Big Twist Yarn Now Available at Michaels

It’s been quite the year for lovers of Big Twist yarn (I’m one of them; it’s one of my favorites for using in a circular knitting machine). First Joann stores, which was the exclusive carrier of the yarn, filed for bankruptcy, then it announced the company was for sale, it sold to a liquidator and all the stores closed.

Then craft retailer Herrschners said it would distribute Big Twist, and it does still have a variety of Big Twist yarns available. I’m not sure if these are closeouts left over from Joann or new product.

Back in June, Michaels announced it had acquired the intellectual property of Joann including Big Twist yarn. And now they are selling Big Twist yarns in stores and online.

Currently it looks like they have the regular Big Twist Value and Value + (which is more than a pound of yarn in one skein), as well as Big Twist Twinkle. The site says that Loops & Threads Posh Purl is standing in for Big Twist Posh, and Cozy Cub is their substitute for Baby Bear. I never used these yarns so I don’t know if they are comparable. If you’ve got intel on that let me know!

Speaking of yarn, Michaels has expanded yarn and fabric selection in around 800 of its stores and promises more soon. The store closest to me (an hour away, though we’re getting one closer later this month!) doesn’t have fabric and the yarn when I was there last month was underwhelming. When I can see an expanded yarn selection I’ll let you know.

Hopefully this ends the saga of Big Twist yarn, and they will be introducing more of the other lines that Joann carried over time. (Hereschners, for instance, has more multicolored yarns in the Big Twist line.)

Are you excited to see Big Twist back? Have another favorite in the line you wish they’d revive? Have you seen a change in your local Michaels to carry more yarn? Let’s talk about it!

[Photo via Michaels]

Adding a bit of knitting to your fall decor is a lot of fun, whether it’s knit pumpkins or a bunch of adorable knit ghosts like these.

Knit ghosts can be super simple like this free ghost knitting pattern from Trixie Zynch on Ravelry. Using about 50 yards of worsted weight yarn, they’re worked from the bottom up and are super cute as a pair.

This fuzzy little ghost from Forest Knitting Toys is holding a pumpkin and wearing a witch hat, though of course the accessories are optional, as is the fuzzy yarn. The main yarn is chunky and the ghost measures about 10 cm/4 inches tall. It’s worked in the round.

Another fuzzy ghost in more of a Pacman style is this ghost plushie form South Stitch Girls. It’s worked in the round with bulky yarn and includes a sweet little bow you can make in whatever color you like.

The ghost doll from Edith Grace Designs has little arms and a curl at the top of its head. The body is worked flat using DK weight yarn and you could also work it in glow in the dark yarn for extra fun. The body and head are worked in one piece with the arms knit separately.

The Grim Grinning Ghosts from Susan Claudino are super cute and you can knit them in any yarn and gauge you like to make ghosts of different sizes. These are worked in the round with the body done in one piece and the arms are knit separately. The ghosts shown were knit in sock yarn, DK and worsted weight yarn. You can find the pattern on Ravelry.

Make a ghost with funny striped legs with this ghost shelf sitter design from Claire Fairall Designs. It’s worked in three colors of DK weight yarn, and the letters spelling out boo are made with strips of garter stitch sewn into shape.

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