About Tim Cardy
ME
Hey—I’m Tim Cardy. Lifelong fiber obsessive, unapologetic thread hoarder, and the mildly overqualified founder of a handmade empire built one stitch—and one questionable impulse buy—at a time.
I’ve been tangled up in thread and fiber for over 50 years—and teaching for more than 30, from kitchen tables to institutions that should’ve known better. I’ve racked up ribbons in everything from felting to fashion design, built Victorian costumes that could legally qualify as architecture, and once made a doll so detailed it creeped people out (that was a win, by the way).
I even earned two advanced degrees in Historical Fashion designs and late 19th- and early 20th-century decorative handcrafts—because when you go in - go all the way!
My résumé reads like a fiber arts fever dream: yarn mills, upholstery sourcing, fashion costing at Levi-Strauss, R&D at DuPont, and textile restoration work at the Met and the V&A. Basically, I’ve done it all—except take up golf ( - who has the time to chase little balls around on a giant lawn? )
I take fiber seriously. Myself? Not even a little. Every yarn in the shop has been hand-picked, every vendor side-eyed for quality and ethics. Whether you’re nervously knitting your first garter stitch or hiding skeins in your laundry basket—we see you. And we approve.
We've Moved and brought the good stuff!
TimCardy Studio, Tudor Cottage Handcraftory, and Cardigans Kits & Yarn SB have found a brand-new home—snuggled up inside Santa Barbara’s most exclusive Bernina dealership and fabric emporium - Sew Santa Barbara. (Yes, it’s as fabulous as it sounds.)
YARN sb—Our yarn boutique, where hand-painted yarns, custom dyes, and irresistibly gorgeous knitting notions come together to ignite some serious fiber envy. Get ready to fall head over heels for every stitch.
Need a carpet or project bag with a little extra sass? Tudor Cottage Handcraftory has just what you need with our collection of upholstery, leather, and canvas fabrics.
For a touch of cheeky flair, TimCardy.com delivers witty (and sometimes saucy) imprint bags, cards, and handcrafted creations—perfect for hauling your projects and showing off your bold personality.
Can’t decide on the perfect project or need something easy to dive into? Cardigans Kits offers locally designed kits for knitting, crochet, and embroidery—designed to spark your creativity without the stress.
Ready to level up your skills? Tim Cardy is here to teach you all the tricks with sewing, pattern design, upcycling, knitting, and crochet classes—whether you're a total beginner or a stitch wizard looking for your next challenge. CLASSES!