Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the care and handling instructions for the mink and cashmere yarn?
A: The yarn can be washed before or after knitting.

Washing after knitting: Soak your item for about 20 minutes in room temperature water, gently hand wash with cashmere soap or baby shampoo, rinse thoroughly, dry flat, never twist.

Washing Before knitting: To keep the yarn from tangling, loosely tie four or five rings around the yarn with string evenly spaced. Soak for about 20 minutes in room temperature water, gently hand wash with cashmere soap or baby shampoo, rinse thoroughly, dry flat, never twist.

Q: How many stitches per inch on what needles should I expect?
A: This yarn is DK weight, expect 5.5 stitches per inch on number six needles

Q: Is it true the mink animals are not harmed? How do they get the fibers from mink?
A: The minks are sheared once a year in the warm summer months. The guard hairs and more coarse fibers are removed yielding a treasure of ultra-soft mink down.

Q: How is the yarn dyed? Are dyed yarns as soft as the natural color?
A: The yarn is top dyed. This is a process where the fibers are dyed before carding and spinning. Yarn maintains its softness; the colors are rich and very consistent.

Q: If I want to dye the yarn myself, what are your recommendations?
A: Like any natural protein fiber use acid dye. I recommend Pro Chemical Dye. They are located in Somerset Massachusetts, phone number 508-676-3838, e-mail promail@prochemical.com, web address www.prochemical.com

Q: Is the "natural" color dyed?
A: No. It is the natural color of the mink and cashmere fibers blended together.

Q: I want to buy in very large quantities is that possible?
A: Absolutely. Great Northern Yarns is the sole distributor for this yarn on a global basis.

Q: How can I contact you for more information
A: e-mail greatnorthernyarns@comcast.net

Q: Can you have something hand knit for me?
A: Yes. All you need to do is e-mail the pattern and we'll reply with a quote. We'll use our 70% mink 30% cashmere yarn. No minimum order quantity. Order as many or as few as you like.

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