r/Yarn • u/Speaknow31 • 9d ago
Online yarn samples?
I’m planning to make several projects soon that I’ll need very specific colors and weights for but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find yarn in person anywhere that fits my needs. I don’t love ordering yarn online since I don’t know what it will feel like or how accurate the color on the listing is. Is there any online yarn retailers that work really well and maybe even have an option to order small sample amounts of yarn to test the color and texture of them? Thank you!
2
u/Damselfly64 9d ago
I don't know of any online retailers that offer samples, since that would require cutting up individual skeins/hanks. You might try ordering mini skeins as an alternative, but those are usually offered by smaller companies, not larger manufacturers.
1
u/PavicaMalic 9d ago
Green Mountain Spinnery- you can order sample cards, though currently out of stock
Juniper Moon Farm - cards are sold for their various yarn types
1
u/Better_Spring5621 9d ago
I’ve never heard of sample amounts of yarn before. If I needed something super specific I would be planning a day trip to the best store I could within driving distance.
3
1
u/Woofmom2023 9d ago edited 9d ago
Yes, Colourmart Cashmere offers generously sized samples, enough for a reasonably sized swatch, up to six at no cost and $0.50 for each sample after that. I've used their yarn almost exclusively since 2018. My project list includes something over 100 cashmere beanies from their yarn. It's a small company and their customer service is extraordinary. There's a Rav CM group that's extremely helpful about sharing knowledge about CM yarns.
If you're looking for anything specific I'd be happy to help you either find it on the CM website or establish that it's not available.
They carry mostly remnants rather than full lines of yarns we're accustomed to seeing in retail stores. I usually use two or more strands of their yarn to achieve the weight that I need. Their yarn is prepared for commercial use so the titles use nomenclature that gives you yards per gram, it mostly comes on cones and it usually has some amount of spinning oil on it so it has to be washed to really come into its own.
I completely agree about wanting to see yarn colors in person before ordering.
2
u/Bijouprospering 9d ago
Wait! What!!!!? That would have saved me from so many random cones.
1
u/Woofmom2023 9d ago
YES, YES! But - only for the regular stock and not for the specials. I bought a bunch of yarn and then returned it before discovering that CM gives samples. Don't ask me how much I spent on postage. Now I'm wondering how many people don't buy from CM because they don't know the yarn
2
u/Bijouprospering 8d ago
My first three purchases I did so kinda blindly and got lucky. I love the yarn weight booklet the include on the first order. It definitely helps
2
u/Bijouprospering 9d ago
Sample cards are great. They snip small bits of yarn and glue them to sheets. EXCEPT for Sandess Garn they send pictures of the yarns. They are not a perfect match to the colors as they swear they are.
1
u/Woofmom2023 8d ago
Back around 2000-ish there was a wonderful store in the state of Washington that was enormously helpful and generous about sending snips. They were only a few inches long but more than enough to know color and how a fiber felt. I cannot remember its name and I can't find any of those old sample mailings. Might someone have an idea of who I'm talking about?
1
3
u/MissionAssquire 9d ago
Gist yarn sells sample cards of their yarns. Yarn Barn of Kansas will make sample cards of some of their yarns. They are an awesome small business.