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| Decision field | Free + paidHandweaving.net Draft ArchiveGlobalRemove | Open accessYarn Database EU Dyers and MakersEuropean UnionRemove | Free accountSwatchOnGlobalRemove | Free + paidThreadloop Sewing Pattern DatabaseGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Learn techniques | Choose materials | Choose materials | Find patterns & fit |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Techniques & repair | Yarn | Materials | Patterns & fit |
| Best for | Researching loom-ready weaving structures and drafts | Finding independent EU yarn or fibre dyers with off-Ravelry purchase routes | Sourcing swatches and low-MOQ fabric options | Searching current and out-of-print sewing patterns |
| Know before using | A visible drawdown is not automatically a complete, corrected, rights-cleared, or loom-compatible project plan. Full draft data and advanced tools require a renewing subscription, and historical sources can contain errors or unclear provenance. Check shafts, treadles, tie-up, sett, yarn, floats, repeats, copyright status, and WIF compatibility before committing a warp. | 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. | SwatchOn's supplier status, counts, and trust language describe its own marketplace and can change. They do not independently establish fibre identity, performance, certification validity, mill ownership, production capacity, colour continuity, delivery, duty, or commercial fit. Review samples, test data, current certificates, the contracting entity, order terms, and landed logistics before purchase. | 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 | Makers | Makers | Apparel brands | Makers |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | European Union | Global | Global |
| Access | Free + paid | Open access | Free account | Free + paid |
| Format | Reference | Directory | Marketplace | Community |
| Source type | First-party platform | Community database | Commercial marketplace | Community database |
| Account, payment, and exit | ||||
| Access scope | Weaver deciding whether viewing a draft is enough or a working WIF file and editing tools are required. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Sewer searching pattern records or organizing patterns, projects, fabric, notions, and private files. |
| Before an account | Browse the Ralph Griswold archive, download archive documents, and view draft drawdowns without a paid subscription. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Browse the pattern database, guide, designers, publications, and public community areas without creating an account. |
| Free-account boundary | A free basic account adds clipboards. Full drafts, working files, and browser drafting tools remain outside the free account. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | A free account needs no card and supports a stash, wishlist, projects, reviews, and personal organization. |
| Payment boundary | A monthly or annual recurring subscription unlocks full drafts, WIF downloads, and browser drafting and editing tools. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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 | Cancel from the account page. Renewal stops at the next renewal date, paid access remains until then, and the provider states that refunds are not given. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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 | The checked page does not explain bulk export or deletion for clipboards or contributed drafts. Retain local copies of WIF files and source material before exit. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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 | Handweaving.net currently exposes the Ralph Griswold digital archive, document downloads, draft drawdown views, basic-account clipboards, and video tutorials without a paid subscription. Its subscription page reserves full drafts, WIF downloads, draft creation and editing, color tools, profile and block substitution, arrangement, repeats, and related browser tools for subscribers. The current page states that plans renew until canceled, cancellation takes effect at the next renewal, access remains until then, and refunds are not offered. | 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. | SwatchOn's current marketplace page exposes fabrics, trims, and prints, with swatch samples, in-stock catalogue colours, low-order-quantity options, and global logistics support. The page publishes operator-supplied marketplace and supplier counts and labels participating suppliers as verified partners. | 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 15, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 11, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 |
| Inspect | ||||
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