Quince's Story

In a word (or more) Quince and Company is the result of one too many “Wouldn't it be great if…” conversations among three yarnophiles. We're two knitwear designers and an owner of a spinning mill, and we each confess to a strong bias toward natural fibers, be they soft and sensuous or rustic and sturdy. We also think businesses can be good citizens—should be good citizens—without making too much a fuss
about it.

So, we've combined efforts to create a line of thoughtfully conceived yarns spun from American wool or sourced from overseas suppliers who grow plants, raise animals, or manufacture a yarn in as earth- and labor-friendly a way as possible. We think we can have our yarn and knit it, too.

Pam Allen knitted her first sweater in high school—a stockinette stitch pullover with a crew neck. Somehow she survived the experience and has gone on to knit many more—learning something new about knitting each time. She is the author of several books including Knitting for Dummies. She was editor of Interweave Knits from 2003 -2007 and more recently worked as creative director at Classic Elite Yarns. She can knit in her sleep. Yes, really.

Carrie Bostick Hoge is a knitter, photographer, designer, inspiration scavenger, and coffee mug collector. She tinkers and works in her backyard studio, where she can see her chickens roaming free, hear the birds calling, and smell the scents of the green gardens that surround her. She loves caring for all her animals—four cats, six chickens, several hundred worms for composting, and an angora bunny.

Bob Rice got a degree in business before starting his own investment company. Now he invests in yarn — his own. About 10 years ago, he rescued a historic mill from steady decline. At this point, he can tell you just about anything you'd ever want to know about spinning equipment and fibers. Give him a scrap of yarn and he'll identify fiber, structure, and micron count before you can say the word “worsted.”

What you'll find at Quince and Co.

We offer wool yarns that are sourced and spun in the US. Known in the trade as “territory wool,” our fiber comes from Merino, Rambouillet, and Columbia-based sheep that roam the ranges of Montana and Wyoming. All our wool and wool-blend yarns are spun in a New England mill with a venerable history. By sourcing our wool in the US and manufacturing our yarn locally, we minimize our carbon footprint.

But, hey, as much as we want to promote our American sheep and yarns, we also want to enjoy the pleasures of fibers that aren't readily available in the US. We also want to be responsible for what we import. So, when we blend our wool with other fibers, we find out as much as possible where, how, and by whom they came to be. If we're sourcing a yarn from a plant fiber, we want to know if it was grown in conditions that are healthy for the soil and for those who tend and harvest it.

If we're looking for an animal fiber, we want to know if the animal was raised in a way that sustains the earth and preserves the culture of the people who raise it.

Our Patterns

We believe that all knitting is equal. Some days we crave intricate stitches on tiny needles; other times we want to plow quickly through a chunky yarn with big, round needles. Either way we're happy making something we know we'll want to wear.

We tend toward projects that are utilitarian and friendly—the sweater you reach for when you pour a cup of tea or grab the dog's leash for a walk. But we also like the precious, labor-of-love, little jewel of a knitted accessory, too—a cabled mitt, a dainty lace kerchief—you know the kind of thing.

We want your knitting experience to be a pleasure, and your project to be a success. To that end, we've written our patterns in as clear and user-friendly a way as possible. We've explained the techniques we use, added tips, and even included technical illustrations when needed.

Are Quince yarns at my LYS?

As an American company, our manufacturing costs are generally higher than those in other countries. To keep our yarns competitively priced, it helps to sell directly to you, the knitter.

The good news is that we hope, eventually, to partner with several stores across the country, and across the globe (!) In the meantime, our flagship LYS's are Knitwit in Portland, Maine, Purl Diva in Brunswick, Maine, and Loop London in the UK. As we grow, we'll post new stores that carry our yarns on this website. So check back often.

There you have it, the story of Quince and Company in a nutshell. We're a small yarn company with big plans, so stay tuned and visit often.