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| Decision field | Open accessEU VIES VAT Number ValidationEuropean UnionRemove | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove | Open accessYarn Database EU Dyers and MakersEuropean UnionRemove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | |||
| Primary job | Check standards | Choose materials | Choose materials |
| Area | Standards | Yarn | Yarn |
| Best for | Checking an EU supplier's stated VAT number and saving the dated validation response as one identity and invoicing control | Replacing a discontinued or unavailable yarn | Finding independent EU yarn or fibre dyers with off-Ravelry purchase routes |
| Know before using | A valid VAT number is not proof of manufacturing capability, facility ownership, authorized bank instructions, product origin, tax advice, quality, capacity, certification, labor conditions, or delivery; names and addresses may not be returned for every country, and temporary database outages occur. | A suggested match is a data-based shortlist, not proof that the yarn suits the pattern or maker. Yarn records can be incomplete or wrong, prices and availability vary by market, and the site uses affiliate links. Confirm the required gauge, total length, fibre behavior, construction, care, color, dye lot, accessibility, and seller terms, then make and assess a representative swatch before committing. | It is one curator's intentionally selective, off-Ravelry-oriented database, inventories change, and paid supporters can receive rotating priority placement; verify availability, fibre claims, shipping, and terms directly. |
| Practical access | |||
| For | Apparel brands | Makers | Makers |
| Location or jurisdiction | European Union | Global | European Union |
| Access | Open access | Open access | Open access |
| Format | Reference | Reference | Directory |
| Source type | Official registry | First-party platform | Community database |
| Source and review | |||
| What the source establishes | VIES is the European Commission's online VAT Information Exchange System interface for querying national VAT databases to determine whether a submitted number is valid for intra-EU cross-border trade at the time of the request. | YarnSub's official FAQ says its matching software compares gauge, texture, yarn weight and density, fibre content, and fibre qualities such as drape and softness. Discontinued yarns remain searchable as starting points but are excluded from suggested replacements, and each yarn page provides a route to report source-data problems. | The individually researched database offers free listings and sortable yarn, fibre, designer, editor, accessory, and location views; the EU page spans multiple countries and direct seller profiles. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 15, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 |
| Next review due | Oct 13, 2026 | Jan 17, 2027 | Jan 11, 2027 |
| Inspect | |||
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