Welcome to Consumer Friendly Yarns, your resource for information regarding yarn manufacturers (large and small) and whether they require retail keystone pricing. Knitters and crocheters everywhere want to know which yarn manufacturers are affecting their pocket-books, and this site will answer that question for you.

Since this is a new site, the information available is somewhat limited, however within the next couple of weeks the list of consumer friendly (and unfriendly) yarn companies will grow as more and more companies are contacted. If you are interested in helping us (in any capacity), please email us.

Our Mission

This site was created for the knitting and crochet communities (at their request) so that knitters and crocheters can be informed consumers regarding which yarn manufacturers require retail keystone pricing and which don't. Due to the recent exposure in the media and on the internet regarding the issue of keystone pricing within the yarn industry (specifically with the Tilli Tomas/Sarah's Yarns issue), knitters and crocheters have expressed their opinions regarding the practice of keystone pricing and many have chosen to buy only consumer-friendly yarns (those yarn manufacturers who do NOT require a specific mark-up of their yarns, whether it be 100%, 90% or any percentage of keystone) and have requested a list of "friendly" and "unfriendly" yarn manufacturers.

Our mission on this site is to accurately report the keystone pricing policies of all yarn manufacturers (large and small) and to be a reliable resource for the knitting and crochet communities to refer to before they make yarn purchases.

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.

Word Of Mouth

Here is "word of mouth" information provided to us by various resources. Much of this "word of mouth" information can (and will) be substantiated by follow up phone calls to the manufacturer. Please let us know if you (or anybody you know) has written documentation from any of these "word of mouth" companies.

Bollicine,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Distributed by Jean Dunbabin at Cascade Yarns. See Cascade.

Cascade,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Cascade has reportedly stopped shipments to retailers who sell below 100% keystone. Contact Jean Dunbabin at jeandun@qwest.net for verification.

Submitted by a retailer (originally written to her attorney)

On April 25th, I received an email from Jean Dunbabin stating that they had received numerous complaints from other merchants about my prices. I've attached her original email and my response to it to this email and have also copied and pasted it into the bottom of this email in case you can't open the file. I called Jean Dunbabin on the phone after I received her original email asking her what was going on and at that time, she said just to forget her email and that it "really wasn't a big deal". Then on June 16th, I received a phone call from a Cascade representative named Stephanie telling me that Cascade will no longer be doing business with me. I have a portion of this phone conversation on audio tape which I will send you in a wav file soon. I then sent another email (also attached) to Jean Dunbabin asking about my account and what was going on. I never heard back from anybody from Cascade even after numerous contact attempts were made and none of my in-house orders have been filled by them. We informed our customers about their Cascade orders and suggested that they call Cascade to complain. I have also attached an email from one of my customers after she contacted Cascade about the situation. I also have numerous emails from very upset customers (not attached, but available). I was required by Cascade to place a minimum initial order of $1000 to open an account with them (which I did) as well as provided them with all required paperwork (DBA, Tax ID number, references, etc.). Many man hours were spent adding their yarns to our site.

Classic Elite,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- At TNNA a retailer was told by a Classic Elite Sales Rep that Classic Elite does not sell to companies who sell below keystone.

Cleckheaton,85% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Distributed by Plymouth Yarn Company. See Plymouth.

Di.Vé,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Distributed by Jean Dunbabin at Cascade Yarns. See Cascade.

King Kole,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Distributed by Jean Dunbabin at Cascade Yarns. See Cascade.

Lane Borgosesia,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) - Distributed by Trendsetter Yarns. See Trendsetter.

Plymouth Yarn,85% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Plymouth has reportedly contacted retailers who sell below 85% of keystone. Contact Christine at Phone: (215) 788-0459

Submitted by a retailer:

I have been selling Plymouth yarns for over 2 years. Recently, a Plymouth representative by the name of Christine called me telling me that I needed to charge at least 85% - 90% of keystone price. She has called me two other times since then telling me to hurry up and make the changes. She also mentioned other merchants calling her to complain.

Trendsetter,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- Trendsetter reportedly will not sell to any retailers who do not sell at 100% keystone.

Submitted by a retailer:

At TNNA a couple of years ago, I opened an account with Trendsetter and
purchased $1500 worth of yarn. A few weeks after TNNA, I was contacted by
Trendsetter stating that they were cancelling my new account since I prefer to
sell for less than keystone. They refunded my money and never shipped me any
yarn. If I'd have known Trendsetter's policy upfront, I'd have never wasted so
much time in their booth at TNNA and would have opened accounts with yarn
companies interested in selling yarn.

Tahki Stacy Charles,100% KEYSTONE (WOM) -- TSC reportedly will not open an account with any shop who sells below 100% keystone.

Submitted by a retailer:

In response to our wholesale account inquiry, Tahki Stacy
Charles responded,

Thank you for your interest in Tahki Stacy Charles, Inc.
yarns. Unfortunately, we do not sell to discount stores.

Regards,
TSC

A Note To The Yarn Manufacturers

Welcome to the Consumer Friendly Yarns site -- we are so glad you're here!

This site was created for the knitting and crochet communities (at their request) so that knitters and crocheters can be informed consumers regarding which yarn manufacturers require retail keystone pricing and which don't. Due to the recent exposure in the media and on the internet regarding the issue of keystone pricing within the yarn industry (specifically with the Tilli Tomas/Sarah's Yarns issue), knitters and crocheters have expressed their opinions regarding the practice of keystone pricing and many have chosen to buy only consumer-friendly yarns (those yarn manufacturers who do NOT require a specific mark-up of their yarns, whether it be 100%, 90% or any percentage of keystone) and have requested a list of "friendly" and "unfriendly" yarn manufacturers.

Our mission on this site is to accurately report the keystone pricing policies of all yarn manufacturers (large and small) and to be a reliable resource for the knitting and crochet communities to refer to before they make yarn purchases. If you (as a yarn manufacturer) notice that we have inaccurately reported your keystone policies, or if you have changed your policies recently, PLEASE contact us immediately and we will update our site accordingly.

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 (be sure to read the listener comments)
• Cast-On Podcast
• Sexy Knitters Club website
• 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