Returns & Refunds
Our Promise
At Abercairn Yarns, every skein is dyed by hand with meticulous care. The nature of artisanal dyeing means that the yarn you receive is a unique piece of art. We want our policies to be completely fair—protecting the immense time and labour that goes into hand-dyeing, while ensuring you feel confident and delighted with your purchase.
The Nature of Hand-Dyed Yarn
Because our yarns are dyed by hand in small batches, no two skeins will ever be perfectly identical—even within the same dye lot. Speckles will distribute differently, and colour pooling may occur depending on your project. This variation is not a defect; it is the hallmark of hand-crafted yarn.
Colour Variations: We do our absolute best to photograph our yarns accurately in natural light. However, screens vary wildly. If the colour isn't quite what you expected upon arrival, you are welcome to return it under our standard 14-day policy, provided it remains in its original, unwound condition.
Bleeding & Colour Transfer: It is normal for hand-dyed yarn—particularly heavily saturated or dark colours—to release a small amount of excess dye during the first wash. We thoroughly rinse our yarns, but slight bleeding is to be expected. We recommend swatching and washing your swatch first. If your yarn bleeds excessively and ruins a multi-colour project despite following care instructions, please contact us. We want to be fair and will work with you to make it right.
Knots: Occasionally, the mills that spin our bases must join lengths of yarn. The industry standard accepts 1-3 knots per 100g skein. A single knot is not considered a defect. However, if you find a skein to be excessively knotted, please reach out to us for a replacement or refund.
14-Day Return Window
If you change your mind, we gladly accept returns and exchanges on standard orders within 14 days of delivery. To be eligible for a return, the yarn must be in its original, pristine condition:
- Unused, unaltered, and unwashed
- In its original skein (we absolutely cannot accept returns on yarn that has been wound into a ball or cake)
- Free from any strong odors (such as smoke or perfume) and pet hair
Non-Returnable Items
Due to the unique and personalized nature of our process, certain items cannot be returned or refunded:
- Custom-dyed orders and wholesale batches
- Yarn that has been caked, wound, knitted, or otherwise used
- Sale, "seconds", or clearance items
How to Initiate a Return
To start a return, please email us at hello@abercairnyarns.co.uk with your order number and the reason for your return. We will provide you with our return address and instructions. Please do not send your purchase back without contacting us first.
Return Shipping Costs
If you are returning an item simply because you changed your mind, you are responsible for paying the return shipping costs. We strongly recommend using a trackable shipping service, as we cannot issue a refund for items lost in transit.
If you are returning an item because we made a mistake (sending the wrong base, wrong colourway, or a genuinely defective skein), we will, of course, cover the return shipping costs completely.
Refunds
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you. If the yarn is returned in perfect, re-sellable condition, your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your original method of payment.