Yarn Bases and Care

Our Yarn Philosophy

All Sassy Black Yarns bases are chosen with real projects and real wear in mind—soft enough to enjoy working with, sturdy enough to use and love, and flexible for both knitters and crocheters.

Most colorways are dyed in small batches of six or fewer skeins in my studio in Manchester, CT. I work with a mix of superwash merino, Peruvian Highland wool, and baby alpaca so you can choose the base that fits your project, climate, and fiber preferences.

Fingering / Sock Weight - Yardage: 437 yards / 100 g
Great for: socks, shawls, lightweight garments, accessories

I carry several different fingering bases. All are true fingering/sock weight but each has its own personality:

70% Superwash Merino / 30% Nylon (Sock)

Best for: socks, shawls, everyday accessories, light sweaters
This is your classic sock yarn base—soft, springy, and durable thanks to the nylon content.

  • Fantastic for socks, shawls, tees, and cardigans
  • Shows off speckles and variegation beautifully
  • A great “first SBY base” if you’re new here

You’ll see many bold colorways (including Blueberry Blue) offered on this base.

100% Baby Alpaca (Fingering)

Best for: shawls, cowls, scarves, next-to-skin accessories
This base is all about soft, drapey luxury.

  • Incredibly soft with beautiful drape
  • Perfect for shawls, wraps, cowls, and scarves
  • Lovely for people who want wool-free (but not animal-free) options with a gentler feel

Because there’s no nylon, I don’t recommend this base for hard-wearing socks.

100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Zebra, Fingering)

Best for: statement accessories, colorwork, bold texture
The zebra base has a built-in marled/striped effect before I even add color, which makes it amazing for playful and graphic skeins like Busted Melons.

  • Natural “zebra” marling adds visual interest to simple patterns
  • Great for hats, cowls, shawls, and bold sweaters
  • Fantastic when you want the yarn to do a lot of the visual work for you

This base is non-superwash and has a bit more bite/structure—lovely for colorwork and rustic-feeling projects.

Sport Weight – Yardage: 328 yards / 100 g - Fiber: 100% Peruvian Highland Wool

Great for: lightweight sweaters, colorwork, hats, mitts

Sport weight is a lovely in-between: lighter than DK, a bit more body than fingering.

  • Perfect for sweaters, cardigans, and colorwork yokes
  • Great for hats, mitts, and cozy accessories when you want a slightly lighter fabric than DK
  • Non-superwash, with a bit of structure that works beautifully in stranded and textured fabrics

DK Weight – Yardage: 245 yards / 100 g
Great for: garments, shawls, hats, cowls, quick-to-see-progress projects

70% Superwash Merino / 30% Nylon (DK)

Best for: sweaters, cardigans, shawls, kids’ knits
Soft, durable, and versatile—this DK base is a workhorse, especially for garments and accessories that get a lot of love.

  • Wonderful for sweaters, shawls, cowls, hats, and mitts
  • Superwash merino makes it soft and easier to care for
  • Nylon adds a little extra strength and resilience

100% Peruvian Highland Wool (DK)

Best for: garments, textured patterns, colorwork
This DK base has a bit more tooth and structure than superwash. If you love classic woolly sweaters, you’ll be very happy here.

  • Excellent for colorwork yokes, stranded patterns, and textured stitches
  • Creates a cozy, structured fabric that holds shape well
  • Non-superwash, so it feels a bit more “sheepy” and traditional

Worsted Weight – Yardage: 218 yards / 100 g
Great for: hats, cowls, scarves, cozy sweaters, fast gifts

100% Baby Alpaca (Worsted)

Best for: next-to-skin soft, drapey, cozy pieces
This base is all about soft, luxurious warmth.

  • Perfect for cowls, scarves, shawls, and wraps
  • Lovely for sweaters if you like lots of drape and halo
  • Great for those who want something extra-soft and snuggly

100% Peruvian Highland Wool (Worsted)

Best for: classic woolly sweaters, hats, mittens, everyday winter wear
This worsted base has that traditional wool feel with warmth, structure, and great stitch definition.

  • Fantastic for sweaters, hats, mittens, cowls, and blankets
  • Excellent in cables, textured stitches, and colorwork
  • Non-superwash, so it blocks well and holds shape beautifully

Minis – Yardage: 87 yards / 20 g

Fiber: 70% Superwash Merino / 30% Nylon
Great for: heels/toes/cuffs, stripes, colorwork, scrappy projects

Minis are tiny powerhouses of color.

Use them for:

  • Heels, toes, and cuffs on socks
  • Stripes and color blocking in shawls and garments
  • Accent rows, borders, and edgings
  • Building fades or palette ideas without committing to full skeins

You’ll see minis in sock sets, bundles, and occasionally in subscription boxes and special releases.

General Yarn Care

All Sassy Black Yarns skeins are hand-dyed and deserve a little extra love so they can live long, happy lives in your handmade wardrobe.

Always check the product label for exact instructions, but in general:

Superwash bases (Merino/Nylon blends)

  • Hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool wash for longest life
  • If machine washing, use a delicate or wool cycle, cool water, and a mesh bag
  • Lay flat to dry—avoid the dryer to preserve color and fabric

Non-superwash wool & alpaca (Peruvian Highland, Baby Alpaca)

  • Hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool wash
  • Do not agitate aggressively (to avoid felting)
  • Gently squeeze out water; do not wring
  • Lay flat to dry, reshaping the piece as it dries

A Note About Hand-Dyed Color

Because all SBY yarn is hand-dyed in small batches, you can expect:

  • Slight variation between skeins
  • More complexity and uniqueness in speckled and variegated colorways
  • Dye-lot differences over time

For projects using multiple skeins of the same colorway, I recommend:

  • Alternating skeins every few rows (knit) or rounds (crochet)
  • Checking you’re happy with the fabric and pooling before you fully commit

Not Sure Which Base to Choose?

If you know what you want to make but aren’t sure which base is best, you can:

  • Check the Yarn Details on any product page
  • Visit the Sweater Quantities & Dyed to Order page for planning larger projects
  • Or send me a note and tell me:
    • What you want to make
    • Knit, crochet, or both
    • How you like your finished fabric to feel (light, drapey, sturdy, cozy, etc.)

I’m always happy to help you match a Sassy Black Yarns base (and colorway) to your next project. 💜