Your yarn label will come with washing instructions appropriate for that specific base but I wanted to go into more detail here.
Laundering:
When using especially vibrant yarns, I recommend some extra care especially when washing for the first few times. The flexing and friction of knitting or crocheting can release a tiny amount of pigment which makes the first couple of washes especially important.
DO NOT soak in a vinegar bath. It is a common misconception that warm water with some vinegar will “fix” the dye to the fiber and prevent bleeding. It does exactly the opposite. Dyers use heat and acid to dye yarn because that opens the cuticle and makes the fiber accept the dye. Rinsing in the same thing will cause some dye to release. Instead use cool water only and an appropriate detergent.
If using very dark or intense colors against a very light color, I recommend dry cleaning or if you must wash, using a color catcher sheet in the wash water and not soaking the item. This goes for all yarn, not just ours. Think of laundry rules like not putting a red shirt in a load of white clothes and adjust your care instructions accordingly for your specific project.
For superwash bases, you can either hand wash or machine wash your items. If machine washing, I recommend a garment bag (ideally in a delicate cycle) and laying flat to dry. If your item has some of the growth known to happen with superwash yarn, put it in a dryer by itself on low for a short time to reset the original shape and re-block if necessary.
Our Dye Process
Other than the limited botanically dyed line, all of our yarn and fiber is dyed with professional acid dyes and citric acid.
Botanical dyes are properly mordanted and dyed with plant materials we grow or forage from nearby.
I wash every batch in Grapefruit Eucalan wool wash after dyeing is complete and rinse all skeins until the water runs clear.