10/21/2026
Coming home from NY Sheep & Wool weekend, we’re so grateful for the old friends we got to hug and the new ones we met. But we also couldn’t stop thinking about those who weren’t there, and how hard it is to keep a small business going—a challenge that was very much part of the conversation.
Earlier this year, we watched an independent yarn company ask its community to shop to help it survive. We watched another beloved hand-dyed yarn company close, leaving its founder in financial need. More recently, we watched as Knitting for Olive’s founders face backlash for selling the business they built.
It left us wondering: what outcome are small business owners allowed to hope for?
Building a niche business takes years of creativity, financial risk, and personal sacrifice. Loving what we do doesn’t pay the rent, our employees, or our suppliers. Shouldn’t creating something people love come with the possibility of financial reward?
Questions about private equity, quality, and ethics are fair. But is questioning a company’s future and condemning the people who built it fair too?
There’s room for thrifted sweaters, reclaimed yarn, and affordable options for those who have a budget, but we also need to acknowledge what it costs to keep independent makers and shops alive.
We can’t expect small businesses to carry all the risk indefinitely, then treat their chance to benefit from their work as a betrayal.
We hope the community we celebrated this weekend can approach these moments with more curiosity and compassion.
The people behind the yarn deserve a future, too. 🧶
Pic: KNITTING FOR OLIVE Merino Fi*****ng and Soft Silk Mohair, both available online and in our Tannersville store.
