Yarn Colors, Swatch Cards & Custom-Dyed Yarn: How Does It Work?

October 04, 2026

Here's everything you need to know about our stock yarn colors, how to see them before you buy, and how to get yarn custom-dyed in your own colors.

Our regular yarn colors

We keep about 32 yarn colors in stock at all times. From time to time we also add colors temporarily, often using yarn left over from custom projects. Once those colors sell out, they may not come back.

Seeing colors before you buy: the swatch card

Not sure which colors to pick? Order our yarn samples swatch card from the Yarn Samples product page in our shop. It shows our core color range so you can see the colors in person. We can also include pieces of newer colors that aren't on the card yet.

Plan your quantities up front

Colors can be re-dyed, but each dye lot can vary slightly. Some shades, like Iris and Lavender, are already very close to each other. We recommend buying all the yarn you need in each color at the start of a project, so the whole piece matches.

Custom-dyed yarn

We can have yarn custom-dyed in your colors.

What we can dye

• Fibers: wool (including 100% New Zealand wool), acrylic, or wool/poly blends
• Put-up: 1 lb to 5 lb cones

Matching your color

Our dyer can match:

• A fabric swatch, paint chip, or yarn pom
• Pantone colors
• A color from our pom boxes: the wool pom box has 880 colors and the acrylic pom box has 660

Color matching takes about 2–3 weeks. Dyeing the batch then takes about 4 more weeks after you approve the match.

Dyer options for 100% New Zealand wool

• US dyer: 13 lb minimum per color, about $36/lb at that quantity, with a 4–5 week turnaround.
• Overseas dyer: 26 lb minimum per color, about $28/lb. Dyeing takes about 2 weeks. Shipping then takes about 12 days by air or about 30 days by sea.

Minimums, timing and pricing

• Minimums depend on the dyer and the order, and range from 10 lb to 26 lb per custom color. We'll confirm the exact minimum for your request.
• A custom color usually takes about 6–8 weeks from start to finish, so plan ahead if you have a deadline.
• Bulk discounts are available depending on quantity.

Mothproofing

Our dyer treats wool with Evercide Industrial Mothproofer (part no. 2792-250). Custom yarn can be dyed without mothproofing if you prefer, but we recommend keeping it for larger rugs, over 6×8 feet.

Getting started

Email support@tufttheworld.com to start a custom color or custom dye order.

Dust on a cone?

If a cone arrives with surface dirt from the shipping box, you can usually clean it off with compressed air.

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