Yarn & Knitting FAQs

Always buy by total length (metres/yards) rather than weight. Every yarn packs a different number of metres into 100g, so "500g" can mean very different things. Find the total meterage your pattern calls for in your size, then divide by the metres per skein shown on the product page to get the number of skeins.

As an example: if a jumper needs 1,200m and a skein holds 400m, you'll need three skeins - and we'd suggest adding one extra to be safe in case your tension varies slightly from the pattern. If you'd like a second pair of eyes on the maths, email us your pattern and size and we'll happily check it for you.

In most cases, yes. A good substitute matches four things: the yarn weight (e.g. 4ply, DK, aran), the tension/gauge, a similar meterage per 100g (see above for more details on this), and a fibre and structure that suit the design - a drapey silk blend behaves very differently from a woolly, elastic yarn, even at the same weight.

Every product page lists weight, recommended needle size and tension so you can compare against your pattern. If you're unsure, send us the pattern and we'll recommend the best match from what we stock. We always recommend knitting or crocheting a tension square before you begin. We dive more in depth into this topic in our journal.

Your pattern will state the weight it's designed for and a target tension ie. the number of stitches and rows over 10cm. Match that first. Each of our product pages lists the yarn's weight, the recommended needle or hook size and its standard tension, so you can line them up against your pattern at a glance.

As a rough guide, from finest to heaviest: lace, 4ply/fingering, DK, worsted, aran and bulky. If a pattern gives a tension but no weight, tell us the stitch count over 10cm and we'll point you to the right yarns.

Yes. Alongside our wool and luxury animal fibres we carry plant-based yarns including cotton, linen and cotton/linen blends that are lovely for garments, homeware and warmer-weather makes. You can browse by fibre on the shop.

We photograph our yarns in natural daylight and edit as little as possible so the images are as true as we can make them. That said, yarn has natural depth and variation, and every screen displays colour slightly differently, so think of the photos as a close guide rather than an exact swatch.

If a shade is important to you - matching an existing project, or a gift - do get in touch before ordering and we can send you more photos.

Yes, we will always send you skeins from the same dyelot and if that isn't available we will get in touch with you before we ship.

Hand-dyed yarns are dyed in small batches and have more variety than commercially dyed yarns. For any project needing more than one skein, please buy all you need in a single order, we'll send from the same dye lot wherever possible and we will always be in touch first if we think there is a big discrepancy. It's also worth buying one spare skein for peace of mind.

Spincycle Yarns are totally unique and they can vary quite a lot from batch to batch and even skein to skein within the same batch. We will always match up your skeins as best we can.

This question is quite subjective, it depends on the fibre and personal sensitivity. Merino, cashmere, baby alpaca and silk blends are wonderfully soft and are lovely worn against the skin. More rustic wool breeds and spins can feel a bit firmer and scratchier but many people find them comfortable to wear next to your skin. The spin of the yarn can also have a big impact on perceived softness, for example some find a mohair ticklish because it has a fuzzy texture but is still soft.

Each product description notes how a yarn feels and what it's best suited to. If you tend to find wool itchy, tell us and we'll steer you toward our softest options.

We do stock some yarns that are superwash-treated and can be machine-washed on a cool, gentle wool cycle; others are natural, untreated fibres that are best hand-washed and dried flat to keep their shape and bloom. The care instructions are on every ball band and noted on the product page. We do recommend hand washing to prolong the life of your garment and our go-to for this in no rinse Soak Wash.

Our online stock is kept up to date, so if a yarn is showing as available you can order it with confidence. When something is sold out, you can sign up to be notified by email on that product's page and we'll let you know the moment it's back. As many of the yarns we stock arrive in limited batches, popular shades can move quickly - so signing up is the surest way not to miss a restock.

UK delivery is a flat £6 for orders up to 2kg (that's a generous number of skeins), sent via Royal Mail. We post Monday to Friday from our shop in Bath. We offer free domestic shipping for all orders over £75.

We dispatch orders Monday to Friday from Bath via Royal Mail Tracked48, and UK parcels typically arrive within a two working days of being sent. If you place an order by noon Monday - Friday your order will ship the same day, in fact most orders placed by 2pm ship same day.

You'll receive tracking so you can follow your parcel on its way. During busy periods and around bank holidays please allow a little extra time.

Yes - we ship worldwide and use both Royal Mail and DHL services depending on the country. All rates are based on actual weight.

For EU orders under €150, sales tax is collected at checkout under IOSS so there's nothing more to pay on arrival. For EU orders over €150 and for other international destinations, any local import duties or taxes are the responsibility of the recipient. DDP shipping is available to the US via DHL. Full details are on our shipping page.

If something isn't right, you can return it within 30 days for a refund, provided the yarn is unused and in its original condition and packaging. Return postage is arranged and paid by you, and original shipping charges aren't refundable. Sale items and gift cards are excluded, and gifts are refunded as store credit.

If your order ever arrives faulty or not as described, please contact us straight away, we'll always put it right.

Returns need to be unused and in their original condition, so once a skein has been wound into a cake or worked with, we're not able to accept it back. This keeps every skein on the shelf in perfect condition for the next maker. If you're unsure whether a yarn is right - the weight, the colour, how much you need - do ask us before you order and we'll help you get it right first time.

We accept Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express, as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Shop Pay. Checkout is handled through a fully secure, encrypted payment system, so your details are always protected.