FAQs

What is “Critical” about your sheep?

Our name actually has nothing to do with Sheep! Critical is when you score the highest numeral on a dice when playing Dungeons & Dragons. And when you hit a critical, your power and hits are more powerful!

What does it mean to be an Indie Dyer?

“Indie” stands for independent. Critical Sheep Yarns are only featured in one store in Wisconsin (Fox River Fibers in Big Bend, WI!) and we like to attend faires and festivals featuring local makers so if you ever want to see our yarn in person, just check out our Instagram page and find out where you can catch us next!

How much experience do you have?

Amanda, the Chief-Dyer, has been knitting and crocheting and playing with all things yarnie since she was 8 years-old. She’s been dyeing yarn since her teens and, when she couldn’t find colors that were vibrant and beautiful and obsession-worthy, she decided to start dyeing her own.

What makes your yarn different?

You won’t find colors like this anywhere else! Amanda uses a naturally acidic dye that is color-fast, smells amazing and has a vibrancy you won’t find in many commercial skeins out there. She chooses yarns for quality and is picky about the yarn she has chosen. Skeins rarely have knots and will wind easily off the swift. Amanda cares for the quality of the yarn she sells you, and she won’t sell you a sub-standard skein. When you buy yarn from Critical Sheep, you are not only supporting an independent dyer, but you’re also getting a sweet-smelling skein of rockin’ yarn that will make strong and beautiful socks.

Where can I buy your yarn?

You can shop online at criticalsheep.com/shop and choose from all of our colors. You can also check us out in person at Fox River Fibers in Big Bend, WI! We are always working to be in more stores in the area so check back soon!

Are your yarns from a pet-free, smoke-free home?

Yes and no… Yes, our yarns are made in a smoke-free home. But no, we’re a pet friendly home here. Our yarns are dyed in a small 80-year old Craftsman home with two rascally black kittens, Neo and Trinity. However, while we’re pet-friendly, all yarns are stored away from the kittens and gets a good scrub down before any dyeing commences.

Can I make a custom color order?

Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate custom colors for individual orders at this time, however there are over 20 colors to choose from. Feel free to send me a message if you’re interested in purchasing some yarn today!  Tell me what colors you are interested in, and you might just find them in a future store update.

When can I expect my yarn to arrive?

Your package will typically ship within 24 hours of your purchase via USPS Priority Mail. Please note that if your package will take longer to ship, we will be in contact!

What are the care instructions?

All D4 fingering yarns are 75% superwash Merino wool with 25% nylon.  All D10 worsted and D8 DK is  100% Superwash Merino. They are machine washable and are colorfast, so put them on the cold wash of your machine and then lay the item to dry and you’ll be fine. For an extra bounce in your project, throw the almost-dry project in the dryer for about 20 minutes to fluff up your stitches.

What’s with the color names?

We’re nerds! We came up with the names trolling through old Magic: The Gathering and D&D cards and characters.

When will there be more yarn weights?

We’re still a small operation, however starting in April 2020, we’re adding D8 DK weight yarn to our collection alongside our D4 Fingering and D10 worsted. If you’re looking for additional options, please give us time; we’ve picky about selecting the best yarn to offer. 🙂