In March 2026, the team at Ida's House in Lewes went for a research trip to Cologne, Germany, intending to discover materials and equipment that would reignite their passion for fibre arts. And there, they found Ito Yarn.
Ito, which means 'thread' in Japanese, is a brand of high quality, fine and distinctive yarns and tools from Japan. Founded in 2009, Ito Yarn aims to combine innovation and tradition together in its fibre creations, hoping to provide unique materials for contemporary projects.
Interestingly, Ito Yarn is something of a conglomeration of producers, as the brand works with dozens of small, family-run workshops in Japan, helping to reinforce the dwindling nature of the country's textile industry, which unfortunately no longer has such a strong place as it once did.
By working with small workshops, Ito Yarn is able to ensure it offers exceptional products of the highest quality, while also being able to ensure that the company's actions protect the environment, animals, and people.
One of the most interesting things about Ito Yarn is that, although the yarns are produced in many different workshops, they have been specifically designed to combine together. Therefore, you can select a colour from one Ito yarn type and hold it together with another and expect perfect cohesion of colour palettes and material qualities.
This adds even more colourways than the already impressive number of hues available in the Ito Yarns - we don't have nearly all of them, as we're just one little shop in Lewes, but we've selected our favourites and those most in demand.
It also opens up a wide space of creative possibilities, with endless combinations providing a blank canvas to allow your imaginations to run wild, and truly ensure any project you complete is truly one-of-a-kind.
In terms of materials themselves, Ito Yarn is made from the standard fibre options like merino, silk and mohair, which are tried and true, traditional materials that have long since been tested and found worthy. In combination, the innovative brand has also developed yarns using paper, stainless steel and linen, which adds a whole new dimension to the brand that simply cannot be matched.
There are over 30 different types of Ito Yarn that the brand has helpfully divided into collections, which are the Signature, Tradition, Highlight, Summer, and Winter ranges. The Signature Collection is what the brand deems to be its selection of 'all-rounders', and therefore was the perfect place for us to start our curated stock selection.
Now, Ida's House in Lewes stocks three versions of Ito Yarn:
Ito Shimo Yarn
Ito Kinu Yarn
Ito Sensai Yarn
However, as mentioned before, though there are only three types of Ito yarn they are designed to combine with each other, to create a much greater set of options for you. If you need assistance with how to find the perfect combination, please contact us.
As much as possible, Ito Yarn attempts to use natural materials in order to protect the environment, as well as using renewable raw materials, sustainable fibres and recycled materials. The Japanese brand has a strong commitment to sustainability and traceability across its products, aware of its environmental impact.
You can come into Ida's House yarn shop in Lewes to see and feel the Ito yarn in the UK for yourself, and see the colours in real life. We'd love to see you! If visiting the shop isn't possible, we also offer flat rate domestic UK shipping for just £3.95.
