Big Twist Yarnis your one-stop destination for all things yarn, knitting, crocheting, and fiber arts. Our mission is to empower fiber artists and makers to explore their creativity, connect with the crafting community, and make the world a little cozier, one stitch at a time.
Our Story
It all started with asingle skein of yarn and a passion for crafting. Our founder, Jane Smith, learned to knit and crochet from her grandmother at a young age. As she grew up, Jane found immense joy and relaxation in crafting beautiful and functional pieces for her home and family. However, sourcing high-quality and affordable yarns was always a challenge that prevented Jane from fully exploring her creative potential.
In 2005, Jane came up with the idea for an online platform that would makeunique, indie yarns accessible to makers everywhere. After months of research and preparation,Big Twist Yarn was bornin Jane’s basem*nt workshop. Through word of mouth and sheer passion alone, our small business grew rapidly in the local fiber arts community.
Over the years, we expanded our inventory from a dozen specialty yarns tocarrying hundreds of independent brands and specialty fibers. In 2015, we opened up our flagship retail location and classroom space so fiber enthusiasts could touch, feel, and experience our products in person.
Today, Big Twist Yarn has blossomed intothe leading online and brick-and-mortar yarn shop, stocking everything from luxury wools and plant-based fibers to novelty and hand-dyed yarns. We now share our love for fiber arts with makers across North America and beyond.
Our Values
Everything we do at Big Twist Yarn stems from our core values:
- Community– Fiber arts has the power to connect people across backgrounds, skill levels, and interests. We foster a welcoming space both online and offline.
- Creativity– We believe creativity empowers people to express their individuality. Our products and resources help makers unlock their creative potential.
- Quality– Our yarns are carefully curated to offer exceptional quality at fair prices so makers can focus on the craft, not their budget.
- Sustainability– We are committed to ethical and eco-friendly business practices that minimize our footprint and give back.
- Education– Knowledge sharing allows our community to hone their skills and explore new techniques. We offer free patterns, tips, classes, and more.
Our Team
Our close-knit team shares a contagious passion for fiber arts. With decades of collective experience knitting, crocheting, weaving, spinning, and more, they have an extensive knowledge of yarns, fibers, and techniques.
Jane Smith, Founder & Owner
Jane turned her side hustle into a thriving business based on her love for crafting. She now focuses on sourcing new specialty yarns and sharing her DIY and business knowledge with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Emma Jones, Store Manager
With a background in yarn stores and a degree in Fiber Arts, Emma keeps day-to-day operations at our retail location running smoothly. Customers love working with her to find the perfect materials for their projects.
Alex Chen, Online Manager
Alex heads up our eCommerce operations, ensuring our online inventory and systems are optimized for the best user experience. He also manages our social media presence.
Lisa Brown, Class Coordinator
Lisa coordinates over 100 fiber arts classes each year at our store location. She works with local teachers to develop beginner and advanced courses in knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and much more.
Ty Daniels, Purchaser
Ty has an eye for stylish, unique yarns that our customers will love working into their next masterpiece. He works directly with our network of vendors to hand-select the products we carry.
Our Products
With hundreds of yarns and tools to choose from, fiber enthusiasts are bound to find inspiration for their next project at Big Twist Yarn. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Yarn
- Wool– Our selection includes wool from around the world in varieties like merino, alpaca, Shetland, and more. From superwash to rustic yarns, we have wool weights perfect for any project.
- Cotton– We carry cotton yarns like mercerized and Egyptian cotton known for softness, breathability, and vibrant colors. Cotton is great for warm weather projects.
- Plant-Based– For vegans, eco-conscious makers, or those with wool sensitivities, we offer plant-based yarns like bamboo, soy silk, and organic cotton.
- Novelty– One-of-a-kind novelty yarns include self-striping, variegated, ombré, and hand-painted colorways. We also have yarns that glitter, glow, and shimmer.
- Hand-dyed– Our hand-dyed selection offers tons of tonal, gradient, speckled, and striped options dyed in small batches.
Tools & Notions
Makers will also find essential knitting, crocheting, weaving, and crafting tools in our shop:
- Needles, hooks, looms, spindles, and more
- Stitch markers, row counters, scissors, measuring tapes
- Cable needles, needle cases, needle grips
- Darning needles, stitch holders, point protectors
- Crochet thread, embroidery floss, roving
And much more! Visit our online shop or brick-and-mortar store to explore our full inventory.
Our Blog
The Big Twist Yarn blog is the ultimate resource for fiber arts inspiration, tips, and community. Our talented contributors cover topics including:
- Yarn and fiber guides– Learn about types of yarn, weight systems, fibers, and choosing the right materials.
- Pattern inspiration– Find hundreds of free knitting, crochet, and weaving patterns for your next project.
- Technique tutorials– Master new skills with our library of beginner and advanced tutorials.
- Troubleshooting– Stuck on a project? We offer tips for fixing common mistakes and problems.
- Interviews– Get to know talented fiber artists and Learn about their craft.
- Reviews– Check out in-depth thoughts on new yarns, tools, books, and more.
- Community spotlights– Meet members of the fiber arts community making an impact.
- Business tips– Get advice on turning fiber arts into a business or monetizing a hobby.
- Gift guides– Find unique handmade gift ideas and our seasonal top picks.
The Big Twist Yarn blog has something for fiber enthusiasts of all experience levels looking for connection, inspiration, and knowledge.
Our Community
At Big Twist Yarn, we believe creativity is best when it’s shared.Beyond our online shop and blog, we actively foster community engagement through:
Social media
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Youtube (@bigtwist) to stay connected between visits. We share project inspiration, run giveaways and contests, and more.
Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter delivers new products, stories, and deals to subscribers’ inboxes. Sign up on our website to get in the loop.
Retail store events
We host free gatherings like stitch and bitch sessions along with classes, trunk shows, and exclusive sales at our store location. Attendees share skills and form IRL connections.
Contributions
We accept pattern contributions from our talented customers to share on our site. Makers can also donate finished projects to communities in need.
Sponsorships
We sponsor community craft nights, fiber festivals, classes at local shops, and provide yarn donations to stitchers giving back.
Connecting online or offline, Big Twist Yarn celebrates and inspires the fiber arts lifestyle.
Our Vision for the Future
We’ve come a long way from Jane’s basem*nt dye studio, but our passion remains the same. Looking ahead, Big Twist Yarn will continue nurturing creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship through:
- Expanding our eco-friendly product line
- Supporting small yarn businesses and independent dyers
- Offering scholarships and grants for aspiring fiber artists
- Growing our free educational offerings with how-to content and classes
- Opening new brick-and-mortar locations to reach makers in need of community
- Spotlighting artisans using fiber arts for social good
Most importantly, we strive to build an inclusive and empowering community where makers can transform yarn into objects of beauty, purpose, and lasting impact.There’s so much creativity left to be unlocked, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.
Thank you for being a part of the Big Twist Yarn story!Let’s craft a cozier world together, one stitch at a time.
