Where Did All the Colors Go?
For many years our business model was based on dye-to-order. This meant that you could go on our website and pick out any of the yarn bases we had in stock, in any of several size sets and order any of our hundreds of colorways.
When Kelly retired at the end of 2022 all of her colors retired with her.
Shipping
We ship via USPS or UPS and use either first class or priority depending on the size of the package (small orders generally go first class, anything over 1lb goes priority larger orders ship with UPS). When your order ships we will email you with the tracking information.
International orders are shipped USPS first class. We can track them while they are in the US but once they leave the country we are no longer about to track them (with the exception of Canada, which can now be tracked using USPS tracking codes on the CanadaPost website). Please be aware that we are not responsible for delays due to customs processing, and all import and shipping fees are the responsibility of the consumer.
If you require a shipping method other than the above, please contact us. We are happy to ship using your preferred method though there may be an extra charge.
Shipping Charges
Within the US, shipping on all orders under $60 is a flat rate of $8. Orders over $60 ship for free.
In Canada, shipping on orders under $60 is a flat rate of $10 . Orders over $60 ship for $15.
International orders under $60 ship for a flat rate of $15. Orders over $60 ship for a flat rate of $20.
Our Yarn
Handpainted yarn is unique, and there are a couple of things you need to know before you order.
Though we strive for consistency, handpainted yarns are works of art that vary from batch to batch. Therefore, its crucial that you order enough for your project. If you run out part of the way through a project it will be very difficult to dye up yarn that will match enough to complete your project.
Even in the same batch skeins can vary slightly, so if you are knitting an item that takes multiple skeins you may want to gradually move from one skein to the next by knitting a few rows of skein 1, then a few rows of skein 2, then a few more of skein 1, and so forth.
When shopping from the website, keep in mind that colors show up differently on different monitors and some colors are difficult to photograph accurately. This is one of the reasons that we recommend buying Unique Sheep yarn from your LYS whenever possible. And if your LYS doesn’t carry The Unique Sheep please encourage them to contact us- we are always looking for new wholesale partners!
Sometimes we offer pre-dyed yarn that is ready to ship ASAP. If so, it will say so in the listing. Otherwise your yarn will be dyed to order. This means that, depending on the size of your order and our current work load, it can take up to three weeks for us to dye your order and have it ready for shipping.
Enviroment
Kelly has plans to one day save the world, but until we figure out how to make that happen, we are trying to lessen our impact on the environment and improve the lives of our fellow humans, one skein of yarn at a time.
To lessen our negative impact on our environment we:
- re-use water multiple times in our dyeing process
- use recycled boxes and bags to pack and ship our yarn whenever possible
- use recycled paper for printing our patterns, ball bands and other paper work when we can
- conserve energy by winding our yarns by hand and drying them in the open air
- offer an organic line of yarns, The Green Sheep Collection
We have considered using natural dyes, but it is our experience that natural dyes aren’t necessarily better for the environment. Natural dyeing often requires more water and energy and uses chemical mordants that can be dangerous to the dyer and the environment. We feel confident that the dyes we use are the most environmentally responsible option as well as safe for us to work with and for you and your loved ones to knit with and wear.
The environment is important, but so are the other people sharing it with us. We try to do our little bit to help others by donating at least 5% of our net profit to charities. Two of our favorites are Doctors without Borders and the Amani Children’s Foundation. We have created colorways inspired by each of these organizations; 50% of our sales of these colorways are donated to the organizations!
We used to use a non-toxic moth proofing agent on our yarn called Mitin FF and these skeins all had the words “Permanently Moth Proofed” on the label. We discontinued this treatment in late 2008 in an effort to make our products more eco-friendly.
Wholesale Inquiries
Unique Sheep yarn is available at wholesale rates for yarn shops. We would love to send you a packet of samples and information. Please contact us at kelly@theuniquesheep.com.
Contact Us
The best way to reach us is by email, laura@theuniquesheep.com or kelly@theuniquesheep.com. You can also reach us on social media (see links below) or call Kelly at 336 362 0901.