The Best Places To Buy Rug Yarn (UK Edition)
Axminster rug yarn from our Core Collection
When I first set up Balfour & Co in Summer 2020, the world was a very different place. Here in London we were still socially distancing and non-essential shops were just starting to tentatively re-open. The threat of another lockdown was hovering over us- and it seemed like the perfect time to learn to weave. So when I started selling yarn and weaving kits along with my online courses, demand was through the roof. In the run up to Christmas that year we were shipping stacks upon stacks of orders every week.
But in the months since that winter, orders began to slow. At the beginning of 2021, Brexit came into force and cut off about a third of our customers overnight. Shipping costs and production costs have both increased. Selling yarn directly via our website became more challenging.
As a small business owner, I’ve gone back and forth about whether or not to keep selling our own Balfour & Co rug yarn. We tried out not selling yarn, selling yarn in just packs and weaving kits, and then finally, reintroducing our core collection of rug yarn.
Later this year we’ll be launching new colours of Axminster rug yarn, and new types of rug warp. You can sign up to our newsletter here to be notified when new products arrive, and you can browse our current stock of weaving supplies here.
And while we have tailored our rug yarn collection especially to the needs of our online course students, we’re not the only place where you can get rug yarn from! There are many other amazing stockists of rug yarn right here in the UK.
This blog is the first part in a planned series, and in future I’ll be covering the US, Europe, Asia and more. For now, read on for some of my UK favourites.
George Weil
George Weil is my go-to online source for rug warp. They’ve got a fantastic selection of linen and cotton warps, and offer discounts for bulk orders! I use their 6/6 Linen Warp and their 12/24 Cotton Warp for my rug weaving.
You can also order rug yarn directly from them over the phone when you order a rug yarn shade card.
Browse their website here.
Chunky Pure Wool from Yarn On Cone
Yarn On Cone
A great source for more natural, ecru rug yarn shades. They have a wide range of other yarns as well, including linen, jute and cotton. If you’re looking to order yarn in large quantities for quick delivery, it’s worth seeking them out.
Browse their website here
Cornish Stitch Designs
A recent discovery for me but I’m already a firm fan. Romney fleece is used worldwide for spinning into strong, durable rug yarns, but it’s rare to find as 100% pure wool. All shades are available in smaller amounts for sampling but larger quantities can be ordered over the phone.
Browse their rug yarn here
I hope this has given you an idea of where to start with building your yarn stash! Keep an eye out for the next post in this series, and our recommended suppliers in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia.
In the meantime, our rug yarn ships worldwide from East London, UK. Click the link below to browse our collection.