There was a great deal of rejoicing in the needlepoint world a few years ago when Saco River Dyeworks started making Paternayan Persian Wool. But according to court records, the company has filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. News reports in apparel industry publications cite that the business has over $1 million in debt and that the company closed in early May.
This brings into question the future of Paternayan as a brand.
For us as stitchers there are several outstanding options. Here’s a rundown, with links to my reviews, of several Persian-style wools, from oldest to newest. Clicking on the names will take you to the site for each wool.
Waverly Wool is from Brown Sheep in Nebraska. This company is best known for knitting yarns. They bought the Woolmasters line of Persian wool decades ago and has been making it ever since. Woolmasters was originally a competitor to Paternayan and comes in similar colors with similar numbering.
Anahera from Fleur de Paris is a New Zealand wool It comes in hanks of 450 yards as well as 45-yard skeins.
Colonial Persian from Colonial Needle by the original spinner of Paternayan Persian Yarn, using the same process. It comes in 1/4 pound hanks with about 145 yards and on cards with 8 yards (reviewed here). Like Paternayan it is mothproofed.
Rainbow Persian from Rainbow Gallery comes on 20-yard cards. The newest of the persian wools, new colors are added often(reviewed here).
While Waverly and Colonial Persian both have three strands that are even in width, Anhera and Rainbow Persian come in single-strands.
It’s worth noting that all four of these wools come from large, well-established companies. All but Waverly come from companies that your local shop already uses for other products.
Most shops will carry or can order one or more of these wools. If you love wool, don’t despair, you have options!
About Janet M Perry
Janet Perry is the Internet's leading authority on needlepoint. She designs, teaches and writes, getting raves from her fans for her innovative techniques, extensive knowledge and generous teaching style. A leading writer of stitch guides, she blogs here and lives on an island in the northeast corner of the SF Bay with her family
My local shop owner let me know a few weeks ago that she was discontinuing PA. Sad to miss it but it had become really difficult to get colors and I was already having to look at other sources. She carries Waverly which I like, but she’s also bringing in Appleton as well.
I raided her stock for colors I use a lot in PA for my stash.