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| Decision field | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove | Free + paidPattern TestersGlobalRemove | Open accessSwatch-to-Area Yarn EstimatorGlobalRemove | Free accountWoolmark Learning CentreGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Choose materials | Find patterns & fit | Choose materials | Learn techniques |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Yarn | Patterns & fit | Yarn | Techniques & repair |
| Best for | Building a substitution shortlist for a discontinued or unavailable yarn before checking quantity, availability, and a representative swatch | Coordinating an independent sewing-pattern test | Documenting a bounded sample-to-area yarn calculation when the equivalent area is already known and genuinely comparable with the sample | Structured wool education |
| 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 interface and plan description do not prove tester reach, completion, feedback quality, fit validity, export quality, uptime, support, or suitability for an established release process. Measurements and photos can be sensitive personal data. Run a non-critical pilot, review the current privacy and service terms, define consent and photo rights, test exports and deletion, and keep pattern approval and release responsibility with the designer. | The worksheet does not establish that a sample represents a project, derive the area of shaped pieces, account for construction or openings, prescribe reserve, supply typical project quantities, round to packages, verify label values, guarantee required quantity, check dye-lot supply, or replace a tested pattern amount. Yarn, tool, maker, strand count, stitch or texture, density, treatment, finishing, planned area, and supply decisions remain project-specific. | This is Woolmark-operated education focused on wool, not a neutral comparison of all fibres or processing systems. A completion badge records coursework, not independent proof of production competence, product performance, environmental impact, or compliance. Confirm technical values and local requirements against current standards before production use. |
| Practical access | ||||
| For | Makers | Apparel brands | Makers | Both |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | Global | Global | Global |
| Access | Open access | Free + paid | Open access | Free account |
| Format | Reference | Software | Stitch Authority | Reference |
| Source type | First-party platform | First-party platform | Stitch Authority | Industry organization |
| Account, payment, and exit | ||||
| Access scope | Maker comparing a replacement for a named yarn before buying. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Not yet reviewed at this level. | 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. | Pattern Testers currently offers application intake, tester selection, feedback, photos, approvals, issue tracking, revisions, a reusable tester directory, and release deadlines. The public pricing page shows a limited free plan and paid Pro and Business tiers. Its June 2026 privacy policy lists names, email addresses, measurements, photos, feedback, application history, and assignments among the data processed. | The worksheet performs visible proportional arithmetic on user-entered sample dimensions, sample yarn length or weight-derived length, equivalent area, and optional reserve. Craft Yarn Council pattern-writing guidance says yarn amounts and package counts should be recorded in instructions, and its consumer guidance ties project instructions to a stated yarn amount and representative gauge; those sources do not establish a universal sample-to-area method, project range, or reserve. NIST defines 1 yard as exactly 0.9144 metre for the secondary unit display. | The current Woolmark Learning Centre library publishes free account-based coursework with module counts, completion times, progress tracking, knowledge checks, and supporting resources. Its wool programs cover fibre science, raw-wool and yarn processing, dyeing and finishing, woven textiles, knitwear, product quality, and wastewater management for learners and facilitators. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Jul 28, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 |
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