Hand dyed yarn is yarn colored manually in small batches using dyeing techniques that create distinctive shades, variations, and color patterns. In the US, hand dyed yarn may be produced from fibers such as wool, cotton, alpaca, silk, or blended materials. Each skein can display subtle differences in color intensity, tonal variation, speckling, or transitions because the dye is applied individually rather than through large-scale industrial processes. Hand dyed yarn is available in different weights and can be used for knitting, crocheting, weaving, and other fiber crafts. Care instructions vary according to the fiber and dyeing method, so washing requirements should be checked before use.