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| Decision field | Open accessYarnSubGlobalRemove | Open accessYarn Database EU Dyers and MakersEuropean UnionRemove | Free + paidMaker’s RowUnited States · North AmericaRemove | Free + paidPattern TestersGlobalRemove |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decision fit | ||||
| Primary job | Choose materials | Choose materials | Source production | Find patterns & fit |
| Also useful for | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded | No additional job recorded |
| Area | Yarn | Yarn | Production | Patterns & fit |
| Best for | Building a substitution shortlist for a discontinued or unavailable yarn before checking quantity, availability, and a representative swatch | Finding independent EU yarn or fibre dyers with off-Ravelry purchase routes | Finding US production partners | Coordinating an independent sewing-pattern test |
| 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. | 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. | The current pricing page contains conflicting prices and feature copy across plan cards, comparison rows, and FAQs; verify the amount, billing period, trial, and included capabilities at checkout. A factory profile, platform label, badge, rank, bid, estimate, message, or platform claim does not establish identity, ownership, capability, capacity, workmanship, price, compliance, delivery, or project fit. Paid placement can affect discovery. Verify the production site, subcontracting, references, samples, quality and compliance records, specifications, commercial terms, and remedies directly. | 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. |
| Practical access | ||||
| For | Makers | Makers | Apparel brands | Apparel brands |
| Location or jurisdiction | Global | European Union | United States · North America | Global |
| Access | Open access | Open access | Free + paid | Free + paid |
| Format | Reference | Directory | Marketplace | Software |
| Source type | First-party platform | Community database | Commercial marketplace | 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. | Brand sourcing United States manufacturing partners or factory seeking projects, visibility, and messages through Maker’s Row’s directory and project workflow. | 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. | Read the brand overview, plan comparison, billing FAQ, terms, and privacy policy. The checked signed-out pages do not establish public use of factory search, project management, bids, replies, or direct messaging. | 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. | A free brand account can publish unlimited projects and receive bids from premium factories. Paid brand access adds factory search, replies, and direct messaging. The pricing FAQ also describes a free factory profile with limited features and visibility; paid factory plans add project bidding, outbound messaging, higher search placement, and promotional services. | 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. | Brand and factory subscriptions recur monthly or annually, and the terms authorize future card charges until cancellation. Paid brand tiers unlock search, replies, messaging, and optional consultation or development support; paid factory tiers sell messaging, bidding, search placement, badges, and promotion. The current pricing page contains conflicting figures between plan cards, comparisons, and FAQs, so verify the exact amount and billing period at checkout. | 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. | The pricing FAQ routes brand cancellation through account settings or support and says access continues through the current billing period without a refund for the used portion. The terms say cancellation takes effect at the end of the current term or renewal term and requires a customer-support ticket; they also warn subscription users to contact support when deactivating or recurring fees may continue. | 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. | Accounts can hold profiles, projects, product details and files, bids, messages, reviews, and payment records. The terms grant Maker’s Row a broad continuing licence to user content, and the privacy policy routes removal through subscription cancellation by email. The checked pages do not document a self-service complete export, export format or timing, or what project and transaction records remain after cancellation. Keep original files and decision records outside the platform. | 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. | 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. | Maker’s Row’s current brand pricing page separates a free project-and-bid entry path from paid factory search, replies, direct messaging, and support. Its factory plans sell project access, outbound messaging, search placement, badges, and promotional services. The terms define the service as access to factories and suppliers rather than a verifier and state that Maker’s Row does not warrant factory-member offerings. | 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. |
| Linked page reviewed | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 15, 2026 | Jul 28, 2026 | Jul 21, 2026 |
| Next review due | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 11, 2027 | Jan 24, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 |
| Inspect | ||||
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