The List

Here you will find information regarding various yarn manufacturers and where they stand regarding keystone pricing policies. In some cases, the information on this list is documented (DOC) and in other cases, the information is based on word of mouth (WOM) from various sources. When possible, we will include all resources next to the information we provide, however in order to protect a retailer's anonymity we may be asked to omit it. Please keep in mind that while our goal is to provide accurate and reliable information, word of mouth may not be as reliable as documented information. This list is not yet inclusive -- we are in the process of contacting yarn manufacturers directly to ask them exactly where they stand on the issue of keystone pricing and will add any and all information as they provide it to us. If however, a yarn manufacturer "declines to comment", we will notate that information on this list as well. Your patience in this endeavor is greatly appreciated and we suggest you check back often for updates to this list.


Adornaments,
Adriafil,
Adrienne Vittadini,
Alafoss,
Araucania,FRIENDLY
Art Yarns,FRIENDLY
Artemis (Hanah Silk),
Artful Yarns,
Ashford,
Aunt Lydia,FRIENDLY
Aurora Yarn (GarnStudio),
Austermann Wolle,
Balger,
Baruffa,
Berger du Nord,
Bernat (Spinrite),FRIENDLY
Berroco,
Blue Heron,
Bollicine,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Bonita,
Bonnie Braid Macrame Cord,
Bramwell,
Brown Sheep,
Caron,FRIENDLY
Cascade,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Catherine Reuers,
Classic Elite, Friendly (DOC)
Cleckheaton,85% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Colinette,
Cotton Tale 8,
Dale of Norway,
Dark Horse,
Debbie Bliss,FRIENDLY
Di.Vé,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
DMC,FRIENDLY
Dualsun/Rainbow Mills,
Elizabeth Austen,FRIENDLY
Ella Rae,
Elsebeth Lavold,FRIENDLY
Emu,
Erdal,
Euro Yarns,FRIENDLY
Fiesta Yarns,100% KEYSTONE (DOC)
Filatti FF,
Filatura di Crosa,
Filtes-King,
Finetex,
Fonty,
Foxglove,
GarnStudio (Aurora Yarns),
Gedifra,
Gerifil,
GGH (Muench),
Gjestal,
Glorifilia Needlepoint,
Grignasco,
Hanah Silk (Artemis),
Hanne Falkenberg,
Harrisville,
Heirloom (Russi),
Hemp For Knitting (LanaKnits),
Hill Country Yarns,FRIENDLY
Himalaya,FRIENDLY
Indiecita,
Ironstone
J. P. Coats,FRIENDLY
Jaeger-England,
JaggerSpun,FRIENDLY
James Brett,
Japan Thread,
Jewel Trim,
Jo Sharp,
Joseph Galler,FRIENDLY
Judi & Co.,
K1C2 (Knit One, Crochet Too),FRIENDLY
Karabella,
Katia,FRIENDLY
Kertzer,FRIENDLY
King Kole,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Knitting Fever,FRIENDLY
Kollage,
Kreinik,
Laines du Nord,FRIENDLY
LanaKnits (Hemp For Knitting)
Lana Gatto,
Lana Grossa,
Lane Borgosesia,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Lang,
Latch Hook Rug Yarn/Kits,
LB Evans Handknits,
Lily Sugar ’n Cream,FRIENDLY
Lion Brand,FRIENDLY
Lorna’s Laces,90% KEYSTONE (DOC)
Louisa Harding,FRIENDLY
Madil,
Maggi’s Knits,FRIENDLY
Marks & Katten,
Millor,
Mission Falls,
Misti Alpaca,
Moda Dea,FRIENDLY
Mondial,FRIENDLY
Mountain Colors,90% KEYSTONE (DOC)
Muench (GGH)
N. Y. Yarns,FRIENDLY
Nashua,
Naturally,
Needful Yarns,
Needleloft,
Needles,
Noro,FRIENDLY
On-Line,FRIENDLY
Ornaghi Filati,
Paternayan,
Patons,FRIENDLY
Peter Pan,
Phentex Patterns,
Phildar,
Plassard,
Plymouth Yarn,85% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Prism,
Queensland,FRIENDLY
Rainbow Mills/Dualsun,
Red Heart,FRIENDLY
Regia,
Reynolds,
Rhinestone Zippers,
Rowan,
Russi (Heirloom),
S. Charles Collezione,
S. R. Kertzer,FRIENDLY
SandnesGarn,
Schachenmayr,
Scheepjeswol,
Schoeller+Stahl,
Shepherd,
Silk City,
Sirdar,FRIENDLY
Skacel,
Southmaid,
Soy Silk,
Spinrite (Bernat),
Stahl,
Steinbach Wolle,
Stylecraft,
Sunbeam,
Swedish Yarn Imports,
Tahki,100% KEYSTONE (WOM)
Tamm,
Tilli Tomas,100% KEYSTONE (DOC)
TLC Yarns,FRIENDLY
Trendsetter,100% KEYSTONE (DOC)
Twilleys,
UKI,
Unger,
Valeria di Roma,
Wendy,
Wool in the Woods,
Yeoman,

Supporting Documentation

Here you will find supporting documentation for many of the yarn manufacturers pricing policies. In many instances, portions of text have been omitted in an effort to protect the retailer's anonymity at the retailer's request.

• Classic Elite's CONSUMER FRIENDLY Policy

(click for full view)

• Lorna's Laces Keystone Policy

(click for full view)

• Tilli Tomas Keystone Policy

(click for full view)

• Fiesta Yarns Keystone Policy

(click for full view)

• Mountain Colors Keystone Policy

(click for full view)

• Trendsetter's Keystone Policy

(click for full view)

Useful Links

For information regarding the Tilli Tomas/Sarah's Yarns issue, please visit Sarah's blog and navigate your way to the September archives (on the right navigation bar), specifically September 5th, 2006 and upwards. Other links to sites, podcasts, and threads discussing keystone pricing are listed below:

Lime & Violet Podcast (Episode 12) (be sure to read the listener comments)
Cast-On Podcast (Episode 38)
Cast-On Podcast (Episode 40)
Sexy Knitters Club website
Pixie Purls Podcast (Episode 15)
Live Journal Knitting Community

Whether price-fixing is illegal is still up for debate (although we have been informed that class action suits are being initiated). What we do know is that whether it's legal or not, most knitters and crocheters do not like the idea of yarn manufacturers requiring retail keystone pricing, consider it unethical, and are apparently willing to stop purchasing the yarns made by these manufacturers. Links to just a few of the sites with information regarding price fixing are listed below:

US Department of Justice website
Federal Trade Commission website
D.C. Office of the Attorney General's Price Fixing & Bid Rigging
Antitrust Law Blog

Sign the Petition

To: Yarn Manufacturers World Wide

We the undersigned, demand that yarn manufacturers world-wide abandon the policy of retail keystone pricing (vertical price fixing) within the yarn industry. We believe that yarn manufacturers should manufacture yarn and not regulate the yarn industry by "leveling the playing field" among yarn retailers through keystone pricing policies. We believe that retailers should be allowed to compete freely against eachother and that free-market economy is what the U.S. is based upon, not industry regulation. We also believe that keystone-pricing hurts the end-consumer by keeping yarn prices artificially inflated and in general is an unethical (and potentially illegal) business practice.

Click here to sign.

Take Our Button

Take our button and link to our site to help spread the word.

Volunteer

This site can use your help. If you have supporting documentation or information, or if you are interested in volunteering to help the cause, please contact us.