Many people have asked me where I get my yarn, so I thought I’d add a page listing some of my favorite sources.
Mill ends, remainders, and other inexpensive yarn sources:
- Colourmart. They sell mill ends and remainders from top-of-the-line mills, like Loro Piana. The prices vary, as does the color selection, but generally is half or less of retail. There are many colors that are not listed on the site, especially for fine threads, so if you don’t see what you’re looking for, contact them and ask. They will often offer a discount if you are ordering large quantities. They primarily sell cashmere but often have silk, superfine merino, plus blends of the above with cotton, rayon, etc. Well worth visiting. They are UK based, but prices include postage.
- Eurestex. They are based in the UK, and carry a regular line of silk and cashmere yarns but also sell mill ends on cones and in skeins, which come in many different colors and fiber types. Some of their offers have minimum orders (skeins can come in 5-kg packs) and some don’t. If you are in the U.S., be aware that shipping can be quite expensive, so ask for a shipping quote before ordering.
- R&M Yarns. They carry mill ends as well as a line of inexpensive yarns, mostly rayons and cottons for both. Prices are very good, but the selection varies. Get on their mailing list to get notice of new shipments as they arrive.
- Webs. In addition to selling a large line of “regular” yarns, they also have a pretty good selection of mill-end yarns for weaving. Prices are quite good, selection of mill ends varies. If you are placing a large order on “regular price” yarns, you can get up to a 25% discount.
- Discontinued Brand Name Yarn (DBNY for short). They liquidate shops, estates, and large stashes. It tends to be mostly knitting yarns, but there are often some quite good deals on weaving yarns as well, and sometimes weaving equipment shows up too. They do progressive discounts – on the first day something’s available, there might be a 25% discount for large orders; the second day, it might be 50%, and after a few days the discount could be 60-75%. As a result stuff tends to fly out the door. Get on their mailing list to be informed about new stock and today’s discount, but be prepared to get an email every day.
- eBay is a good source of mill ends and remainders, but of course is “buyer beware”.
- Lunatic Fringe Yarns is best known for their rainbow spectrum of hand-dyed yarns, but they also sell mill ends of unmercerized cotton as well as fine silks.
- Catnip Yarns sells Henry’s Attic brand yarns at a substantial discount – so substantial that they are not allowed to mention the Henry’s Attic name. They usually have one “special” per week that is offered at an additional discount – get on their mailing list to get announcements of the sale yarn.
Sources for hard-to-find yarns:
- Giovanna Imperia and Habu Textiles sell the fascinating and exotic. High-twist, Lycra, superfine, paper, exotic fibers, metal yarns, etc. – all part of their repertoire. The prices are not inexpensive but are also quite fair for what they carry: some of the most interesting yarns around, especially if you are interested in exotic fibers, collapse or otherwise shaped weaves, or just exploring the bounds of the possible. Great customer service, too.
- The Handweavers Studio is a UK source for similarly exotic yarns, as well as carrying a line of “regular” yarns. They offer classes, too.
- John Marshall sells thread made with real gold as well as many superfine silk yarns. He also sells supplies for katazome, aka Japanese paste-resist dyeing.
Good sources for “regular” yarns that are not mill ends:
- Georgia Yarn Company. I have not done business with them, but a good source for inexpensive cotton and silk yarns.
- Treenway Silks – Hand-dyed, top quality silks, including a line of natural dyes. If I didn’t insist on dyeing my own, Treenway would be one of my top choices.
- Redfish Dyeworks. Hand-dyed, top quality silk yarns and rovings. They will dye to match a custom shade, if you ask them.
- The Woolery – a large range of weaving yarns.
- Halcyon Yarn – also a great range of excellent quality weaving yarn.
- Yarn Barn of Kansas – a wide range of weaving yarns and supplies. Discounts up to 20% depending on how much yarn you’re buying.
- Village Spinning and Weaving – weaving equipment and yarns
- Paradise Fibers – equipment and yarns for various fiber arts, including weaving. They also carry a limited selection of mill ends.
- Dharma Trading Co – they mostly sell dyes and dyeables, but they carry a great range of Henry’s Attic yarns. The prices from Catnip Yarns are usually better, though.
- Webs doesn’t just carry mill ends – they also have a wide range of “regular” weaving yarns and weaving equipment. Discounts up to 25% are available for “regular price” yarn purchases.
There are certainly many others which I haven’t listed, but these are most of the ones I purchase from. I hope you find this helpful!
