Oxford Biocolours DK
















Oxford Biocolours DK
DK yarn combining soft British Shetland and Bluefaced Leicester wool with breakthrough colourfast plant dyes giving long-lasting colour, gentle on the planet, and made entirely in Great Britain.
Fibre: Shetland and Bluefaced Leicester from the North of England.
Yarn weight: 100g skein
Meterage: 233 metres / 255 yards
Recommended needles: 4mm
Gauge: 22 stitches x 27 rows per 10cm square on 4mm needles
Care: Handwash
Oxford Biocolours make bright, long-lasting colours using plants, not petroleum.
Their colourfast dyes mean they don’t fade in sunlight or run in the wash. They perform just as well as standard synthetic dyes, but without the pollution and using less water. They use clever science to gently change plant dyes so they stick directly to wool avoiding the need for the chemical mordants needed by most natural dyes.
Because the dye bonds straight to the fibre, they can mix colours easily, use less water and energy, and avoid harsh chemicals in the process.
Their dyeing method was developed in the lab and brought to life with their Scottish dye house partner using modern, water-saving machines to create beautiful yarns with a much smaller environmental footprint.
Shades include:
Oxford biocolours started with a simple question: Why are most colours still made from polluting chemicals?
Synthetic dyes are made from fossil fuels. They work well, but they come with a big environmental cost — using harsh chemicals, lots of water, and leaving waste behind. Oxford Biocolours believed there had to be a better way, so they went back to the lab.
Founders Jim and Darren began researching plant-based dyes that could truly replace synthetic ones — colours that wouldn’t fade in the sun, run in the wash, or rely on toxic chemicals to work. At first, this was pure science. Then something unexpected happened. Yarn samples started disappearing. Jim’s wife had picked up a crochet hook and began testing the dyed yarn for herself. What came back were finished pieces — wearable, beautiful, and full of life. The colours weren’t just working. They were singing.
That’s when it clicked. This wasn’t just chemistry anymore. It was craft. It was people. It was the joy of making something with your hands and knowing where it came from.
Today, Oxford biocolours brings lab-developed, plant-based dyes together with British wool and skilled dyeing partners to create yarn that’s bold, reliable, and genuinely better for the planet.
We’re here to prove that sustainable colour doesn’t have to be dull — and that great yarn can be kind, clever, and a little bit rebellious.
If you believe great yarn can be kind to the planet and bold on the needle (and hook!), you’re in the right place.