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| Decision field | Open accessCFDA Production DirectoryUnited States · North AmericaRemove | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove | Open accessKnitting Stitch LibraryGlobalRemove | Free + paidThreadloop Sewing Pattern DatabaseGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Source production | Choose materials | Learn techniques | Find patterns & fit |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Production | Yarn | Techniques & repair | Patterns & fit |
| Best for | Building a US manufacturer shortlist | Building a substitution shortlist for a discontinued or unavailable yarn before checking quantity, availability, and a representative swatch | Learning or comparing knit structures | Searching current and out-of-print sewing patterns |
| Know before using | CFDA states that it collects basic business information but does not audit, certify, or monitor the listed facilities, and that inclusion is not endorsement, recommendation, a quality guarantee, or CFDA membership. Verify identity, ownership, capabilities, materials, equipment, minimums, capacity, price, lead time, quality systems, labor and environmental practices, compliance, references, contracts, and product fit directly before selection. | A suggested match is a data-based shortlist, not proof that the yarn suits the pattern or maker. Records can be incomplete or wrong, price bands are approximate, availability varies by country and seller, and shade-level matching is unavailable. YarnSub says affiliate status does not change suggestions, but equally rated matches are ordered by brand popularity. Confirm required gauge, total length, fibre behavior, construction, care, colour, dye lot, accessibility, price, availability, and seller terms, then make and assess a representative swatch before committing. | A foundational library, not yet an exhaustive stitch encyclopedia. | Community members add and quality-control the records, so confirm sizing, measurements, fabric suggestions, format, availability, errata, license, and purchase terms with the designer or publisher. Adding an entry to a stash does not provide the pattern files. Saved searches and private PDF storage are paid Plus features, and a listing or review does not establish pattern accuracy or fit. |
| Practical access | ||||
| For | Apparel brands | Makers | Makers | Makers |
| Location or jurisdiction | United States · North America | Global | Global | Global |
| Access | Open access | Open access | Open access | Free + paid |
| Format | Directory | Reference | Stitch Authority | Community |
| Source type | Industry organization | First-party platform | Stitch Authority | Community database |
| Account, payment, and exit | ||||
| Access scope | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Maker comparing a replacement for a named yarn before buying. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Sewer searching pattern records or organizing patterns, projects, fabric, notions, and private files. |
| Before an account | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Search a named yarn, inspect suggested substitutes, and filter by fibre and approximate price band without creating an account. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Browse the pattern database, guide, designers, publications, and public community areas without creating an account. |
| Free-account boundary | Not yet reviewed at this level. | The checked core substitution route does not require an account, and the FAQ does not offer user-entered yarn records. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | A free account needs no card and supports a stash, wishlist, projects, reviews, and personal organization. |
| Payment boundary | Not yet reviewed at this level. | No subscription is presented for the core route. Affiliate retailer links and optional donations help fund the site; equal-rated matches are ordered by brand popularity. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Plus adds PDF pattern storage, collections, saved searches, bulk editing, and other workflow features on monthly or annual billing. |
| Cancellation or exit | Not yet reviewed at this level. | There is no account or recurring plan to cancel for the core route. The newsletter has a separate unsubscribe link. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Cancel through an in-account link. Paid features remain through the current billing cycle, then the account returns to free features. |
| Saved work and data | Not yet reviewed at this level. | YarnSub does not expose an API and does not accept user-entered yarn details. Use the data-issue link on a yarn page for corrections. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | The terms say submitted materials remain yours, but the checked public pages do not explain a full export or how stored PDFs behave after downgrade. Keep originals outside the platform. |
| Source and review | ||||
| What the source establishes | CFDA publishes this as an open-access directory of United States fashion contract manufacturers with no registration required. The page supports sorting by service, product, category, and sample or production minimums. Its current notice says the application link is under repair and directs join, update, removal, and other inquiries to supplychain@cfda.com. | 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 suggestions. Result filters can exclude animal, animal-derived, synthetic, or plant fibre groups and use a subjective $ to $$$$$ price indicator. The site does not accept user-entered yarn details, individual shade cards, or expose an API. Each yarn page provides a data-issue route. | The linked tool or guide is maintained inside Stitch Authority and was checked against its current public interface. | Threadloop's official guide describes an independent, fully crowdsourced database covering available and out-of-print sewing patterns. Its search supports pattern type, fabric type, age group, body type, cup size, level, format, file features, language, measurements, availability, and other filters; members can also track a stash, wishlist, projects, reviews, and discussions. Current terms state that the free plan requires no card, paid upgrades start billing immediately, cancellation retains paid features through the current cycle, and the account then returns to free features. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | Jul 15, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 |
| Inspect | ||||
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