When most people picture cone yarns, they imagine industrial knitting machines humming away in busy factories. And yes — that’s where many cones begin their journey. But at That Yarn, we see them differently. A cone of yarn isn’t just a tool for machines; it’s a treasure waiting to be transformed in the hands of a maker.
From Factory Floor to Maker’s Table
Cone yarns are often part of luxury surplus yarn — high-quality fibers left over from large-scale production. In the past, these might have sat in storage or, worse, gone to waste. By rescuing and curating them, we give each cone a second life, turning what was once industrial stock into part of an artisan yarn curation.
Why Makers Love Cones
A cone offers something that skeins and balls rarely match:
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Length & Consistency – No need to join new yarn every few rows; you can knit or weave for hours uninterrupted.
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Quality at Scale – Because these yarns were made for professional work, the spinning is consistent, the dyeing is meticulous, and the fibers are often exceptional.
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Sustainable Crafting – Working with curated yarn from surplus stock means giving value to materials that already exist, reducing demand for new production.
Not Just for Knitting Machines
Cone yarns adapt beautifully to handcrafts:
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Hand Knitting – Wind a cone into balls or knit straight from the cone.
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Weaving – Perfect for warp or weft, thanks to their even tension.
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Crochet & Macramé – Fine control over yardage makes cones ideal for intricate designs.