faq & policies
FAQ
Tell us about the studio
It feels like home! Well - it is home. The studio is located in a smoke-free, dog friendly home, within a dedicated studio space. All yarn is stored separately from pet-populated spaces and washed before making its way to you. I love getting to have my workspace just a few steps from our living space, but in a way that feels separate and intentional.
The studio has undergone quite the transformation over the last 3 years - what started on a stovetop in our small starter-house kitchen has now transformed to a fully operational dye studio with professional equipment, all located in the basement of our new home. We had a big move last winter that allowed for this incredible change to happen!
Now tell us about you
My name is Rachel, and color has always been very personal to me! I have been knitting for almost 2 decades now, and it has shaped me and become such a pivotal part of my life that I couldn't exist without it. After beginning Zeezee in 2020 and committing to full-time dyeing in 2022, I am absolutely loving every moment of expressing myself, my memories, and my emotions through dyes and textiles, and am humbled to share this with you.
I studied fashion design with an emphasis in knitwear, then worked in the industry as a knitwear designer for close to a decade before switching directions to focus more on color and textiles. I never had "business owner" on my life bingo card, but I honestly couldn't love it more! Something about the variety of skills and tasks to learn and manage, combined with being creative every day, has me feeling incredibly fulfilled.
Combined shipping
I am happy to combine multiple orders! Please add the order number(s) you would like to have combined into the "comments" section of your final order, or send me an email of all order numbers to be combined after you finish ordering.. To keep things streamlined, I ask that you please not request combined shipping via Instagram DM - it can be a lot to keep track of!
If there are any shipping overages after combining, these will be automatically refunded back to your original method of payment. Please be aware that with current shipping prices and handling fees, there may not always be a refund.
What efforts are being made for the environment? Why?
Due to my background in the fashion industry, I am aware that fast fashion is one of the top causes of water pollution in the world, and so much of this is due to the dyes used for fabrics and yarns, and their corresponding wastage. This is something I've become incredibly mindful of as I operate my own business.
All dyes are fully exhausted in their dye baths, and if some dye remains, it is then saved and used to dye one-of-a-kind skeins until that dye is also exhausted. Your yarn is partially dried in a low-energy spin dryer, and then hung to air-dry.
A lot of effort goes into hand dyed yarn, just as a lot of effort goes into hand making your final garment, and I want this piece of slow fashion to be environmentally and emotionally responsible. I offer sweater quantities of popular, historical colorways so you can feel less pressure to make purchases during pre-orders, and walk away feeling like you made a purposeful decision, versus feeling rushed to buy something you might not be ready to, or fully in love with.
Your yarn is either mailed out to you in a 100% compostable mailer made of collected ocean plastics, or a recycled kraft paper mailer. Your skeins are labeled with a recycled paper label secured with biodegradable, cellulose-based tape. Skeins are packaged in 100% compostable (at home!), biodegradable cellulose-based clear bags. It's important to me that your packaging materials are not only recycled, plant-based or made of reclaimed material, but that they are also not a burden to you to recycle or dispose of at home!
Is the merino mulesing-free?
Yes! All merino fibers come from farms in Argentina and Uruguay that do not practice mulesing.
How should I take care of my yarn?
While superwash yarns CAN all be washed by machine on a gentle cycle, to truly prolong the longevity if your yarn, please hand wash in cool water with wool wash or gentle detergent and lay flat to dry. Avoid hot water - while all dyes are set before washing and shipping, I don't want to risk any color bleeding! Occasionally a super-saturated shade (like red or pink) may bleed a bit during your first wash at home - don't worry, it happens, and will rarely stain or change the visual of your yarn! But if it seems excessive, please let me know and I will personally make it right.
I need color help! What can you do?
I am more than happy to answer any color questions, no matter how many or how detailed! My priority is that you love your yarn. Because a digital-first world often comes with slight differences in monitor displays, if you are ever unsure of a color (is it a cool red, or a warm red? Will it go with this skein I own from somewhere else?) - just ask me! I do my best to represent all yarns as accurately as possible, but you just never know how something may appear on a different screen - so I am here to help.
Please understand that Instagram can sometimes be an overwhelming place! And leading up to or during pre-orders, I can receive quite a few comments or DMs to manage. If you ever have a question that is time-sensitive due to a pre-order, please send me an email with your question to be sure I see it in a timely manner!
If you order multiple skeins of one colorway, I will do my best to select matching skeins for your order so your project comes out consistent and perfect. I additionally recommend alternating skeins while knitting with color effect yarns for a perfectly blended visual (to avoid pooling, if this is not desired). Helical knitting is my personal favorite method for alternating skeins!
POLICIES
Good things are worth the wait
Small, but mighty! I am just one person running this whole show, and hand dyed yarn is a special treat that takes a bit of time. To make sure I don't run into any issues, please allow 6-8 weeks for dyed-to-order sweater quantities to ship, in case I need to order extra supplies.
In order to allow everyone a chance to grab their dream order with busy schedules, I prefer to keep pre-orders open a full week whenever possible! This week adds a little extra time to production, but I promise it's worth it. it also keeps me from limiting quantities and creating scarcity!
If you notice anything off ...
Everything you see is hand dyed in small batches. I use professional acid dyes to achieve beautiful saturation in color - and I know that's what you're here for! To ensure you're taking care of your yarn for lasting color and quality, see the FAQ page for wash instructions.
That being said, occasionally some super-saturated shades may bleed slightly upon their first wash with you, even after I do my best to ensure the dye is set in the studio. If you notice anything out of the ordinary that bleeds quite a bit, please just let me know via email at zeezeetextiles@gmail.com so I can fix it! Small businesses still have people behind them - and I appreciate direct communication over social media commentary please!
Additionally, I do my best to audit through each and every skein before sending them off to you - but sometimes I miss things. If you think something is wrong with your skein (an undyed patch from mill ties, a splotch that shouldn't be there, etc) - just let me know via email at zeezeetextiles@gmail.com and I would be happy to replace it for you! Again, direct communication over email is ideal.
I take kindness quite seriously. I reserve the right to deny requests should conduct be unkind or handled in a way that is harmful. I don't want to perpetuate bullying in a community that is heavily online-based and it can feel all too easy to forget we are all human beings behind screens! Please keep this in mind when approaching me with issues, or asking questions.
Made with love, not perfection
I don't have to tell you! But just in case - all skeins are hand dyed and are therefor kissed with the beauty of variation. There may be slight differences between variegated or speckled skeins in a colorway and I do my absolute best to show you the closest representation in the listing's photographs (and remember - all our monitors are different too). What I CAN always promise is that each skein will be harmonious with its colorway siblings, no matter what! Like twins - almost identical, but still unique.
Did I mess up?
If I got your order wrong, just tell me within 3 days of receiving your order! I will do everything I can to fix it. Trust me - I know how excited you are to get started on a project, and I want you to have the best possible experience, and with yarn you love! Again, with this I appreciate direct communication, versus social media commentary.
Missing packages
Occasionally something goes wrong along the way! If your package does not arrive, whether due to an issue during transit or being stolen or misplaced by the carrier, let me know ASAP. I'll then likely point you here if you haven't taken these steps already!
I have all the same information you do regarding your package, and don't have any additional insight into what may have happened. If your package never arrives, please contact your local post office and then file a missing package claim with your chosen carrier. If your package is not recovered and is confirmed to be missing or stolen, forward me your confirmation and I will replace your order, on me! Depending on the delivery service you requested, you may also be able to receive a refund to cover the cost of your missing order. If this is the case, you must place a re-order with me.
I cannot do anything about replacing a missing order unless the above steps are completed, and I appreciate your understanding! Lost packages are no fun for anyone, and no one wants to miss out on receiving their yarn - and while out of all our hands, it can be a tough hit on small businesses to replace orders due to material cost and time! This is why it's important for me to ensure all necessary steps are taken and confirmed on your end first, before proceeding with a replacement.
Check out the below links for helpful information on how to work with missing packages:
Returns & cancellations
At this time I cannot accept any returns unless a mistake was made with your order - all sales are final. As such, I do my best to clearly represent yarns and their colors. Please take your time to read descriptions and review photographs before choosing who you'd like to take home with you - I want you to love it unconditionally! And if you aren't sure - I am happy to be your resource for color questions, recommendations, and more.
If you need to cancel your order, I can accept cancellations for in-stock orders at any time as long as your order has not yet been shipped. Once you've received a shipping notification, I cannot accept a cancellation. For pre-orders and sweater quantities, you have 48 hours to cancel after making your order - after this time, I cannot accept cancellations due to often having already ordered materials or prepped for production.
Please see the "Refund Policy" link at the bottom of the checkout page when completing your order for further details, or email me at zeezeetextiles@gmail.com.
Thank you for supporting a small business!