in the factory, it’s done in batches. That means you want to buy yarn made from the same lot if you want the colors to match.
Lot Numbers:
You can usually find the yarn’s lot number above or below the barcode on the label. It usually looks something like this: LOT #: 69307
Different Lot Numbers:
There’s a good chance that the colors on your project won’t be cohesive if you use yarn with different lot numbers. It will happen because sometimes you don’t buy enough yarn for a certain project. I recommend always buying more than you think you’ll need.
This is why dye lots are important to be aware of before you begin to crochet a new project. You won’t have to gamble or feel disappointed when a project doesn’t look the way you dreamed it.
When purchasing hand-dyed yarn, you need to be extra aware of this. Since it is dyed by hand and not a machine in the factory, any hand-dyed yarn you ordered may not look the same as in the photos and no two skeins look the same. This is all part of the charm of hand-dyed yarn and what makes it special and fun to work with.
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