Founded in 1880 by brothers Tom and Henry Harrap in West Yorkshire, Sirdar has grown from a local wool seller into an iconic British hand-knitting brand. Known for high-quality yarns, they relocated to Bective Mills in Wakefield in 1890, where they remain today. The brand, meaning “leader,” pioneered fashion-led knitting patterns in the 1930s.
Key Historical Milestones
- Foundation (1880s): Harrap Brothers began in Ossett, West Yorkshire, selling yarn to the hosiery and fabric trade.
- Move to Bective Mills (1890): The company moved to Alverthorpe, Wakefield, which remains its home.
- The “Sirdar” Name: The brand name was adopted under Fred Harrap (Tom’s son) in the early 20th century, inspired by Lord Kitchener, the “Sirdar of the Egyptian Army,” signifying leadership.
1930s
- Pattern Expansion (1930s): In 1934, Sirdar began producing its own knitting patterns, solidifying its reputation for trend-led designs.
1940’s
- Wartime “Make Do and Mend” (1940s): Sirdar became a key provider of patterns and wool during the 1940s, encouraging fashionable yet frugal knitting during WWII.
1960-1980’s
- Mid-Century Success: The 1960s–80s saw significant growth under Jean Tyrrell (Miss Harrap). Mrs Jean Tyrrell, was Chief Executive of the company during the 1950s and 1960s and secured the company’s first editorial features in women’s fashion magazines. who revolutionized the design team and boosted profits.
Discover the decade that gave us British icons Twiggy and The Beatles, as well as the queen of swinging London, Mary Quant and her cool designs for Sirdar. From minis to maxis, explore the sixties styles that continue to influence fashion design.
The 1980’s saw the introduction of intarsia knitting, characterized by bold, graphic and often oversized sweaters featuring cartoon characters, geometric shapes and floral motifs.Popularized by designers like Susan Duckworth, the style frequently used brushed mohair to blend colors, creating vivid, “picture” knitting patterns without long, messy floats on the back.
- Modern Era: The company was taken over in 2007. In 2017, Sirdar was acquired by Bluegem Capital Partners to join DMC Group, alongside Rowan Yarns.
Legacy and Reputation
- Design Focus: Since 1930, Sirdar has maintained an in-house design team, now comprising over fifty designers and experts.
Rowan, Sirdar, Wool and the Gang start life on a design board as seen above. This was planning for Loveful collection and Snuggly Chunky collection that was launched last year.
The design team at Sirdar still employ knitters and crocheters who bring to life the many designs that start from the drawing boards.
Some familiar designs you will have seen around our website, including Sirdar Snuggly Replay, Sirdar Jewelspun Aran, Hayfield Spirit and Snuggly Chunky to name a few.
Signature Yarns:
Sirdar is renowned for classic, durable yarns, including its famous Snuggly baby range.
Sirdar Snuggly DK 50 colours and include also Snuggly Replay, Snuggly Cashmere Merino Silk and Snuggly 100% cotton.
https://manorfarmwools.co.uk/product-category/wool-yarn/dk/snuggly-dk
- Sustainability: Current ranges feature new recycled yarns alongside traditional natural fibers.
Sirdar Loveful is a 100% recycled eco-friendly yarn range, available in smooth acrylic DK and a gently-nepped tweed blend, both featuring Global Recycled Standard (GRS) fibres, Ideal for sustainable, durable projects, these 100g double-knitting yarns are soft, machine washable on a wool cycle, and available in various shades.
- Loveful 100% Recycled Tweed Blend DK: A blend of 40% recycled wool, 40% recycled polyester, and 20% recycled acrylic with a textured appearance, suitable for cozy garments.
- Loveful 100% Recycled Acrylic DK: A soft, smooth yarn designed for versatile knitting and crochet, providing a sustainable, durable alternative to virgin acrylics.
Loveful Recycled Tweed DK
https://manorfarmwools.co.uk/product-category/wool-yarn/dk/sirdar-loveful-tweed-recycled-dk
Loveful Recycled Acrylic DK
https://manorfarmwools.co.uk/product-category/wool-yarn/dk/sirdar-loveful-recycled-dk
Loveful Bio
At the beginning of 2026 for Spring/Summer Sirdar launched Loveful Bio, a lighter recycled yarn, in on-trend colours and pattern support.
https://manorfarmwools.co.uk/product-category/wool-yarn/dk/sirdar-loveful-bio-dk
The Future:
Sirdar continues to push the boundaries of modern yarn collections, following trends and producing quality yarns that rival others.
The acquisition of Wool and the gang in 2017 and the re-launch of Rowan yarns MODE a more contemporary version of Rowan yarns, has continued to propel Sirdar into homes as a preferred and trusted yarn supplier of choice.
I hope you enjoyed this whistle stop history of Sirdar Yarns 😊
Sarah
