Knitting Coast to Coast with American-Made Yarns
While the knitting industry has seen a surge in global popularity, there is a growing movement advocating for the support of local artisans and domestic production. This is where American-made yarns come into play, offering a unique blend of heritage, craftsmanship, and regional distinctiveness. From the rocky shores of Maine to the sun-drenched landscapes of California, the United States boasts a tapestry of yarn producers that cater to the discerning tastes of knitters coast to coast.
In this article, we embark on a journey that takes us from the quaint mills of Maine, through the historic textile hubs of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, across the sprawling plains of Nebraska, and finally to the vibrant yarn scene of California. Each location has its own story to tell, weaving together the threads of tradition, innovation, and a commitment to supporting local economies.
American-Made Yarns
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the agency responsible for setting standards that protect consumers, to be considered American-made and carry the “Made in the U.S.A.” label, yarn manufacturers must adhere to the following guidelines:
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Fiber Sourcing: For a yarn to be labeled as American-made, the primary fibers used in its production should originate from within the United States. This means that the wool, cotton, alpaca, or other fibers used in the yarn should come from domestic sources.
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Manufacturing Process: The spinning, dyeing, and other manufacturing processes involved in creating the yarn should primarily occur within the United States. The transformation of raw fibers into the final yarn product should take place within the country.
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Additional Materials: In some cases, yarns may include additional materials such as synthetic fibers, dyes, or other components. While it may not always be possible for these additional materials to be sourced domestically, it is important for businesses to be transparent about the origin of such materials on their labels.
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Percentage of Domestic Content: The FTC provides guidelines on how to determine the percentage of domestic content required for a product to be labeled as American-made. These guidelines specify that a product should have “all or virtually all” of its significant parts and processing done in the United States. The FTC does not define a specific percentage, but it is generally understood that a high majority of the product’s value should come from domestic sources.
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Labeling Accuracy: The label on the yarn should accurately reflect its origin and comply with the FTC’s guidelines. It is important to avoid any misleading claims or false representations that could mislead consumers about the yarn’s domestic origin.
More Tips for Finding American-Made Yarns
This is just some of the information that can be found in the FTC’s Textile and Wool Acts. As with anything, there are exceptions to the rules—it’s complicated. There are also yarn companies meeting the standards that don’t carry the official stamp, “Made in the U.S.A.”. Instead, you learn of their stories at local farmers’ markets, from a friend in your knitting group, or at your state’s sheep and wool festivals.
Then, there are those yarn companies doing everything they can to keep their mills running and support their locate economies, but source their fibers worldwide. Be sure to read yarn labels. Look for phrases like “Manufactured in the U.S.,” “Made from Sheep to Skein in ‘Area of US’,” or “Grown, Spun, and Dyed in the U.S.” if you’re looking to buy American-made yarns.
East Coast Yarns
Jagger Spun
In southern Maine, the Jagger family has been spinning yarn since they arrived in the United States from England in the late 1800s. The Jagger mill produces worsted-spun products which are smoother and less rustic than woolen-spun. Jagger Spun, which caters to knitters and crocheters, was started almost a century after the mill and now distributes yarn worldwide. Though they produce a wide range of fiber blends, their Zephyr Wool-Silk, dyed in the U.S.A., has been the most beloved thus far. It has a bit of a tweedy look due to the differences in how the fibers accept dye.
Harrisville Designs
Harrisville Designs is a woolen mill located in southwest New Hampshire—one of the very few remaining woolen mills in the country. They’ve been spinning wool for more than 50 years, but the textile tradition in the area dates back to the late 1700s. Harrisville caters not only to the knit and crochet fibers but also to weaving and knitting supplies. Their Shetland fingering-weight yarn is their most used workhorse yarn, available in a large variety of colors. The company has been in the same family since the 1800s, which, like Jagger Spun, is remarkable.
Freia Fine Handpaints
Founded by artist Tina Whitmore, Freia Fine Handpaints has been a trailblazer in the world of hand-dyed yarns. The company is best known for gorgeous gradient cakes with unique colorways dreamt up by Tina herself. Her yarns are made from 100% U.S.A. merino yarn and dyed in her large studio in Western Massachusetts. Though there are a variety of weights and iterations of the gradient cake, her most popular yarns are Ombré Sport and Shawl Ball, which is perfect for a one-skein shawl project.
Midwest Yarns
Brown Sheep Company
Brown Sheep Company, located in the North Platte River valley of Nebraska on land owned by the Brown family for more than 100 years, become a mill in 1980 under the care of Harlan and Janet Brown. Today, Harlan’s daughter Peggy Jo Wells and her husband Robert oversee the company, with son Andrew joining the team in 2015.
This family-owned business continues to support U.S. wool growers. They are most known for two tried-and-true yarn lines, Lamb’s Pride and Cotton Fleece. Cotton Fleece is a DK-weight blend of Pima cotton and Merino wool. Lamb’s Pride comes in bulky and worsted weights, and is a hearty mix of mohair and wool, making it feltable. Both yarns are considered staples in the yarn world and Lamb’s Pride has been on shelves for over 30 years.
Related: American Wools from the Great Plains
The Fiber Mill
Also in Nebraska is newcomer Kelsey Patton. She opened The Fiber Mill in 2020 alongside her yarn shop, Spindle, Shuttle and Needle, which opened in 2011. With milling equipment that dates back to the 1920s, Kelsey and her team spin custom yarns as well as her own line from locally grown wool.
Related: The Fiber Mill: How One Mill Got Its Start and The Fiber Mill: Support Your Local Wool Industry
West Coast Yarn
Anzula Luxury Fibers
The last stop on our tour of American-made yarns comes on the west coast in Fresno, C.A. Anzula Luxury Fibers is a hand-dye company that works with a wide variety of yarns. Kalliope Sabrina is the owner and original dyer at Anzula. She works with a team of 4 others to create their high-end, luxe yarns. Though the fibers for their yarns are sourced from all over the world, and the spinning happens in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, they do offer one yarn that is entirely done in the U.S.A.: Gerty. Gerty is 100% American Targhee, known for its soft and fluffy fiber. It’s a fingering-weight yarn and is available in all of Anzula’s colorways which number more than 140.
More American-Made Yarns
These are just a small handful of the amazing yarn companies sourcing, spinning, and dying yarns here in the U.S. Other favorites from across the country include Quince & Co., Hudson & West Co., Brooklyn Tweed, Mountain Meadow Wool, A Verb for Keeping Warm, and Spincycle Yarns. Not to mention the small-batch producers who sell just a handful of skeins from flocks in their own backyards.
It’s heartening to know that the list of American-made yarns isn’t limited to a few names. It’s a long list of quality yarns that we hope continues to keep growing.
Listen Now: Fiber Nation Podcast: The Black Sheep of Wyoming Wool
Did your favorite American-made yarn make our list? Please share a link to a producer we should know about in the comments below.
Originally from Iowa, Amy Gunderson lives in sunny Reno, NV. She’s been the creative director for Universal Yarn, yarn director for Jimmy Beans Wool, and all-around yarn enthusiast for over a decade. Her knit and crochet designs have appeared in most major magazines, including Interweave Knits. When she’s not dreaming up a crazy sweater idea, you can find her violining, knitting at the dog park or smashing balls on the tennis court. Follower her on Instagram as @amyyounggunderson or on Ravelry as @amygunderson.
Projects Featuring American-Made Yarns
As a machine knitter, I love “Made in America Yarns” in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for their Wool and Rayon yarn on cones. I’ve recently been experimenting with natural dyeing, and they also offer undyed wool and alpaca yarns on big cones. I haven’t purchased any of the yarns they offer in skeins. I can’t say if all their fiber is sourced in the US, but I know that it is spun here.
Hello! My company, Chelle Colorado, is a yarn producer and indie dye studio. I work with a lovely family who raise Merinos in the San Luis Valley here in Colorado to make my San Luis Valley 3-Ply, a single-breed worsted weight yarn that I dye in 36 tonal-style colors. And, I also produce a 2-ply Shetland wool fingering, sourced from a couple of ranches here in Colorado, also in 36 colors dyed kettle-style. You can see them at https://chellecolorado.com/product-category/yarns/