Frequently Asked Questions & Support

We aim to provide clear, concise answers to any potential FAQ you may have about Yarn Saver. Whether you have a question about about selling your yarn, purchasing from our collection, or simply want to know more about our processes, you’ll find the information you need right here.

What Do You Take?

As long as it is related to the fiber arts, we buy it! From big box acrylics to indie dyed silk cashmere to tools of the trade, we buy it all! We do not discriminate when it comes to brand or type. If the item is in a condition where someone can use it (ie. not dirty, not damaged beyond repair, etc.), we will buy it from you! We do not say, “Oh, this is cotton, we don’t want that” – because we sell it all as well! There is a fiber for everybody. Our personal preferences do not dictate what we purchase from sellers.

What types of Fiber and Yarn Do You accept?

We accept any and all fibers that would fit under the fiber arts realm and could be utilized by a crafter who would work with fiber and yarn. Fibers that typically will be accepted and receive payment for include:

Clean and unscented without signs of damage or wear (although we can accept some wear, we do not pay for damaged yarn)
As free as possible from obvious allergens such as fur or pet dander (you must note if the yarn is coming from an interior area where pets are allowed so we can mark the yarn as such – we do accept yarn from pet friendly homes, however; any yarn with obvious signs of pet hair or smells will not be accepted).
Labeled yarn in its original retail state will fetch a higher price than unlabeled yarn that is loose and/or knotted
Caked yarn with the tag is OK
Yarn that is unlabeled will be measured and marked, but will be paid by the gram due to the extra work involved in defining the yarn type
We do not accept donated scraps at this time; we will update on this page and through our newsletter when we are able to receive scraps for stuffing for our charitable partner. We do not pay for scraps.
All weights of yarn are acceptable from cobweb to roving and everything in between

Do You Take Novelty Pins/T-Shirts/Bags/Needles/Hooks… ?

If it is related to the fiber arts, we take it! Items that a fiber artist would enjoy such as a cute enamel pin or a tote bag with a funny joke about knitters are perfect for Yarn Saver!

What happens to yarn that isn’t sold or accepted by Yarn Saver?

If something is rejected because it is unusable, while it doesn’t count towards your payout total, we will handle deposing the items in an environmentally safe way. When we are unable to sell an item (and that is pest/damage free so it’s still usable) is given to a local charitable fiber arts group who use the yarn to make winter accessories, blankets, and prayer shawls for the local homeless community and a local school community for craft projects with students. Scraps unable to be crafted with are used as stuffing for a different group that creates stuffed animals for local youth groups.

Any yarn found with significant pest or pest damage, smells such as cigarette smoke, animal debris, or otherwise unclean, is discarded responsibly.

How does the yarn selling process work at Yarn Saver?

We handle all assessments through our online system. All you need to do is login or register for an account here at Yarn Saver, and then go to the Assessments tab. You can create, modify, and submit new assessments with as many (or as little) items as you wish! You can also track your assessment as it goes through our process.

We can buy yarn and fiber direct from you for a certain percentage of the value of the items you have. Most prefer to ship their items, but if you live locally to Connecticut, USA, we can arrange a local pickup at our office as well.

Available payout methods are as follows:

Mailed check: 20% of the batch’s total value
PayPal transfer: 25% of the batch’s total value
Store credit: 30% of the batch’s total value

We do offer cash at special events; check out our news page for event announcements!

Please be sure to read our terms and conditions thoroughly regarding assessments. By submitting an assessment with Yarn Saver, you are agreeing to them.

How long does it take to receive payment from my Assessment?

Currently, our average timeline for payout can take between 6 – 16 weeks (from you submitting your assessment, mailing it to us, the freezing process, assessing to payout), depending on the current queue of assessments (and their sizes) waiting to be processed and the size of your assessment.

Will you give me an estimate of my items before I send them to you?

Our payout percentages give you the best sense of what to expect. For online assessments (where you list your items through our system), we offer:

20% of estimated retail value for a mailed check (or cash at special events)
25% for PayPal transfer
30% for store credit

These percentages apply to items in like-new condition—think fresh from the store with intact skeins, tucked ends, and undamaged tags still attached.

If you’d prefer to skip the listing step and let us handle all the research, our manual assessment option is available at 15%, 20%, and 25% respectively. The lower rate reflects the additional time we spend identifying and cataloging each piece.

For collections under 250 lbs, we assess everything once it arrives rather than providing an upfront estimate. For larger collections (250 lbs or more), we offer an estate and business liquidation process that includes a preliminary estimate based on an inventory sheet you provide. [Learn more about that process here.]

In either case, final payouts are determined after we’ve seen your items in person, since condition can only truly be evaluated hands-on.

Will you send back items you reject? Can I take back my items if I don’t like the payout total?

Per our terms and conditions under Selling Through Yarn Saver, when you send your items to Yarn Saver, you are agreeing to release your ownership to those items once we receive them. We do not return items to sellers with an exception for certain special in-person events. Please check our latest news for upcoming events and their limited exceptions.

Should I Use A Online Marketplace/Social Media or Yarn Saver?

If you’re comfortable selling on your own through platforms like eBay or social media, you’ll keep 100% of your proceeds—and that’s a great choice if maximizing your return is your top priority.

But if the thought of photographing items, writing listings, fielding buyer questions, processing payments, handling taxes, and figuring out shipping sounds overwhelming (or just not how you want to spend your time), that’s where we come in.

With Yarn Saver, you simply hand off your items and we take care of the rest. No hassle, no back-and-forth with buyers, no trips to the post office.

It really comes down to what matters most to you: getting the absolute highest dollar amount, or reclaiming your time and peace of mind. Either way, we’re happy to help you figure out the best path for your stash!

How does Yarn Saver ensure the quality of secondhand yarn?

We go into detail about the freezing process in one of our blog posts, but here is a summary:

We take every incoming yarn through a little over a 2 week freezing process on all secondhand yarn. This means all incoming yarn is placed directly in a freezer for at least 1 week or more, thawed for 1 day, and then frozen again for at least another week or more.
After going through the freezing process, the skeins are inspected for any damage and to assess condition. This ensures that any pests are killed at all points of the bugs lifecycle. It also provides a thorough understanding of the condition of the yarn during the inspection process.
Any yarn found with significant pest or pest damage is discarded responsibly.
Any yarn deemed in good condition is packed with its own skeins into separate sealed bags and then placed in airtight/watertight totes sorted by brand. Nothing is disturbed until an order is placed or during a weekly toss of the bags to ensure cleanliness and air flow. We also keep our storage facility in pristine condition with the use of cedar wood throughout.
We still recommend that you do your own freezing process to be extra sure when you receive any kind of second hand fiber, from us or others.

Can I buy yarn from Yarn Saver if I live outside the United States?

Yes! Yarn Saver ships globally, with an exception for the EU. We are based out of the United States. Please note, shipping outside of the United States through reliable methods is costly, and we cannot do anything about the pricing we receive from our shipping partners.

Who is running this website?

This website is being managed by Christina of Finarina Designs and Pardon My Stash. You can find out more about how Yarn Saver came about and who we are here.

Didn’t find the answer you were looking for in this FAQ? Our team at Yarn Saver is always here to help. Contact us directly through our contact page, and we’ll ensure your queries are addressed. We’re committed to providing a seamless experience for both buyers and sellers in the yarn community, and your satisfaction is our top priority.