I Love Yarn Day
October 10
About I Love Yarn Day
I Love Yarn Day is a global celebration of all things yarn, observed annually on the second Saturday of October. In 2026, it falls on Saturday, 10 October. Founded by the Craft Yarn Council, the day brings together knitters, crocheters, weavers, and fibre artists everywhere to celebrate their craft, share their passion, and spread the joy of working with yarn.
How to Celebrate I Love Yarn Day
There is no wrong way to mark the occasion. From solitary crafting to community events, here are some ideas to get involved:
- Knit or crochet in public – Take your project to a coffee shop, a park, or a library and craft in the open. Public yarn crafting is one of the most visible ways to celebrate, and you may well attract curious onlookers who want to learn.
- Start a new project – Use I Love Yarn Day as the official launch date for a project you have been putting off. Pick a pattern, choose your yarn, and cast on. There is something especially satisfying about starting a new piece on a day dedicated to the craft.
- Visit a local yarn shop – Independent yarn shops often run special events, discounts, and workshops on I Love Yarn Day. Supporting a local shop is a wonderful way to mark the occasion while discovering new fibres and colourways.
- Teach someone to knit or crochet – The day is designed to grow the yarn community. If you know a friend, family member, or colleague who has expressed interest in learning, sit down and show them the basics. A simple cast-on and knit stitch is enough to get started.
- Share your stash on social media – Show off your yarn collection, a work in progress, or a finished object using #ILoveYarnDay and #ILoveYarnDay2026. The online yarn community is warm, enthusiastic, and always delighted to see new projects.
- Join a knit-along or crochet-along – Many designers and yarn companies run special knit-alongs or crochet-alongs timed to coincide with I Love Yarn Day. These collaborative projects let participants work on the same pattern simultaneously while sharing progress.
- Donate yarn or finished items – Use the occasion to give back. Many charities accept handmade blankets, hats, and socks for those in need. Check with local hospitals, shelters, and care homes about what they accept.
What is I Love Yarn Day?
I Love Yarn Day is an annual celebration founded in 2011 by the Craft Yarn Council (CYC), a non-profit organisation made up of leading yarn companies, accessory manufacturers, and publishers in the yarn industry. The Craft Yarn Council recognised a need for a dedicated day that would bring fibre artists together, raise the visibility of yarn crafts, and celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits that knitting, crocheting, and weaving provide. Research published in 2019 found that 97 percent of people who work with yarn feel it helps them to slow down and relax, and numerous studies have linked repetitive hand crafts with reduced anxiety, improved focus, and greater confidence.
The day is observed internationally. Although it began in the United States, the yarn community is a truly global one, and crafters in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and beyond all take part. Events range from intimate stitch-and-chat groups in living rooms to large-scale yarn festivals and shop events.
When is I Love Yarn Day?
I Love Yarn Day falls on the second Saturday of October each year. In 2026, it is Saturday, 10 October. Because the date shifts with the calendar, here are the dates for the next five years:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 10 October |
| 2027 | Saturday, 9 October |
| 2028 | Saturday, 14 October |
| 2029 | Saturday, 13 October |
| 2030 | Saturday, 12 October |
The History of I Love Yarn Day
The Craft Yarn Council launched I Love Yarn Day in 2011 with a clear mission: to create a moment in the calendar where the entire yarn community could celebrate together. At the time, knitting and crocheting were experiencing a notable resurgence in popularity, driven partly by online communities, pattern-sharing platforms like Ravelry, and a growing interest in handmade and slow-made goods as an antidote to mass production.
The Craft Yarn Council’s membership includes some of the most recognisable names in the yarn industry, among them Lion Brand Yarn, Red Heart Yarns, and Clover Needlecraft. By creating a single dedicated day, the Council gave yarn shops, designers, and crafters a rallying point that has grown year on year. Social media amplified the celebration significantly: the hashtag #ILoveYarnDay now attracts thousands of posts each October from crafters sharing finished objects, stash shots, and works in progress.
Yarn crafts themselves have a history stretching back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that fibre preparation and weaving were practised in prehistoric communities, and hand knitting as we recognise it today emerged in the Middle East around the 11th century before spreading through Europe via trade routes. Crochet, by contrast, is a comparatively recent invention, with clear evidence of the technique appearing in European records from the early 19th century. I Love Yarn Day honours all of these traditions, recognising that working with yarn connects people to a craft with deep cultural roots. You might also enjoy exploring Sewing Machine Day, which celebrates another beloved hand craft with its own rich history.
Fun Facts About I Love Yarn Day
- I Love Yarn Day was founded in 2011 by the Craft Yarn Council, a non-profit organisation representing the yarn industry.
- The day is observed on the second Saturday of October each year, meaning the date shifts annually.
- A 2019 survey found that 97 percent of yarn crafters felt that working with yarn helped them to slow down and relax.
- The global knitting and crocheting market was valued at over $9 billion in recent years and continues to grow, driven by younger generations taking up the craft.
- Ravelry, the online knitting and crochet community, has over 9 million registered members worldwide, making it one of the largest craft communities on the internet.
- Hand knitting dates back to at least the 11th century in the Middle East, with examples of knitted socks and textiles found in Egyptian archaeological sites.
Why I Love Yarn Day Matters
Beyond the pleasure of crafting, yarn arts deliver measurable benefits. Research links knitting and crochet to reduced stress, improved cognitive function, and even benefits for people managing chronic pain and depression. Community knitting and crocheting groups also combat loneliness, providing regular social contact for people who might otherwise be isolated. I Love Yarn Day makes space to celebrate all of this: the creativity, the community, the history, and the simple satisfaction of making something with your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Love Yarn Day?
I Love Yarn Day is an annual celebration of yarn crafts including knitting, crocheting, weaving, and needlepoint. Founded by the Craft Yarn Council in 2011, it is observed on the second Saturday of October and is marked by crafting events, social media celebrations, and yarn shop activities worldwide.
When is I Love Yarn Day in 2026?
In 2026, I Love Yarn Day falls on Saturday, 10 October 2026. The day is always observed on the second Saturday of October.
Who organises I Love Yarn Day?
I Love Yarn Day is organised by the Craft Yarn Council (CYC), a non-profit organisation whose membership includes leading yarn manufacturers, accessory makers, publishers, and industry consultants. The CYC also runs educational initiatives to encourage yarn crafts across all age groups.
Spread the Word
Share your yarn projects and celebrations with #ILoveYarnDay and #ILoveYarnDay2026. Post photos of your stash, your works in progress, or a favourite finished piece. Tag a crafty friend and challenge them to pick up their needles or hook for the day. The yarn community thrives on connection, and every share helps it grow.
Related Awareness Days
- Sewing Machine Day – Celebrated in June, this day honours another beloved fibre craft tradition and the invention that transformed textile production.
- National Making Life Beautiful Day – Observed in June, this day celebrates creativity and the act of making things that bring joy to everyday life.
- Fun and Quirky Awareness Days – Explore the full range of playful, participation-focused celebrations in the awareness days calendar.
Links
- Visit the official I Love Yarn Day website at the Craft Yarn Council
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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