How melange yarn is manufactured?

Melange yarn is dyed before spinning. The yarn is produced from color printed tops or slivers. The color bands are short enough that each fiber has multiple colors. This results in a heathered effect after spinning. Think of the individual hairs of a tabby cat. Individual hairs are banded so they contain both black and grey on the same hair. When the hair is brushed off the resulting effect is a heathered grey. You can dye something with a similar appearance by choosing a yarn of blended cellulose and protein fibers, such as Trekking's Pro Natura, which is a blend of wool and bamboo. These two fibers take dye at different rates. When dyed with an acid (protein) dye, the wool will take up more dye so it is darker than the bamboo fibers which take up less dye.