Hand-dyed yarn gives you a chance to support small fiber artists and craftspeople, while also finding unique styles and colors of yarn for your own projects. There are a few things to know that will ensure you have success with these unique yarns. 1. Ask for a Swatch Yarn color variations can be difficult to grasp when the swatch is neatly wound into a skein. Although hand-dyed skeins are often twisted in a manner designed to showcase the variations, it won't provide a full picture.