Skein Sisters

Skein Sisters is Sydney’s home of fabulous yarn. We supply an exciting range of yarn, accessories, classes and more. 

We love yarn and everything about the yarn world! Skein Sisters offers a hand-picked selection of contemporary yarns from Australia and beyond. Our focus is on quality yarns made from natural fibres.

We offer a range of prices from beautiful basics to stunning hand-dyed skeins that you simply have to add to your yarn collection. 

We carry a huge variety of yarns, needles, hooks, notions, books and magazines. We’re always on the lookout for the next hot product and if there's something you'd love us to stock ... well, then please tell us! 

When you walk into our shop, the first thing you’ll notice is all the colours. There is colour everywhere! This is one of the joys of making for yourself. You can choose the colour that you love and that suits you rather than having to stick to the current fashions. 

Everyone at Skein Sisters loves yarn and is passionate about knitting and crochet. We pride ourselves on our product knowledge and quality customer service. We’re here to help you with techniques or choosing your next project, whether you’re a beginner or have a lifetime of experience. 

Meet the 'Sisters'

Skein Sisters is the product of years of planning by friends Deb McDonald and Janine Smith (Deb's on the left, Janine's on the right). 

Both grew up in homes filled with knitting and sewing. Deb's first career was in retail and fashion and textiles. She worked in stores including The Fabric Shop in Chatswood, Sydney and the Ladies Knitwear department of Harrods, London.

She took a sidestep in her late 20s into gardening and horticulture. She worked as a landscape designer for a few years and then became one of Australia's leading gardening journalists.

Her work included editing ABC’s Gardening Australia magazine, writing books and newspaper columns, and appearing at events and on radio. 

Janine pursued a career in advertising and marketing including over 10 years in a variety of roles with Network Ten television. Positions with Reebok Australia, Ogilvy and Mather, Major League Baseball and two wildly fun years running the marketing of a leading London-based casino group, made for a rewarding career. 

Deb and Janine met while working at the Foundation & Friends of the Botanic Gardens in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. They soon discovered their mutual love of yarn. 

Becoming frustrated at not being able to find the yarns they wanted in Australia plus the cost and difficulty of ordering overseas, the idea of Skein Sisters was born.

There was lots of coffee and wine drunk while they were deciding what their dream yarn store had to have! 

Skein Sisters opened in April 2017. Over five years on, it now spreads across two sites - the shop and the office/warehouse with just a few doors separating them. Deb and Janine are both so grateful that Skein Sisters has found its place at the heart of Australia's crafting community.

Everyone deserves fabulous yarn.

Meet the Team

Our team at Skein Sisters are the ones who will make your visit truly special. Linda, Jane, Olga, Nikki, Marghie, Tracey and Suzy all have a passion for making and amazing knitting and crochet skills that they love to share.

Behind the scenes we have Helen and Julia plus our online team - Maria, Isobel and Sarah - who make sure that your orders receive the attention they deserve.