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Where to Buy Deadstock Wool in the US: A Mender's Sourcing Guide
A US sourcing guide to deadstock wool for menders: named online shops, mill stores, by-the-pound scrap options, shipping rules and sweater mending tips.
Where to Buy Deadstock Wool in the US: A Mender's Sourcing Guide
What to take away
- Deadstock wool reaches US buyers through mill overruns, canceled orders and fabric jobbers, sold by the yard or the pound.
- Queen of Raw, FabScrap, Fabric Mart and Pendleton's Woolen Mill Store are named sources with US shipping.
- Remnant bundles and one-pound scrap boxes suit menders who need small amounts, not full bolts.
- US flat-rate shipping and free domestic thresholds are the main advantage over cross-border ordering.
What deadstock wool means for menders
Deadstock is fabric that a mill, brand or factory never sold at full price. It can sit in a warehouse for years before a jobber lists it. Wikipedia defines deadstock as leftover or unsold inventory.
The term covers wool coating, suiting, flannel and sweater knits. Wool fibers vary by breed, crimp and spin, which changes how a strand behaves in a repair. Fine merino darns differently than coarse lambswool. Wool's structure and types explain those differences.
Example: matching darning wool to a moth hole
A moth hole in a thin merino crewneck needs a fine two-ply wool that matches the original gauge. A heavy lambswool coat takes a thicker strand. Darning works best when the patch yarn matches the weight of the surrounding fabric, as the darning technique describes. A one-ounce skein of mending wool can cover several small holes.
Test the match on a hidden seam before you work on the visible area.
Online deadstock wool shops that ship in the US
| Shop | Base | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Queen of Raw | New York | Wool suiting, coating and knit deadstock, by the yard |
| FabScrap | Brooklyn and Philadelphia | Recycled wool blends and remnants, by the pound |
| Fabric Mart | Pennsylvania | Wool flannel, gabardine and coating, by the yard |
| Mood Fabrics | New York | Wool coating, crepe and suiting, by the yard |
To order from these shops:
- Check the fiber content and weight before buying.
- Request a swatch if the listing does not state the ounce weight.
- Confirm the shipping method and any minimum order.
Some deadstock wool arrives with mill stamps or chalk marks. A cold wash and a gentle soak usually removes them before you cut.
Mill stores and regional wool outlets
Pendleton's Woolen Mill Store in Portland, Oregon, sells Pendleton wool fabric and remnant cuts. The Woolery in Frankfort, Kentucky stocks darning wool, mending yarn and wool roving. Harrisville Designs in Harrisville, New Hampshire sells wool yarn and woven wool goods. Brown Sheep Company in Mitchell, Nebraska sells mill ends and yarn.
Call ahead, because mill store hours and remnant stock change. Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney, Vermont sells wool yarn by the skein.
Scraps, remnants and by-the-pound options
FabScrap sells sorted scrap by the pound from its Brooklyn and Philadelphia warehouses. SCRAP in San Francisco and the Resource Exchange in Philadelphia sell donated fabric, including wool scraps.
Thrift stores such as Goodwill and Salvation Army sell wool sweaters that can be unraveled for mending yarn. Estate sales and church rummage sales often price wool sweaters at a few dollars. Call ahead to confirm whether a reuse center has wool in stock.
Shipping costs and delivery rules for US buyers
Most US shops send orders by USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground. Free shipping thresholds commonly sit between $50 and $100. FabScrap ships from Brooklyn and Philadelphia, Queen of Raw from New York, and Pendleton's mill store from Portland.
Canadian buyers in Vancouver or Toronto cannot use US flat rates, local pickup or domestic return labels. For named suppliers, opening hours and minimums north of the border, see the Vancouver and Toronto wool sources guide. Ask whether the shop uses a poly mailer or a box, because wool can snag on rough paper.
