frequently asked questions

what is the yarn made of?

DUNES is 100% polwarth wool sourced from the otago region of aotearoa new zealand. learn more about polwarth sheep and the yarn making process here.

where is the yarn made?

our yarn is made entirely on te waipounamu the south island of aotearoa new zealand - from sheep to skein! learn more about the production process here.

what is woolen spun yarn?

there are two main types of yarn spin - worsted and woolen. the main difference between the two is that worsted yarn goes through a more intensive process that results in the fibres being combed mostly in the same direction before spinning.

on the other hand, woolen spun yarn typically goes through a less intensive process where the fibres are spun while they are still in a bit of a jumble. this traps quite a lot of air in the yarn, resulting in a lightweight yarn which still retains the same insulating and warm qualities. woolen spun yarn often has a slightly more "rustic" feel - but don't let that mislead you, our yarn is still very soft (21 micron!) and is wearable next to skin for most people.

woolen spun yarn also typically "blooms" when blocked (washed). this is because the fibres aren't locked down as tightly, enabling them to spread out a bit more expand to fill the spaces between and within stitches. this forgiving quality often evens out stitches that are a bit uneven.

woolen spun yarns are great for a wide variety of projects from sweaters and jumpers to scarves and hats and more. the same factors that allow it to create such an insulating and light fabric are also the ones that make it felt easily - this is excellent if that is what your goal is but can be frustrating if not expected. just a gentle reminder that our yarn is hand wash only.

what is up with this yarn composition?

have you noticed a few twigs and grasses spun into the fibre? those are from way back, when the wool was growing on a sheep in a field!

occasionally, you may also notice the thickness of the yarn varies slightly as you are working it - with some areas a bit thicker and others running a bit thin. don't fret, this is totally normal and often will become unnoticeable after the blocking process as the fibres relax, expand, and fill in the gaps.

find a join in your skein? industry standard allows for 2 joins per 100g of yarn - although most skeins will have none. If you come across a skein that has more than usual, please reach out to us at sundune.fibres@gmail.com.

how do i "spit-splice" two ends together?

this join technique is a game changer for those who don't enjoy weaving in ends. due to the nature of loose fibres in woolen spun yarns, it is easy to get two ends to "wet felt" together using a bit of water (or spit) combined with the heat and friction of your hands.

do you have any pattern suggestions?

absolutely! as DUNES is woolen spun, the fibres bloom beautifully after blocking. this enables the maker to get gauge on a wide variety of patterns, mainly in sport weight (denser fabric), double knit weight, and worsted weight (lighter fabric). we recommend playing around with gauge swatches on different needles to create a fabric which suits the project you have in mind.

here are a few pattern ideas to get you started:

please note that we have no affiliation with the companies or designers listed above.

how should i care for my makes?

great question! our yarns are woolen spun and untreated so we recommend hand washing only.

a common method is filling a bowl or tub with lukewarm water and, if desired, adding a gentle leave-in wool soap (like eucalan or soak). then fully submerge the finished object and let soak for 20-60 minutes.

once the time has passed, drain the water and carefully squeeze the excess from the fabric, taking care to not let it carry it's own weight. be careful not to wring the object out. if wool fibres are stretched while wet, they often dry in that form and lose much of their elasticity so it is essential to be gentle at this phase.

the next thing to do is to carefully lay the finished object on a clean towel, roll the towel up, and compress down on it to remove additional water. once this is complete, lay the garment flat on blocking mats or a clean surface that can handle moisture, arrange to correct dimensions, and leave still until completely dry (1-2 days). if the object is taking a while to dry, it can be flipped part way through the drying process to give the underside access to airflow.

once it is fully dry, the object is ready to use! spot clean as necessary with clean water. repeat the full blocking process if the object loses some of its shape or gets very dirty.

what is your return policy?

all sales are final.

if you believe you have received damaged goods, please reach out to our team directly at sundune.fibres@gmail.com to discuss the situation.

where do you ship yarn to?

currently, we only ship within aotearoa new zealand and are unable to ship overseas. we are hoping this changes in the future. feel free to reach out via the contact us page for more information on how to get our yarn where you live.

what are the shipping rates?

standard flat rate $8
rural flat rate $13

we offer free shipping on orders of $200 or more!

currently, we only ship within aotearoa new zealand and are unable to ship overseas.

are your products certified new zealand made?

yes! we are proud that our products are made entirely in aotearoa new zealand and carry the iconic kiwi trademark.