Frequently Asked Questions

Heirloom Fibers is inside The Crooked Spindle at 229 Mercer St, Harmony, PA 16037. See the Visit Us page for a map and directions.

Cascade Yarns, Rowan, Sirdar and Wool and the Gang, plus hand-dyed skeins from Forbidden Fiber Co. The Yarn page lists each yarn with its fibre, weight, yardage, gauge and care.

Yes. We carry addi needles, including Turbo, EasyKnit Rocket and Rocket² [Squared] circulars, along with stitch markers. See Needles & Notions.

Yes. We carry Wool and the Gang knitting kits. See Project Kits.

WIP stands for work in progress. Every Wednesday from 4 to 6 PM, bring your current project and a chair and knit with us at the shop. All skill levels are welcome, and you can bring a friend.

The yarn, needle and kit pages show the lines we carry, with the makers' own photos and specifications. What is on the shelf changes from week to week, so if you need a particular yarn, colour, needle size or quantity, send us a note before you make the trip.

We handcraft a wide range of fiber arts and keepsakes: knitted socks, scarves, beanies, and other wearables; memory bears and memory quilts made from your loved one's clothing; and custom embroidery on shirts, hats, bags and blankets, stitched on our 10-needle Brother commercial embroidery machine. Knits, bears and quilts are made by hand, one at a time.

Our knits, memory bears and memory quilts are: a real person sits down with needles, thread, or scissors and makes your item from start to finish, which is why every piece is slightly unique and why it takes the time it takes. Embroidery is the exception. It is stitched on our 10-needle Brother commercial embroidery machine, which gives crisp, even lettering and logos that hold up to washing. We set up and run each piece ourselves, one at a time.

Absolutely. Custom sizing is one of the real advantages of handmade. Whether you have a particularly wide foot, need a longer scarf, or want something sized for a child, just reach out via our Contact page and we'll work it out together. There is no extra charge for standard size adjustments.

We love custom color requests. Many of our yarns are hand-dyed in small batches, so availability can vary — but if you have a color in mind, contact us and we'll tell you what we have or what we can source. If you have a specific skein you'd like us to use, we're happy to discuss that as well.

We source quality yarns chosen for softness, durability, and longevity — predominantly superwash merino wool, alpaca blends, and nylon-reinforced sock yarns. We avoid scratchy acrylic wherever possible. For memory bears and quilts, the primary material is always the clothing you provide, supplemented with matching fabrics and quality stuffing as needed.

Each item comes with care instructions specific to its fiber content. As a general rule: hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool wash, lay flat to dry, and keep away from high heat. Many of our sock yarns are superwash treated and can handle a gentle machine cycle in a mesh bag — check your care card. With proper care, a well-made wool knit will outlast decades of machine-made alternatives.

That's the whole point of the name — heirloom quality means made to be passed down. A well-cared-for wool knit can last generations. Socks do experience wear at the heel and toe over time, but these can be darned and repaired. If something you've purchased develops a defect in the first year that isn't the result of wear, contact us and we'll make it right.

A pair of hand-knitted socks takes eight to twenty hours of skilled work. The yarn alone costs more than a fast-fashion equivalent. When you buy handmade, you're paying for real materials, real skill, and real time — not a factory price optimized to the lowest possible cost. We price our work fairly, which means you're getting something that cannot be replicated at scale.