The Colour Names

Why Is This Wool Called Avocado?

 The base colour name

The colour names that we choose come from the natural dye used to create the colour, not the final colour of the yarn.  For example,  the skein of yarn above is called "avocado".  It is not a brown or a green, as one might expect, but it is the colour that was created from the avocado dye bath.  Nature can be surprising.

Variations on the colour name

Sometimes we have  have dark, medium, and light shades from the same natural dye material.  If that is the case, we will indicate the intensity of the colour

Natural dyes will often give more than one round of colour, with the first being the deepest, and subsequent baths being lighter.  In order to be as environmentally-sensitive as possible, we will use all the dye baths that we can, so long as they continue to create beautiful colour. 

We will also combine dye baths for unique effects.  If we blend colours, the name will show the natural dyes used.  For example, you may see a colour name of "madder + cochineal" to indicate that both types of dye were used to achieve the colour.  

We may also use a modifier to the natural dye.  If that is the case, we will show what that was.  For example, a colour named "lac + iron" comes from the lac dye bath and was treated with iron afterwards.

Variegated skeins

When we play with variegated skeins, because we use many colours to create the skein, all naming conventions go out of the window, and we choose a name that seems to suit the skein.  

If you have any questions about the colours or would like to see certain colours together, feel free to send us a message, we'd be happy to help!