How to Shop for Yarn Online (and Feel Confident in Your Choice)

How to Shop for Yarn Online

(and Feel Confident in Your Choice)

Buying yarn online can feel a little like peering into a treasure chest — exciting, but with just a hint of mystery. You can’t squeeze the skein, hold it up to the light, or rub it against your cheek to test that perfect softness. And yet, shopping online opens up a world of beautiful fibres, indie dyers, and colourways that you’d never find locally.

The trick is knowing how to shop with confidence, so that every parcel that lands on your doorstep feels like a joyful surprise — not a risky gamble.

At The Wool Pirate, we’ve gathered some trusty tips to help you shop for yarn online like a seasoned sailor — no surprises, no regrets, just smooth seas and beautiful skeins ahead.

⚓ 1. Start with Your Project in Mind

Before you dive into the depths of yarn listings, pause and think about your project. Are you knitting a sweater, a shawl, socks, or something else?

Knowing what you’re making will help you narrow down your search by fibre, yarn weight, and yardage.

• Garments often need yarns with great drape and stitch definition (think wool, alpaca, or blends).

• Accessories can sometimes use less yarn — try hand-dyed, gradient, or luxury fibres that can cost more than tonals.

• Baby knits may call for machine-washable superwash or soft plant-based blends.

A quick check of your pattern’s recommended yarn fibre, weight, yardage, and gauge can save you from mid-project panic when you realize you’re short a skein or the fabric isn’t behaving how you imagined.

🧶 2. Fibre and Feel — Even from a Screen

You can’t touch yarn through a screen, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a good sense of what it’s like.

Read the fibre content carefully. Is it 100% wool, a wool blend, or plant-based like cotton or linen? Each fibre behaves differently:

• Merino wool is often soft, springy, and warm.

• Bluefaced Leicester offers beautiful sheen and durability, but darker colours can be a bit more rough than you expected.

• Cotton is breathable but has less elasticity.

• Alpaca drapes beautifully but can feel heavier and warmer.

When you can’t feel a yarn, lean on product descriptions, reviews, and photos. Look for details about softness, elasticity, or texture — words like crisp, bouncy, buttery-soft, or woolly give you clues.

🌈 3. Choosing Colours — Solid or Hand-Dyed?

Once you’ve picked your fibre and weight, it’s time for one of the most delightful parts of yarn shopping — choosing your colours.

Ask yourself what kind of look you want your finished project to have. Do you love the timeless beauty of solid or tonal colours, or are you drawn to the playful charm of variegated and speckled yarns?

• Solid or tonal yarns show off texture and stitch definition beautifully, making them perfect for cables, lace, or intricate patterns.

• Hand-dyed variegated and speckled yarns create soft colour shifts, surprises, and movement — no two skeins are ever quite alike, which makes your finished project truly one-of-a-kind.

Remember, with hand-dyed yarns, you’ll often see slight differences between skeins. That’s part of their magic — each one tells its own story, created by the dyer’s hand.

If you’re using multiple skeins of hand-dyed yarn, try alternating between them every few rows. This helps blend any variations beautifully, giving your project a harmonious, painterly look that feels both intentional and special.

And keep in mind: colour can vary depending on your monitor or phone screen. If a perfect match matters, check photos on multiple devices.  If you are shopping at The Wool Pirate, you can email us at yarnplease@thewoolpirate.com and we can arrange more photos or videos.  You can also check the manufacturer's website to see how they present the colour. 

🧭 4. Read the Reviews and Do a Little Detective Work

When in doubt, see what other knitters and crocheters have done before you.

Ravelry is a goldmine for this — search for your pattern and check the “Projects” tab to see what yarns others have used.

Seeing real finished projects helps you visualize how different yarns perform, drape, and photograph. It’s the next best thing to feeling it yourself.

You can also check your yarn on Ravelry to see what other projects were made with it — an excellent way to spot surprises like how a colourway knits up or whether it blooms after washing.

🏴☠️ 5. Know the Shop (and Their Policies)

Before you set sail with your order, take a moment to learn about the shop itself.

A trustworthy yarn store will:

• Provide detailed product information (yardage, weight, fibre, care).

• Show each colourway available.

• List shipping rates and return policies upfront.

If you’re ordering from outside your country, remember that customs or import fees can apply. Planning ahead avoids those unexpected “surprise taxes” that arrive along with your yarn.

At The Wool Pirate, we keep our product pages detailed and accurate with the information provided by the manufacturer who knows their yarn the best — so you can shop confidently, no matter where your ship sails from.

💰 6. Plan Your Budget (and Your Timeline)

A big part of feeling confident when shopping online is knowing what to expect.

Factor in the total cost of your yarn, shipping, and any potential customs fees. Many knitters also find it helpful to budget for one extra skein — just in case.

Also, plan ahead for your crafting timeline. If you need the yarn for a project next week, check that the shop can ship quickly or offers expedited options.

🧵 7. Your Handy Online Yarn Shopping Checklist

Before you click “Add to Cart,” run through this quick list:

✅ Pattern checked and yardage calculated
✅ Fibre and weight match the project (or you've made the necessary adjustments)
✅ Colour reviewed on multiple screens
✅ Shop’s shipping and return policies reviewed
✅ Reviews and Ravelry projects checked
✅ Budget and shipping costs factored in

⚓ 8. Final Thoughts

Shopping for yarn online doesn’t have to feel uncertain. When you know what to look for — and where to look — you can make choices that feel just as satisfying as buying in person.

And the best part? You get to open your parcel like a little treasure chest of possibility — soft, beautiful, and full of creative promise.

At The Wool Pirate, we’re here to make sure every skein you buy feels like a find worth celebrating.  If you have any questions, need some help or would like more information, please email yarnplease@thewoolpirate.com and we are happy to help!

Ready to shop confidently?
Explore our carefully curated yarns and find your next favourite fibre at thewoolpirate.com.