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Compare textile resources.
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| Decision field | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove | Free accountFOURSOURCE Supplier NetworkGlobalRemove | Free + paidPatternReviewGlobalRemove | Open accessKnittyGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Choose materials | Source production | Find patterns & fit | Find patterns & fit |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Yarn | Production | Patterns & fit | Yarn |
| Best for | Building a substitution shortlist for a discontinued or unavailable yarn before checking quantity, availability, and a representative swatch | Searching global apparel and textile production capabilities | Finding member reports about a named sewing pattern | Free editorial knitting patterns and techniques |
| Know before using | 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. | The company count is a changing platform claim. Search fields, profiles, certificates, locations, and account access do not independently verify the legal entity, factory ownership, capability, capacity, certificate validity or scope, compliance performance, delivery, or project fit. Confirm the site and subcontracting, credentials with issuers, samples, audits when appropriate, specifications, contracts, and commercial terms. | PatternReview combines community reports, membership, education, advertising, and retail, so it is not a neutral or complete pattern index. Reviews are individual experiences rather than standardized fit tests. Confirm the exact pattern version, size range, measurements, fabric, format, errata, licence, seller terms, and current availability with the designer or publisher. Paid catalogue and search features do not establish an export route or continued access after membership ends. | Free access does not grant commercial reproduction or sale rights; uses beyond one personal copy must be resolved with the designer or author. Knitty says it tries to avoid errors but disclaims responsibility for pattern and technique inaccuracies. Check the live page for corrections, verify gauge and measurements, and confirm permission before any commercial use. |
| Practical access | ||||
| For | Makers | Apparel brands | Makers | Makers |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | Global | Global | Global |
| Access | Open access | Free account | Free + paid | Open access |
| Format | Reference | Marketplace | Community | Reference |
| Source type | First-party platform | Commercial marketplace | Community database | First-party platform |
| Account, payment, and exit | ||||
| Access scope | Maker comparing a replacement for a named yarn before buying. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Sewer reading community pattern reports, participating in discussions, or keeping a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Before an account | 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 recent pattern reviews, the review gallery, shop, classes, blog, and public help pages without creating an account. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Free-account boundary | 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. | Free membership requires email activation. The account FAQ says most participation and member-only areas require sign-in. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Payment boundary | 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. | Friends of PR costs $34.95 per year and adds advanced search, a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist, bookmarks, classifieds, discounts, and other features. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Cancellation or exit | 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. | Friends of PR recurs on its plan cycle. The account FAQ says an advance email includes cancellation instructions and also publishes an email cancellation route. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Saved work and data | 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. | Paid tools can hold a pattern catalogue, wishlist, bookmarks, and photos, but the checked pages do not establish a complete export or post-membership retention route. Keep critical records elsewhere. | Not yet reviewed at this level. |
| Source and review | ||||
| What the source establishes | 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. | FOURSOURCE's current public network page presents an operator-reported global company count and country or territory search. It says logged-in users can narrow results by compliance certificates, product groups, fabric types, target groups, minimum order quantities, and other fields, with a free-trial and supplier sign-up route. | PatternReview's current site exposes recent pattern, sewing-machine, and store reviews, forums, contests, classes, classifieds, a pattern shop, and a searchable review gallery. Its account FAQ says most participation requires a free activated account. Friends of PR adds advanced search, a personal pattern catalogue and wishlist, bookmarks, classifieds, a photo album, discounts, and other features through a recurring paid membership with a published email cancellation route. | Knitty currently publishes web-only editorial issues containing original knitting and crochet patterns and articles. Its legal page states that patterns are free for one person's personal use, identifies each designer or author as the copyright holder, and explains that verified pattern corrections are posted in bright pink on the pattern page. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 |
| Inspect | ||||
How to compare
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