FAQ

Got a question? Let us answer it! 

Shopping Online | Classes | Yarn | Needles

Don't see what you're looking for? Please email questions@stashlounge.com

Shopping Online: 

I live in Calgary, but want to shop online! Do you offer location pick-up? 

Absolutely! Once you make your way though the checkout, you'll see a FREE local pick-up section! In most cases, orders placed before 12:00 pm MST will be ready to pick up same day (if we are open) or the next open day if not. For more info, click here. 

*You will receive an email confirmation when your order is ready to pick-up.*

How much does shipping cost? 

Alberta orders under $150 CAD: $10 flat rate shipping

Canada and United States orders under $150 CAD: $15 flat rate shipping

We pay the shipping on orders over $150 CAD!

Teeny tiny packages are eligible for a $5 lettermail option. If your order is eligible, you'll see the option at checkout. This is an UNTRACKED option.

Fine Print: Shipping charges are non-refundable, and returned orders that received free shipping will have the shipping cost deducted from the return. 

Special orders  (including looms and spinning wheels) are subject to a shipping charge. Please see our policies for more information about shipping. 

Can I use a STASH gift card to shop online?

Yes and no. Unfortunately our online shop and our POS system don't play nice together so the gift cards aren't interchangeable. If you have a paper gift card that you'd like to use online, send us an email at questions@stashlounge.com and we can convert it for ya! (Heads up, we can only convert it once!)

Can I collect STASH points online?

Heck yes you can! If you are currently an in-store points collector and haven't used them online yet, give us a quick shout and we will add your email to your account so you can use your current points online. You will need to make an account on our website after we've added your email to your Kangaroo Rewards account. 

New peeps, just place your first order and you can start collecting points! If you create an account on our website, you will be able to redeem your rewards, too! 

What currency are your prices listed in?

Our prices are listed in Canadian Dollars (CAD) - whatever method of payment you choose, the currency will be automatically converted for you on your statement according to the current exchange rate.

Prices are subject to change without notice. 

Will I be charged sales tax on my order?

Canadian customers will be charged the appropriate GST, HST or PST according to your provincial requirements. 

Will I be charged duties or customs on my order? 

If you live in Canada, you will not be charged any duties or custom fees on your order.

International (including USA) customers may be charged duties, taxes, or fees according to your country's rules and regulations. STASH is not responsible for any duties, taxes, or fees associated with your order. 

How do I track my order? 

When your order ships, you'll receive an email from us with your tracking number. You can check the status of your order at any time by visiting the link in the email. 

Somethings not right with my order! What do I do?

Please email us at online@stashlounge.com ASAP and we'll help sort things out! 

What is your return policy?

Please see our full return policy for details.

Does STASH offer yarn winding?

Yes we do. In store, we can wind up to 2 skeins per visit. This is so we can ensure we have enough staff on the floor at any given time. We are always happy to hold onto your yarn and wind it for pickup later. :-) 

Online - leave us a note at checkout if you'd like your yarn wound. We recommend only requesting winding for the first couple of skeins you are going to use - winding the yarn puts it under tension which you don't want for long periods of time. 

Wound yarn is non-returnable.

I want to join your super awesome email list! 

Yay! Check it out here!

I no longer want to be on your super awesome email list.

We're sad to see you go! You can unsubscribe anytime using the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of the most recent email you've received. 

Buying Yarn: 

How much yarn do I need?

Sometimes we fall in love with a clever little pattern but we want to use a different yarn instead of the exact yarn called for in the pattern. Maybe that yarn isn’t available, is discontinued, or darn it if we just want to use something even prettier than the original. No matter what the reason, we want to help you calculate that substitution with confidence. We've whipped up a FREE yarn substitution calculator so you can confidently purchase your yarn. STASH always recommends purchasing an extra safety skein - because dye lots can be as rare as unicorns. Still need help? Please feel free to contact us and we'll be happy to give you a hand!

What do you mean by a "safety skein"?

A safety skein is essentially an extra skein of your project yarn. This skein will save your butt in the event that the pattern was just a little bit off - or your gauge wasn't quite right but you decided to go for it anyways. We always recommend purchasing a safety skein so you don't run out of yarn just as you're about to finish your last sleeve, and be stuck buying a skein of a different dye lot, or even worse - find out the yarn/colourway was discontinued.  If you end up with extra yarn, you can always find an awesome one skein wonder pattern to use it up! 

What's a dye lot?

Each batch of yarn is dyed, and while companies do their best to create a consistent recipe, the colour may vary slightly between dye lots. Your dye lot is typically indicated with a number on the ball band. STASH online has an awesome solution for making sure you get all your yarn from the same dye lot - check it out below:

Will all my yarn come from the same dye lot? 

When you're shopping for yarn online with STASH, you might notice a colourway with the notation Lot-1 (or 2, or 3) beside it. This means that these skeins came from the same shipment. This way, you can guarantee that you'll be getting all your yarn from the same lot. If there isn't enough yarn in either lot, give us a call. We'll check our stock to make sure you get a good match!

Using Hand Dyed Yarn:  

Hand-dyeing yarn is a magical process where everything turns out super duper pretty, but never the same. Each skein will have slight variations - that’s what makes it so unique! However, we know this can be a pain in the behind when working on a larger project, which is why we recommend alternating skeins every 1-2 rows. We love this tutorial from Very Pink Knits! Please keep in mind that indie dyed yarn tends to vary significantly between batches - if you ever want more photos of a certain yarn to help you decide, please email us at online@stashlounge.com

A note about colours: 

STASH does our best to ensure that our photos represent the colourway as accurately as possible. Please be aware that there will be a slight difference in colour between different devices. Remember that dye lots can be as rare as unicorns - be sure to snag enough of the colour you need, because next time, the colour could be different! As always, please get in touch if you want to see more photos of a certain colour. We're happy to help! 

Size Matters - Let’s talk about yarn weights:  

Most yarn is categorized as one of the following weights: Lace (0), Fingering (1), Sport (2) DK/Light Worsted (3), Worsted/Aran (4), Bulky/Chunky (5), Super Bulky (6), and XL (7). While this is handy information to have, unfortunately it’s not the be-all-end-all of choosing a yarn. Basically, the thicker the yarn, the heavier the weight - BUT there’s a lot of variation within each weight. Don’t let this scare you. This is where everyone’s favourite part of knitting comes in handy: the gauge swatch!

We get it, no one really likes swatching - but it’s an important step to find out if the yarn you’re using will work for the pattern you’re using. If your swatch is too big, go down a needle size. If it ends up to small, go up a needle size. Keep playing until it’s juuuuuust right. Need more help with swatching? Check out this tutorial from Very Pink Knits.

There's a knot in my yarn, what do I do? 

Unfortunately, knots are a part of yarny life! Industry standards dictate that there can be up to 3 knots in a 50g skein - this is highly unlikely! Most skeins contain 0 to 1 knots. If you come into a knot, our recommendation is to undo it, and weave the two ends into your work, just like you would when you add a new skein of yarn to any project. If you think you've found an especially knotty ball of yarn, please get in touch. 

 

Classes:

Will you still be offering classes at STASH?

You can check out all our current class offerings here

Needles:

Metric vs US Needle Sizes

We at STASH we’ve made our home in the chilly prairies of Western Canada! Up in Canada, we tend to use the metric and imperial system interchangeably, just to make things more confusing for everyone.

We’re trying to make it as easy as possible to grab the needle size you need! The metric sizes are written first, with the US sizes in brackets following. For example: 5mm (US 8).

If you’re still a little unsure, check out our handy dandy needle conversion chart!

My interchangeable needles are coming undone while I knit!

The key is key! The key looks like a little t-pin, or a partially untwisted paperclip. Insert the key in the hole at the tip of the cord, grip it, and twist the needle on tightly. The key helps give you leverage to get that sucker screwed in tightly! When you need to undo it, insert the key once more to get leverage, and simply untwist. Voila! PS - if you lose your key, you can always use a paperclip in a pinch. 

ChiaoGoo Twist Interchangeable Needle Sizes - Help!

STASH online carries ChiaoGoo Interchangeables in three different sizes: Small (S), Large (L), and Mini (M). It’s important you purchase the corresponding cables, needles, and accessories for the size you have. If you’re not sure, take a look at the needles or cords you have - they will be marked with a letter to indicate the size. If you make a mistake, or need to mix and match, adapters are available!

3.5" vs 4” vs 5” Tips - Help!

You might be wondering what the difference between 3.5 inch, 4 inch, and 5 inch needle tips is! The 3.5 and 4 inch needles tips are suitable for knitting in the round on 16 inch cords - the 5 inch tips are suitable for knitting on cords 24 inch or longer. The longer tips are great for larger projects, magic loop, or knitting flat. 3.5 or 4 inch tips are great for peeps who like to make hats! 

Wood vs Metal Needles: 

A lot of people ask us if they should use wooden needles, or metal needles! There's no good or bad type of knitting needle or crochet hook - it all comes down to personal preference! If you find that you're knitting too slowly, or you feel like your stitches are sticking to your needle, try metal. If you feel like your stitches are sliding around or off your needle, try wood!