A yarn crafted for a cause, and the partnership that’s helped us reach one million knockers and counting. https://youtu.be/DR0XIsguXdg
If you’ve ever reached for a skein of Coboo yarn, you’re already part of a story — one that began with a chance encounter at a trade show and blossomed into one of our most treasured partnerships.
Knitted Knockers founder Barb Demorest sat down with Shira Blumenthal, a fifth-generation member of the Lion Brand family and Brand Ambassador, at Vogue Knitting Live in January 2026 to share the story behind how Lion Brand and Knitted Knockers came together — and how that connection that brought Coboo to life
From a Chance Meeting to the Creation of Coboo
Barb was first introduced to Jack Blumenthal, fourth-generation owner of Lion Brand Yarns at a trade show in 2017. She was searching for yarn brands that offered a product durable enough to withstand frequent laundering, while still being safe, soft, and comfortable for long-term wear. A little over two years later, Coboo was released. At the time, Jack told Barb he thought the partnership was “going to be bigger than we ever imagined,” and that premonition rang true. With the help of brands like Lion Brand, Knitted Knockers has been able to give away over one million knockers to people in need.
It’s easy to see why Coboo is now one of the most popular approved yarns in our community. Its naturally soft fibers make it ideal for sensitive skin, and its strength means knockers can be washed and worn again and again without losing their shape.
Read the full story of Coboo’s creation here:https://www.knittedknockers.org/the-story-of-coboo/
A Partnership That Grows Both Ways
What makes this partnership truly special is that it works in both directions.
Knitted Knockers needed a partner whose yarns were readily available — in both local yarn shops and big box stores — making it easy for volunteers to find and purchase approved yarns close to home. Coboo first launched in 400 Walmart locations and has since expanded to nearly every Walmart across the country, an extraordinary achievement for any yarn brand.
Every skein also features an “Approved by Knitted Knockers” sticker, helping introduce our organization to knitters and crocheters who may never have heard of us before. As Barb puts it, “Somebody is going ‘I want to buy some Coboo because I know it’s approved’ — but it also goes the other way: ‘I’m just looking at yarn, what is Knitted Knockers?'”
We are so proud of how this partnership has grown, and so deeply grateful to Lion Brand for believing in what we do. As Shira beautifully shared, “It makes me so happy that a company like Lion Brand, that’s 148 years old, has this relationship to be proud of.”
Every stitch you knit with Coboo is part of that story.
Find Coboo yarn at Lion Brand.