Farmhouse Yarns™ are hand-dyed, and by nature, each skein is unique and beautiful.  We don't use dye lots, and no two skeins are exactly alike.  Variegations and color saturation in each skein  depends on its location in the dye pot.  Typically, skeins at the bottom of the pot are deep and rich in color, and skeins at the top of the pot have more subtle, somewhat less saturated and more muted shades of color.  For an even distribution of color throughout your knitting a project, we suggest alternating skeins every few rows.  Our yarns provide an exciting chance to play with color to great effect, when a project is well planned out.

We try to get to know our customers in order to become familiar with their likes and dislikes.  When a customer places a call to Farmhouse, I answer the phone personally.  There are no computerized menus with complex navigation.  If I am out with my sheep, I will return calls as soon as possible.  I find it very helpful to know what is most important to each of my customers and their shops so that each can be better served.  For example, when a dozen skeins of a particular colorway are ordered, I strive to send you twelve that match as closely as possible, unless you tell me differently.  I have several customers that love the unique "oddball" skeins, and others that prefer skeins that match as closely as possible.  I pack the order myself, and take great care to send each customer exactly what they like, and I encourage feedback and comments from everyone.

 Continue reading our frequently asked questions...

Some commonly asked questions about our yarns:

Will the colors bleed?
I am a big fan of hand-dyed yarns, and I have a very large stash of yarns I have purchased from other companies.  I love all of them, but have been troubled in the past when sweaters I have made from very expensive yarns bled terribly when I washed them.  This happened even when I followed the manufacturer's washing instructions very carefully.  There are even some hand-dyers who claim that color bleed is normal, and to be expected with hand-dyed yarns.  This is not true!  My sister and I dye every skein of yarn ourselves, taking great care to completely set each color.  We then wash and rinse each skein so that any excess dye will be removed, and not transferred onto your customers' needles and clothes. it is true that for us to achieve the rich colors that my yarns are known for, it requires us to use a large amount of dye in each batch, and occasionally in those very rich and deeply saturated skeins of yarns, just a little bit of excess dye can remain on the yarn even after our thorough washing.  But--this is excess and will wash out the first time you wash your garment.  The garment will NOT fade, and this is not bleeding.  It is true that certain colors, like reds, should be washed before wearing over white, as reds and some other intense shades of color are unstable by nature and can continue to release excess dye after a few washings.  Simply wait till you have washed the garment a few times before wearing with white, just as a precaution.  Your colors should not go down the drain, and your garment should not fade. 

What are the small bits of debris in the yarn?
Occasionally, you may find small bits of hay or grass on certain yarns, most notably Woodland Spun, Maude's Mountain Spun,  Roxanne's Mohair and Fat Sheep Yarn.  This is rare, but happens because we do not use harsh acids on our fibers, as many larger commercial producers do to dissolve the naturally occurring plant matter that finds its way into the wool while on the sheep at the farm.  As your customers knit, any small bits of vegetable matter usually fall right out, and will not become part of the finished project.  If you prefer softer and less "rustic" yarns, take a look at Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene, Andy's Merino, Cotton Blossom Yarn by Dixie, I Am Allergic to Wool, Bonnie's Bamboo, Fannie's Fingering Weight, Mary's Little Lamb Light Worsted, and Farmhouse Silk Blend.

Are Farmhouse Yarns suitable for felting?
Absolutely.  We have several lines that are excellent for felting: Andy's Merino, Fatter Sheep Yarn, Abbie's Alpaca and Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene.  We also have numerous patterns for felting projects.  Remember, as with all yarns, the softer the yarn, the easier it will felt.  The ease of felting is also affected by water quality, chlorine content and pH level, fiber content off the yarn, sheep breed, dyes and chemicals used and the type of washing machine that is used.  Felting is for knitters who enjoy adventure and experimentation.

Fatter Sheep Yarn is new—99% merino and 1% nylon.  It is soft and felts beautifully.  Abbie’s Alpaca is even newer—65% Alpaca and 35% merino.  It is soft and felts beautifully.  The merino content assures that your finished garment will have “memory” or “spring” and will not lose its life and “grow” with time as garments can often do when they are made with 100% alpaca.  We want you to be as happy with your sweater a year from now as you were when you first knitted it.

 General felting instructions:
Wash in the washing machine on hot-cold cycle with a little detergent (1/3 cup) and the water set on the lowest level.  Place item to be felted into a zippered lingerie bag (or a pillow case tied with a string) to prevent distortion during felting.  NOTE:  If you have hard or chlorinated water, it may help the felting process if you add 1 cup or so of baking soda to your water.  Agitate for a full cycle, then check to see if item has felted enough.  If not, skip over the rinse and spin cycles and repeat the agitation process as many times as necessary to felt the item, checking often.  I usually take the item out of the pillowcase after it is has felted about half way.  Most items take 3 cycles of agitation to felt.  If you go 3 cycles and the item still is not the size you would like, add a teakettle full of boiling water and repeat the agitation one more time.  Let the washer spin out and follow with COLD rinse then spin.  Shape and air dry.

What about Softness?
At the request of our customers, we have developed several soft yarns to offer you--Farmhouse Yarns Lumpy Bumpy Yarn by Charlene is the softest, Andy's Merino, Bonnie's Bamboo, Fannie's Fingering Weight, Cotton Blossom Yarn by Dixie, I Am Allergic to Wool, Mary's Little Lamb, Fatter Sheep Yarn and the new Abbie's Alpaca are all super-soft yarns.  It is important to remember that we do not add softeners, perfumes, sizing or any other chemicals to the yarn other than the dyes that are used to achieve the vibrant colors.

Fat Sheep, Bo Peep Not Just for Socks Yarn, Woodland Spun, Maude's Mountain Spun, and Roxanne’s Mohair are sturdy yarns that soften the more they are worn, the more they are used.  The local wool that goes into these yarns is sturdy wool grown by American farmers.  The finished yarns still contain naturally occurring lanolin which works through the yarns as they are worked.  You can achieve extra softness by adding a capful of regular hair conditioner to your rinse water when you wash the garment before wearing.  Remember—wool is fiber from a sheep with a protein makeup much like human hair.  The benefit of sturdy fibers is that garments knitted with these yarns will not pill, and they will not wear out nearly as fast as garments knitted with many of the super soft yarns on the market today.  Remember how Grandma’s sweaters lasted forever and withstood all that abuse?

Product Development
We are continually developing new yarns to add to our collection.  Keep watching our website for new yarns and colors.  I welcome your suggestions as to yarns you would like to see added to the collection.

Pattern Support
Pattern support is excellent, as you can see by the pattern selection.  We have several excellent designers working on new designs, so you will find a steady stream of new projects for Farmhouse Yarns.  If you are a budding designer (or an established one!!), please call me.  I am always looking for new ideas and talent.  For a full listing and photos of available patterns (and yarn requirements), go to  Pattern Support.  We are continually developing new yarns to add to our collection.  Keep watching our website for new yarns and colors.  Winnifred’s Washable, Abbie’s Alpaca and Fatter Sheep Yarn are the newest additions to the Farmhouse family.  I welcome your suggestions as to yarns you would like to see added to the collection.

Customer Service
I look forward to doing business with you, and I do what it takes to provide you with a product your customers will love.  As I said before, I am always accessible to you by phone and email, and whenever possible (and as my farm chores allow), I will pay a visit to you personally.  My sales representatives are also available to assist you as well.  Do not hesitate to contact any of us with any issue concerning my yarns.  The reason my yarns have come so far is because of the generous feedback offered to me by customers.

Doing business with Farmhouse Yarns is very easy.  I am very flexible when it comes to order size, payment options, model programs and delivery schedules.  I do whatever it takes to satisfy you and your customers.  Thank you for considering Farmhouse Yarns for your shop.

What Our Customers Are Saying
"I placed a first time order at TNNA in June and I just wanted to tell you how well received your yarns have been IMMEDIATELY upon arriving in my shop.  I literally sold 4 skeins right out of the box."

"I just can't tell you how pleased I a...not just for the sales, but to hear the passionate exclamations of sheer joy when my customers cast on with your yarn.  They literally have been unable to wait to get it on the needles!  It literally was the single best purchase of all that I made at market."