Once dyed, the manufacturer can turn the yarn into cloth in several different ways. The cool, special quality of yarn-dyed fabrics is that the design is woven into the cloth. The more prevalent piece-dyeing method essentially prints a design onto a whole section of cloth.

our will typically find yarn-dyed fabrics featuring stripes, plaids, gingham checks, dotted or cross patterns, or ikats. (In case you’re wondering, ikats are a special method of dyeing and weaving that knot clumps of threads together for dyeing and keeping them together in the weaving, creating a symmetrical design. Think of the Aztec-style arrowheads you might find in a wool blanket).

Tiny crosses, dots, or lines characterize a special kind of yarn-dyed fabric called dobby cloth.

Gingham check weaves together two different colours of yarns in a cute, checked pattern.

Denim is technically a yarn-dyed fabric as well. Weaving blue and white threads across each other creates the familiar blue-grey shade that you know and love from your favourite stretchy jeans or chunky fall jacket!

In general, though, you can expect to note these characteristics in yarn-dyed fabrics. First, you will often find a tapestry-like band of contrasting colour yarns on the reverse side. The front and back of this cloth will not match.

Second, many yarn-dyed fabrics have a slightly rougher, more hand-made appearance than the average roller-printed piece-dyed fabric. They have a real texture, and often the woven designs are slightly raised from the rest of the material.

Finally, some yarn-dyed fabrics have an artisanal, rustic look to them. This is what makes them so appealing!