A couple of days ago I wrote about purchasing my first big order of wholesale yarn. I've had a chance to run the numbers and found that I will actually have to raise my prices if I can't get ahold of more mill ends. The increase comes to about $16 per yard, or $50 per cloak.
While this is OK for black, the most highly sought-after color in my line, I really don't want to raise the price that much for all of my garments.
I've noticed that the lowest-priced mill ends are coming from companies who have almost no web presence, like Pasa Yarns on the east coast. (And they are not taking orders right now while they decide whether to continue selling the yarns I need in the quantities that I usually buy: 10-30 pounds per color, 200-500 pounds per order.)
So, I turn to you, my friends online. Do you know of any mill ends distributors who are still going strong and selling cotton for $10 a pound or less?
10 comments:
What about Peter Patchis yarns?
peterpatchisyarns.com
No much shown on the website, but very helpful and will send samples of stock if you call him and say what you are looking for. Cottons as low as $4.00 per pound on possibly large cones.
I got some gorgeous 20/2 Egyptian cotton, natural, for $8.00 per lb.
Teena Tuenge
Hi, Teena,
Thanks for the suggestion. I've gotten yarns from Peter in the past. You're right. He's really helpful and what he has is FANTASTIC. Just like most distributors, though, it's been more and more difficult for him to get new yarns.
Blossom, Peter Patchis has beautiful wools in right now. Not too many colors, but are a dream to weave with. They are 5-7lbs cones. Picked up several, especially the natural color, with the intention of dyeing the colors I wanted. And a $8.00 per pound, you can't go wrong. Some are singles, some 2 plys, some thick multi plys...just depends what you want to use the cloth for.
Ernie
Thanks, Ernie!
I wish I could use wool. There are two big considerations that keep me from doing it. First, my stuff is intended for customers who don't want to handwash or dry clean. I often use the fact that cotton can be thrown in the machine as a selling point. Second, wool is tougher to keep under control for 100-yard warps. It stretches and my whole setup is designed for non-stretchy yarns. I cut lots of corners for the sake of production speed, which translates into my final price. When I've tried weaving with wool, I realize that I'd have to retool my whole setup to handle tension much more carefully.
I'll probably do it eventually, but not this year for sure.
Peter is kind of hit or miss on the cottons, 8/2, 16/2, 20/2, 24/2. He has lots, but again, it is sort of hit or miss. And most of all, he is in the next town from where I live. You should consider talking with Peter, he is a great person to do business with. He does like to support the arts and artists, so his prices are the best I have ever seen.
Ernie
I would talk to Michael at Georgia Yarn company
http://www.handweaver.us/unmercerized%20cotton.htm
he's no doing mill ends, but his first run cotton from india is in your range
Hi, Ernie,
Yes, I've gotten yarn from Peter in the past. He's great to deal with and I'll definitely be getting yarn from him in the future. There are just lots of things that he can't always get ahold of. It's a pretty bleak landscape for mill end distributors as the mills release less and less cotton all the time.
Thanks for the suggestion.
Blossom
Awesome! Thanks for the suggestion. You're right - their yarn looks great and the prices are fantastic.
I have ordered some cotton from
R&M YARNS
8510 Highway 60,
Georgetown, TN 37336
800.343.9276
http://www.rmyarns.com/
But I am still a beginning weaver, so I really can't say how they compare to others.
Hey, Krazycrafter,
Thanks for the tip! You're right, the price is exactly right for me. I'm a little leerie of their lack of confidence in the dyes, but I'll try a little order and test the heck out of them before I commit. If they work out, I'll write a post about them and their yarns.
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