The Truth About Big Twist Yarn: Who Makes It & Where to Buy It
There’s been a lot of misinformation floating around about Who Makes Big Twist Yarn—and let me tell you, it’s time to set the record straight.
If you’ve heard people say that Spinrite (the parent company of Yarnspirations) makes Big Twist Yarn, I’m here to tell you that is 100% false. I know because I went straight to the source and asked. And guess what?
🚨 Spinrite does NOT manufacture Big Twist Yarn. 🚨
I have direct contacts at Spinrite (I was a proud Yarnspirations Ambassador for years), and when I started seeing people spread this rumor, I picked up the phone and got the facts. So, unless they are lying to me (and you), this is what I know.
Now, let’s break it all down—who really makes Big Twist Yarn, where you can buy it, and why private label yarns are shaking up the industry in ways most people don’t realize.
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Where Can You Buy Big Twist Yarn?
For years, Big Twist Yarn has been a JOANN-exclusive brand, meaning it was only sold in JOANN stores and on JOANN.com.
But with JOANN closing, that means Big Twist Yarn will become harder to find.
Right now, here’s where you might be able to buy it:
🛒 JOANN (If Your Local Store Is Still Open) – Check your nearest location while supplies last.
🛍️ JOANN.com – Limited stock may be available, but this could change quickly.
📦 Online Resellers (Amazon, eBay, etc.) – But buyer beware!
Since Big Twist is a private label yarn, once JOANN is gone (or stops restocking), you won’t find it anywhere else unless someone is reselling it. And that’s where things get tricky.
🚨 Warning About Online Scams 🚨
I’ve seen a lot of scam listings pop up lately, especially on Amazon, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace, with people claiming to sell Big Twist Yarn—when they actually don’t have it at all.
⚠️ Red Flags to Watch For:
❌ Prices that seem too good to be true (super cheap or extreme markups).
❌ Sellers with no reviews or a bad reputation.
❌ Listings using stock photos instead of real product images.
❌ Shady websites pretending to be “liquidation” stores for JOANN.
If you’re trying to stock up on Big Twist, make sure you’re buying from a trusted seller. And if you can’t find it, check out similar yarns (I’ve listed some great alternatives below).
I’ll keep an eye on this situation and update you if things change. In the meantime, be careful out there!
Who Actually Makes Big Twist Yarn?
The label says it loud and clear: Made in Turkey. That little detail is everything.
When a retailer’s house brand is labeled “Made in Turkey,” it means they bypassed major yarn companies and went straight to the factory to get it made. That’s exactly what JOANN did.
So let me repeat it for the people in the back:
❌ Big Twist Yarn is NOT made by Spinrite.
❌ Big Twist Yarn is NOT made by Yarnspirations.
❌ Big Twist Yarn is NOT made by any major North American yarn company.
It’s a JOANN-exclusive yarn, made for them by a manufacturer in Turkey. Period.
ETA: please note some of the different types of Big Twist might be made in India or Vietnam but the premise is the same–it is factory direct.
Interested to see how many manufactures are in Turkey for yarn? I did a google search, check it out!
Does Spinrite or Yarnspirations Sell Big Twist Yarn?
Nope. Not even close.
I’ve worked closely with Spinrite for years, and they do not, under any circumstances, produce Big Twist Yarn. If you’ve heard otherwise, it’s just wrong information.
You won’t find Big Twist under brands like:
❌ Bernat
❌ Caron
❌ Patons
❌ Lily Sugar’n Cream
❌ Red Heart
And you won’t find it on Yarnspirations.com either.
I love a good detective mystery as much as the next person, but this one isn’t a whodunit. We know who makes Big Twist, and it’s NOT Spinrite.
And even if you do a Google search and the AI-generated summary tries to tell you something different—it’s FALSE! Seriously, I went straight to the source, asked the company directly, and they told me NO, they do not make Big Twist Yarn.
🔹 Moral of the story? Don’t believe everything you read on the internet (except this. LOL).
If you ever need real answers about yarn, I’ve got you covered. 😉
What Yarns Are Comparable to Big Twist?
If you love Big Twist Value or Big Twist Soft, but want some alternatives, here are a few solid options:
Comparable to Big Twist Value (Budget-Friendly Acrylic)
🧶 Red Heart Super Saver (Yarnspirations) – A classic, durable, and budget-friendly option.
🧶 Loops & Threads Impeccable (Michaels) – Private label yarn from Michaels with a similar feel.
🧶 Premier Basix (Premier Yarns) – Affordable, soft acrylic in tons of colors.
🧶 Bernat Super Value – Bernat Super Value yarn is a premium worsted weight yarn.
🧶 Herrschners Worsted Yarn – Affordable, soft acrylic in tons of colors.
🧶 Herrschners Worsted 8 Heathers – (I love this yarn!) VERY soft acrylic with great drape.
🧶 WeCrochet Brava Yarn – Great colors, soft touch, love this yarn!
🧶 WeCrochet Brava Tweed – Same wonderful yarn with tweed effect.
Comparable to Big Twist Soft (Drapey & Silky Acrylic)
🧶 Caron Simply Soft – Silky and lightweight, very close in texture.
🧶 Red Heart Soft – Smooth and Silky worsted weight yarn with wonderful drape and shine.
🧶 WeCrochet Gloss Worsted – Up your crafting with some affordable Merino Wool + Silk.
You might notice that some of these comparable yarns are private label brands too (like Loops & Threads from Michaels and I Love This Yarn! from Hobby Lobby). That brings me to an important industry trend that I think every yarn lover should know about.
Here are some fun patterns you might like that use these yarns:
– Peak Serenity Knit Shawl – One Ball Project and Free Pattern
– Moonlit Path Crochet Mosaic Hat – Free Pattern and Tutorial
– Amanda Woods Cocoon Cardigan – Great for Unforgettable
– Autumn Breezes Crochet Hat – free pattern with video tutorial
– Falling Leaves Knit Hat – free pattern with video tutorial
– Garden Party Crochet Cardigan – free pattern *BiCrafty Community Favorite!
How Private Label Yarn Impacts the Yarn Industry
Alright, let’s talk about private label yarns and why they matter.
Big retailers like JOANN, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart all have their own house-brand yarns. Instead of buying from established yarn companies (like Spinrite, Lion Brand, or Premier Yarns), they go straight to the factories and have their own versions made.
🔹 Why do they do this?
➡️ It’s cheaper for them.
➡️ They don’t have to rely on name brands.
➡️ They can price it lower than the big yarn companies.
Sounds great, right? Not so fast. Here’s where it starts to hurt:
1️⃣ It Cuts Out Established Yarn Brands. Retailers are ordering less from major yarn companies because they’re pushing their own yarns instead. That means we see fewer new yarns, fewer innovations, and sometimes even discontinued favorites.
2️⃣ It Undercuts Pricing. Private label yarns are often priced just below similar yarns from big brands. That might be great for your wallet, but it makes it harder for established companies to compete.
3️⃣ It Replaces Best-Sellers. Big Twist Value is basically JOANN’s version of Red Heart Super Saver. Loops & Threads Soft & Shiny? That replaced Caron Simply Soft at Michaels. It’s a strategy we see again and again: they copy a best-seller, introduce their version at a lower price, and then suddenly, the original is gone from the store.
Final Thoughts: The Real Truth About Who Makes Big Twist Yarn
I know the world of yarn can feel overwhelming—especially with so much wrong info out there. But if you’ve made it this far, you now have the facts about Big Twist Yarn:
✅ Big Twist is a JOANN-exclusive brand, made in Turkey.
✅ Spinrite and Yarnspirations do NOT make Big Twist Yarn.
✅ JOANN buys it directly from a manufacturer (possibly to cut costs).
✅ Private label yarns are changing the industry—sometimes at the expense of established brands.
So next time you see someone saying that Big Twist is a Yarnspirations or Spinrite product, feel free to send them this blog post. Let’s keep our yarn community informed with real facts, not rumors.
And if you ever have a burning yarn question, you know where to find me. I’ve got the industry connections, and I’m always happy to get you the truth straight from the source.
💕 Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird
Categories: Uncategorized, Yarn Review
Well many are also made in India.
Yes, there are factories in India too 🙂
Now that Joann’s is closing. Is there anyway to buy the big twist yarn form the company it self
If another company wants to contact the factory and try to develop a yarn that is just like the Big Twist brand that is always a possibility.
I knew Spinrite didn’t manufacture it as I also saw it was made in Turkey, they are in Canada. My hope was that Big Twist caught another company’s attention and would buy it from the liquidator. RIP Joann
Thank you for checking the origins of Big Twist yarn. Personally, I did not use it, because my go-to-yarn is Red heart Super Saver. But many of my online friends are having a meltdown about the loss of Big Twist Yarn.
Sincerely,
Sandra
Thank you for the research!! Honestly, it’s not like I’ll stop crocheting or knitting just because some brands are discontinued… there are many great yarns out there, at all different price points.
Thanks for the clarification!
Please don’t compare big twist to those stiff economy acrylics or the ones with no body . Although I don’t often use economy acrylic anymore I think mainstay comes closest. Bravo is not an economy acrylic. There really isn’t anything that comes close to value and color availability so I can understand the void in the market.
I would disagree with you. The softness that the Herrschners Worsted 8 Heathers has is comparable to the basic Big Twist Yarn. And side note: did you know that when Super Saver was developed it was made to be “scratchy” to compete with the wool yarn market? It was one of the first acrylic yarns made available and in order to convince knitters and crocheters to work with it, the company made the yarn feel like wool. Mainstay yarn…it would surprise you who makes that yarn. You should look it up.
Thank you Marly for that information. I enjoy your youtube channel. You are the one I watch when I started watching YouTube.
Thanks Marly so very much for your YouTube video and this blog regarding JoAnn’s closings and the truth about the manufacturer of their Big Twist yarns. I have avidly used Big Twist yarns for many years and am devastated with JoAnn’s stores closings. Thanks also for sharing the pros and cons of private label yarns and for your list of yarn alternatives. I think I will choose Caron’s Simply Soft and Premier Yarns for future crochet projects.
So when Joann’s is gone, the manufacturer in Turkey that makes Big Twist yarn is out of business or finds another company like Joann’s to buy their yarn and put it out with a new name on the label. Kind of a sneaky way to stay in business.
The factory in Turkey manufactures more yarn than just the JOANN private label yarn. They work with all the yarn companies around the world. It is not uncommon to have a yarn come from a factory that is sold under two or more different labels by different companies. Have you ever noticed that a yarn from one company looks REALLY SIMILAR to another yarn by a different company? They are all buying the yarn from the same place. Good example of this phenomenon is when the loop yarn came out…how many companies had the exact same yarn?