FAQ

What we sell (yarn types, hand dyeing)

What types of yarn do you sell?

We sell a variety of yarns in different weights and fibres. Click here to view them on our online store.

Yarn Base Name	Thickness/Weight	Fibre Composition
Merino Lace	Lace	100% merino wool superwash
Kidsilk	Lace	70% kid mohair 30% silk
Merino Linen	Fingering	77% wool 12% linen 11% viscose
Proper Sock	Fingering	75% wool 25% nylon
Merino Twist	Sport	100% merino wool superwash
Merino DK	DK or Light Worsted	100% merino wool superwash
Fluffy Mohair	Bulky	78% kid mohair 13% wool 9% nylon

What makes your yarn different from other brands?

All the yarns we sell are hand-dyed in our studio in Cape Town, South Africa. Our colours are uplifting. They have a lightness and brightness inspired by the beautiful Cape landscape, our unique floral kingdom, and life near Africa’s southern tip.

 

How to buy our yarn (ordering online, stockists, opening hours)

Where can I buy Cowgirlblues yarns and products?

You can order online from almost anywhere, and we’ll ship to you. If you want to see our yarn in person, visit our Maitland Studio in Cape Town, or see our Stockist page to find a store near you.

How do I place an order online?

Ordering from us is pretty easy. Browse our online shop, and click “Add to Cart” when you see something you like. When you’re ready to check out, click the cart button in the top right and follow the steps to checkout.

I struggle with technology, can you help me to order online?

Of course! If you are struggling with our website, click here to contact us on WhatsApp (+27 71 083 4850), and we will gladly help you with your order.

Where can I buy Cowgirlblues yarn in Cape Town?

We have a retail space at our studio. Visit us at 7 Beach Rd, Maitland, Cape Town.

What are your opening hours?

Our Maitland Studio Shop is open 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Thursday and 8:30am – 2pm on Fridays. We’re also open 9:30am – 12:30pm on the first Saturday of the month for our Open Studio Event. Join for community, connections, crafting… and cake!

What if you don’t have enough stock of the colour I want?

You can always order our standard colours, even if it looks like stock is low. We are dyeing all the time and your order will ship within a week. If you’re ordering a sweater quantity of yarn, we always make sure it’s from the same dye batch.

Do you do custom dyes?

We have a large range of standard colours in solids and multis. Wholesalers can make special requests at wholesale@cowgirlbluesyarn.com.

 

Shipping (local, international, pricing, tracking)

Do you ship within South Africa?

Yes. We ship locally using Fastway or Courier Guy.

Do you ship internationally?

Yes. We ship (almost) anywhere in the world using FedEx.

What are your shipping costs?

For local orders, we offer flat rate shipping at R99 per parcel.

For international orders, shipping costs will depend on your location.

Do you offer free shipping?

Local orders: Shipping is free for orders over R1200.

USA orders: Shipping is free for orders over $200.

International orders: Shipping is free for orders over $300.

How do I track my order?

We will contact you with tracking details as soon as your parcel has shipped.

What if I’m not there to receive my order?

The courier company will always attempt to redeliver your parcel.

Can you ship to my P.O. box?

No, we do not ship to P.O. boxes.

 

Issues with your order (returns, exchanges, defective items)

What is your return/exchange policy?

You can exchange/return eligible items within 60 days of purchase, provided you have valid proof of purchase. Click here for our full returns policy.

Our policy varies by item:

• Yarn: Unopened, unwound yarn in its original packaging and condition may be returned/exchanged within 60 days of purchase.
• Garments: Unworn, unwashed garments in their original condition with all tags attached may be returned/exchanged within 14 days of purchase.
• Knitting needles and tools: Unopened, unused knitting needles in their original packaging and condition may be returned/exchanged within 60 days of purchase.
• Items that have been ordered specifically on customer request cannot be exchanged or returned.

Items that cannot be returned/exchanged include:

• Items purchase on sale or clearance.
• Yarn sold in studio with a ‘custom colour’ label
• Custom colours where specific colours are dyed upon customer request, or products made to customer specifications, as these personalised items cannot be resold.

What should I do if I receive the incorrect item?

If you think you’ve received the wrong item, please notify us at shopping@cowgirlbluesyarn.com within 7 days of receipt with your order number and details of the problem. We will arrange a replacement or refund, including shipping costs.

What should I do if I receive a defective item?

If you receive an item that is damaged or defective, please notify us on shopping@cowgirlbluesyarn.com within 7 days of receipt with your order number and details of the problem. We will arrange a replacement or refund, including shipping costs. Beyond this timeframe, defective items will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

What should I do if my order is missing?

If your order doesn’t arrive within 30 days of shipping, we will send a replacement, one time only, after investigation with the relevant courier service.

 

Payment options

What payment methods do you accept?

All payments are processed securely using PayFast, EFT, or PayPal.

 

Gift vouchers & coupons

Can I buy a gift voucher?

Yes. This process isn’t automated yet, but you can purchase the Gift Voucher online and we will send you an email with your voucher the following business day.

How do discount codes, gift vouchers, and coupons work?

You can apply your coupon code when you view your cart or at checkout.

 

Hand-dyed yarn (colour variation, tips, pairing colours)

Is knitting with hand-dyed yarn different from working with commercially dyed yarn?

Yes! Hand dyed yarn is more personal and nuanced. Even our semi-solid colours are hand dyed – giving them a beautiful range of colour intensity within each skein. These nuances make your finished project come alive.

To account for the natural variation of hand-dyed yarns, we recommend that you ‘fade in’ your new skein to avoid distinct lines when switching from one skein to the next. Do this by alternating which skein you use for a few rows before fully switching to the new skein. When working with multicoloured yarns, you’ll get the most even colour in your project if you alternate skeins all the way through – but still remember to fade in when adding in a new skein.

Will my skeins look exactly like the photo?

While we try our best to colour-match the photos with real life, you should not expect your skein to look exactly like the photo. Colours show differently on different screens, and there is also variation that comes with hand dyeing.

How big are your dye lots?

We hand-dye in small batches of five skeins. If you need yarn all from the same batch for a specific project, let us know and we will batch dye it all together for you.

What dyes do you use?

We use commercial acid-wool dyes, which are azo-free and comply with European safety and environmental standards.

Will the colours bleed or fade?

The colours shouldn’t bleed. If you do experience significant bleeding please contact us. This can sometimes be an issue with hand dyeing, darker colours especially.

How can I know what solid colours will pair nicely with my Multi yarn?

Download the project booklet, which explains the solid colour components of every multicolour. That’s a good place to start.

We also provide suggestions for yarn combinations in the product description of all our Multi yarns. If you want to play around with colour combinations yourself, use the filter feature on our “View All” Yarns page. Tick the different Multi and Solid colourways to see how they look side by side.

 

How we produce our yarn (sourcing, sustainability)

Where does your yarn come from?

All our yarn is locally produced in South Africa. The merino sheep and angora goats that make our fibres are farmed in South Africa, mainly in the Karoo. The wool and mohair is then processed and spun in the Eastern Cape, before being sent to our Cape Town studio for dyeing.

How are your products made?

All our yarn is hand-dyed at the Cowgirlblues studio in Maitland, Cape Town. Most of our yarns are commercially spun.

Is your yarn ethically and sustainably sourced?

We source our yarn from mills that are Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS), and OEKE-TEX Standard 100 certified. RWS and RMS certifications are based on animal welfare, land stewardship, and social responsibility. OEKE-TEX Standard 100 ensures that the yarn is tested for harmful substances and is harmless to human health.

Is your product animal-friendly?

We think so. The RMS and RWS yarn certifications ensure animal welfare. Mulesing is not practised in the South African wool and mohair industry. In South Africa, sheep and goat farming is a ‘free range’ activity. Farmers look after their sheep and goats very well, as periods of stress lead to breaks in the fibre, lowering the quality of the product.

Is your product environmentally friendly?

We are very conscious of our environmental impact. It’s difficult to be perfect, but we’re constantly trying to improve. We collect rainwater for dyeing, and use water sparingly and repeatedly. We reduce, reuse, and recycle our inputs wherever we can. And we try to get creative, for example our Scrappy Sling Bags made from yarn waste and offcuts. If you want to support our efforts, buy one with your next yarn order.

What does sustainability mean for Cowgirlblues?

At Cowgirlblues, green is not just a colour. It’s a way of living and being in the world, trying to be more conscious of the impact we have, and doing our best to tread lightly.

Do you provide employment to anyone other than yourself?

Providing employment is an important part of what we do. Get to know our team here.

How do you treat your staff?

Our team is at the heart of the business, and many of them say that working here feels like being part of a family. We take that as a huge compliment. These women are proud to work at Cowgirlblues. They are a competent, capable group of strong people whom we hugely admire and respect.

One of our ongoing priorities is to offer opportunities for continuous improvement. Each person is skilled in more than one aspect of the production process. Some techniques are specific to dyeing yarns. But by learning to use a sewing machine or a computer, everyone builds skills that could also be useful in a different work environment. Health and safety are important to Cowgirlblues, and everyone is trained in the relevant and appropriate use of equipment and health and safety in general.

How long has the business been going?

The business started in 2012 as a crafting and dyeing experiment in owner Bridget Henderson’s kitchen. It grew organically from there, and today we are a team of 16 people who produce high-quality yarns for knitting, crochet, and crafting.

 

Wholesale

Can I stock your yarn in my shop?

Yes, absolutely. For wholesale enquiries, contact us on wholesale@cowgirlbluesyarn.com.

 

Using our yarn (patterns, care instructions)

Who is your yarn designed for?

Our yarn is for anyone who loves colour. It’s suitable for knitters, weavers, and crocheters, and will be enjoyed by both novices and experts.

Is your wool soft?

We use merino wool and kidsilk mohair, which are both known for being exceptionally soft. However, we all have different skin sensitivities, and some people are very sensitive to wool and mohair. If you’re unsure, come visit us and feel for yourself!

Will your wool felt?

Our superwash merino yarn bases will not felt. The yarn has been treated to prevent this. We have a new non-superwash yarn base coming, which can be used for projects where you are intentionally felting or would prefer non-superwash.

Is Cowgirlblues yarn suitable for warm climates?

Merino wool and mohair are known for breathability, thermoregulation, and odour resistance – all making them great for warmer climates. If you’re worried about getting too hot, use a thinner yarn or our Merino-Linen blend.

Why do you include nylon in your sock yarn?

Nylon is added to make sock yarn more durable and harder-wearing. Our Proper Sock Yarn is 75% Wool and 25% Nylon.

Do you recommend patterns for your yarns?

We have a selection of patterns on our website. We also sell knit kits (which include a pattern) and project bundles (which suggest a pattern). Visit our Ravelry Project Page for more inspiration.

How do I care for my new product?

Handwash gently with lukewarm water, and lay flat to dry. Most of our yarns are superwash treated, but your knits will last longer if hand-washed instead of machine-washed. If you put your Superwash Merino knits in the machine, use a cool, delicate wool cycle. 

 

For beginners (where to start, first projects, needles, knitting from a skein)

Where do I start?

To start your first project, you’ll need a pattern, yarn, and needles. Ravelry.com is a great resource to find patterns, but it can be overwhelming at first. Look for a beanie/scarf pattern made specifically for beginners, and then come into our shop and we’ll help you find the right needles and yarn.

Can you suggest projects for beginners?

Beanies are a quick, achievable project that will teach you the skills you’ll need for your first sweater. Our Basic Bereanie pattern would be a good start. Once you’re ready for a sweater, you can choose one of our project bundles for an easy beginner sweater, like the Sunday Sweater or Lykke Tee. We’ve worked out the maths of how much yarn you’ll need, so you just need to pick the colour and size.

How do I knit from a skein?

You’ll need to wind your skein into a ball before you use it for your project. If you don’t have a swift, you can hang the skein between the backs of two chairs while rolling it into a ball. If you buy from us, you can also request that your skein be wound into a ball.

What’s the difference between straight and circular needles?

There is no difference at the pointy end. They are both knitting needles. Circular needles allow you to knit in the round and are used in most modern patterns. Straight needles are only used for knitting ‘flat’.

What size needle must I use?

Start with the recommended needle size for the pattern you are following. Knit a swatch to check your gauge. If you have too many stitches in 10cm, go up a needle size and try again. If you have too few stitches, go down a needle size and try again. Keep going until your gauge matches the pattern gauge requirement. All our yarns have a recommended needle size on the label. If you want a drapey, airy fabric, go bigger. If you want a more structured, cozy fabric, go smaller. You can purchase ChiaoGoo circular needles on our website.

How many skeins should I buy for a project?

How much yarn you need will depend on what project you’re making. Your pattern will tell you how much yarn you will need. Alternatively, check out our project bundles – just pick your size and colours, and we work out how much yarn you’ll need.

Do you offer classes?

We don’t currently offer formal classes, but there are many informal ways to learn with us. You can join our weekly newsletter to hear about upcoming workshops, visit our Open Studios to learn from a welcoming crafting community, or visit our Maitland Studio with any questions you have.