If you’re a beginner at crochet, it can be completely overwhelming trying to figure out which yarn to choose. There are many beautiful yarn options on the market full of beautiful textures and colors, but if you pick the wrong one for your project, it won’t turn out well.
With so many choices out there, you want to make sure you choose the right one. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know about crochet yarn. We will also give our recommendations for the best crochet yarn.
Best Yarn for Crochet
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1. Red Heart Soft Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Red Heart
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Acrylic
Skein Weight: 5 oz / 141 gram solid colors – 4 oz / 113 gram multis & heathers
Yards: 256
Knitting Gauge: 17sts – 23 rows with 5mm (US 8) needle
Crochet Gauge: 12sc – 15 rows with 5.5mm (US I/9) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine washable
The best acrylic yarn for crochet is the Red Heart Soft Yarn.
This is an incredibly soft worsted weight yarn that can be used to make just about anything.
You can use this yarn to make garments, blankets, hats, scarves, cowls, baby items, and more.
It is machine washable so it’s very easy to care for.
With 40 lustrous color options to choose from, you can find the perfect shade for your next project.
2. Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Butta Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Lion Brand
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Polyester
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 218
Knitting Gauge: 18sts – 26 rows with 4.5mm (US 7) needle
Crochet Gauge: 16sc – 19rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry
The Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Butta Yarn is a 100% polyester yarn that is designed to feel ultra-soft and velvety against your skin.
This makes it perfect for making garments and accessories for babies or adults.
They have a good selection of pastel colors and darker colors to choose from.
The yarn is also pretty easy to work with so you shouldn’t have a problem getting started with it if you are new.
3. Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball
Product Features
Brand Name: Bernat
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 100% Polyester
Skein Weight: 10.5 oz / 300 grams
Yards: 220
Knitting Gauge: 8sts – 13 rows with 8mm (US 11) needle
Crochet Gauge: 8sc – 8 rows with 6.5mm (US K) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry (low heat)
If you’re looking for a soft and thick chenille yarn for your crochet projects, the Bernat Baby Blanket Big Ball Yarn is a great choice.
This yarn is a luxuriously soft chenille type yarn that is tested and certified as safe for a baby’s skin. This makes it perfect for baby projects like blankets and garments, but you can also use it for adult projects too when you want something ultra-soft.
The pastel color selection is really cute but they don’t really have any darker colors if you’re looking for a certain shade.
It is machine washable and dryable but it’s important to note that you should use a low heat setting only.
4. Patons Classic Wool Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Patons
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Wool
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 210
Knitting Gauge: 20sts – 26 rows with 4.5mm (US 7) needle
Crochet Gauge: 14sc – 14 rows with 5mm (US H/8) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Hand wash, dry flat
The best wool yarn for crochet is the Patons Classic Wool Yarn. This medium gauge yarn is perfect for projects where you want something soft and warm.
You can make blankets, clothing, home decor projects, and more with this yarn. They have over 50 colors to choose from, so no matter what you are looking for you can find something that will work for you.
Wool is one of the easiest yarns to crochet with and this one works up very nicely.
The only real drawback with this one is that you have to hand wash it and dry flat to get the most life out of your project.
5. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Lion Brand
Weight Category: 6 Super Bulky
Material: 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool
Skein Weight: 6 oz / 170 grams
Yards: 106
Knitting Gauge: 9sts – 12 rows with 9mm (US 13) needle
Crochet Gauge: 6.6sc – 8 rows with 9mm (US N/13) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry (low heat)
The Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn is an acrylic and wool blend that is perfect for making gorgeous and warm thicker items like sweaters, slippers, hats, jackets, and more.
This yarn blends together all the best features of acrylic and wool. It is warm and cozy like wool while being machine washable and affordable like acrylic.
It’s also pretty easy to work with which makes this a fantastic option for thicker projects.
6. Lion Brand Yarn 24-7 Cotton Yarn
Product Features
Brand Name: Lion Brand
Weight Category: 4 Worsted
Material: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Skein Weight: 3.5 oz / 100 grams
Yards: 186
Knitting Gauge: 20sts – 28 rows with 4mm (US 6) needle
Crochet Gauge: 14sc – 19 rows with 4mm (US 6) crochet hook
Care Instructions: Machine wash and dry
The best cotton yarn for crochet is the Lion Brand Yarn 24/7 Cotton Yarn. This yarn is a worsted weight 100% mercerized cotton yarn with gorgeous color options and great durability.
The yarn has a beautiful sheen to the color that is designed to last through washing cycles.
If you’re making home decor items or any kind of clothing—this is a great option.
Just know that this is mercerized cotton so the worsted weight might feel differently than other cotton yarns if you’re not used to working with a mercerized yarn fiber.
How to Choose a Crochet Yarn
Types of Yarn Fiber
One of the most important decisions you have to make is figuring out which type of fiber you are going to use for your project. Working with some fibers is easier than others. There are all sorts of animal fibers and plant fibers that can be used for crochet, and there are pros and cons to each. The most popular fibers are cotton, acrylic, and wool.
Cotton Yarn
Cotton is not very flexible, which can make it somewhat difficult to crochet with for beginners. Though it’s this same inflexible quality that makes it great for certain projects. If you’re working on something where you need the yarn to hold its shape, cotton is a good choice.
Cotton is very popular for making dishcloths, towels, rugs, pillows, bags, washcloths, pot holders, and more.
Acrylic Yarn
Acrylic yarn is a synthetic fiber that is extremely common. It is very popular and you will always have a huge selection of yarns to choose from when you go for acrylic. Acrylic is also one of the most budget-friendly yarns available. It tends to be cheaper than cotton and wool.
Because of the affordability factor, acrylic is excellent for beginners. We definitely recommend your first project try using acrylic yarn. Just be careful about going too cheap, because some acrylic will have problems splitting apart. This will make it very frustrating to crochet with, so always do your due diligence and don’t just buy the cheapest one you can find.
Acrylic yarns are very durable and have the benefit of being machine washable. You can use them for pretty much anything: sweaters, hats, scarves, baby blankets, afghans, and more.
Wool Yarn
Wool fiber has a ton of benefits over other options. It’s incredibly warm, moisture-wicking, and soft. It’s also very flexible and easy to work with.
If you need practice making crochet stitches, wool fiber is very forgiving. If you make a mistake with wool yarn it’s very easy to undo and restart. For this reason, wool is great for beginners to use.
Wool does have some drawbacks though. For one, it is typically more expensive than cotton or acrylic. Some wools are also not very easy to wash and may require handwashing. Lastly, some people have wool allergies, and they find this animal fiber scratchy and uncomfortable.
Many people love to crochet with wool and it can be used to make luxurious blankets, hats, scarves, sweaters, and more.
Yarn vs. Thread
Another option instead of using yarn is to use crochet thread. Similar to yarn, crochet thread is also commonly available in cotton and acrylic options.
Thread tends to be quite a bit thinner than yarn though. And for this reason, many find it difficult to work with. If you’re new to crochet we recommend using yarn first to get a feel for it, and then moving on to thread if you so desire.
Thread is great for creating intricate and lightweight lacy projects. If you want to make a fine tablecloth, doily, and other home decor items, thread might be a good option
Different Yarn Weight Categories
Yarn comes in a variety of different thicknesses. These thicknesses are referred to as weight. On almost all yarn labels you will find them labeled with a number ranging from 1-7 that describes the yarn weight category of that yarn. Number 1 is the thinnest yarn and number 7 yarn is the thickest. Here is a list of yarn weights and their numbers:
- 1 Superfine – also called baby, fingering, and sock
- 2 Fine – also called baby and sport
- 3 Light – also called DK and light worsted
- 4 Medium – also called afghan, aran, and worsted
- 5 Bulky – also called chunky, craft, and rug
- 6 Super Bulky – also called bulky and roving
- 7 Jumbo – also called super bulky and jumbo
You want to make sure the crochet hook size you are using is appropriate for the yarn weight. Here is a chart that will show you the yarn weights and the crochet hook size you should be using.
For beginners, worsted weight yarn tends to be the easiest to work with. If you are following a specific pattern though, you will want to use the same weight that the pattern recommends.
Reading Yarn Labels
Weight (Ounces/Grams)
On the yarn label, you will find information about how many ounces or grams of yarn your ball or skein is. The yarn can be anywhere from .35 ounces / 10-gram mini balls to 11.5 ounces / 326-gram large skeins. Anywhere in between or even larger.
There isn’t really a standard in terms of size. Many are commonly 3.5 ounces / 100 grams. But you can find a wide range of weights. It’s important to pay attention to this so you know how much yarn you are getting.
Yards
Each ball of yarn will also vary in the number of yards the ball has. This can help you compare with other yarns to figure out how much you are getting. It can also help you figure out how much yarn you will need for different projects.
Dye Lots
When fiber is dyed to make the colors for yarn, it is usually done in large batches which are referred to as a “dye lot”. If you’re making something that requires many balls of yarn, you will want to make sure they come from the same dye lot, because otherwise, the color could vary a little bit from one ball to the next. Yarns in the same dye lot will always be the exact same color.
This is why when you are ordering online it is best to buy as much as you need the first time around. If you buy again because you ran out of yarn, you may have to contact the company to make sure you get from the same dye lot. Save the label or take a quick picture with your phone so that you know what your dye lot number is for your yarn.
Hook and Needle Sizes
Most yarns will also have the appropriate needle size and crochet hook size on the label. They also have information about the gauge of the stitches and rows that that hook or needle should give you. This can be useful if you are new to crochet and don’t know what size equipment you will need.
Care Instructions
You will also find information about the washing instructions of the yarn on the label. This is important because every yarn has different care instructions. Some will be machine washable, but some aren’t. This is something you probably want to think about ahead of time for your project. You will need to decide if having a machine washable yarn is a dealbreaker or not before choosing your yarn.
Crochet Yarn Questions
What Yarn is Best for Crochet Beginners?
Worsted weight wool yarns are best for crochet beginners. Worsted weight is the easiest to crochet with. Wool yarn and wool blends also tend to be very easy to work with and very forgiving. If you make a mistake with wool it is very easy to undo and start over.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Scarves?
The best crochet yarn for scarves depends on a couple of things. For one is the weather and two is whether the person wearing it has wool allergies. We like the Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn for scarves because it’s easy to use and makes for gorgeous scarves.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Hats?
For crochet hats, you want to choose a soft yarn that is a little bit flexible. Worsted weight or chunky wool or wool blend yarns make good hats. You can also use acrylic if you don’t want to spend the extra money on wool or find wool scratchy.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Amigurumi?
Light Worsted or worsted weight acrylic and cotton yarns are best for crochet amigurumi. These will allow you to make the tight stitches required of these cute little dolls. If you want to learn more read our guide on choosing the best amigurumi yarn.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Socks?
Cotton or polyester tends to be the most popular yarn for crochet socks. If you want something to keep your feet warm in the winter, a thicker option is better. You can also use wool if you need something to keep your feet warm.
For the warmer months, a thinner yarn is best. They also have a specific kind of yarn designed for socks called “sock yarn” if you’re unsure of what to use. Look for these when you are shopping for something to use.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Sweaters?
Our favorite yarn for crochet sweaters is again the Lion Brand Yarn Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn. If you want a thick and beautiful sweater this is a good choice, but if you’re somewhere where the weather is warm you may not want to use something so thick.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Blankets?
For crochet blankets, we recommend choosing something in between 4 worsted weight and 6 super bulky weight. It will depend on if you want something soft and lightweight, or thick and warm. Chenille style yarns make for good blankets, but if you want something for cold winters a good wool yarn is always a good choice too.
If you’re making a crochet baby blanket you will also want to consider something that will feel good against a baby’s sensitive skin. Read our guide on the best baby blanket yarn.
What is the Best Yarn for Crochet Rugs?
For a crochet rug, we recommend using either cotton or acrylic yarn. For more info read our full guide on the best crochet rug yarn.
Best Crochet Yarn Brand
With three of our top spots going to Lion Brand Yarn—it’s easy to see that we think this is one of the best yarn brands for crochet. But you can find good yarns across many brands. Some of our favorites are smaller relatively unknown brands, so don’t be afraid to try a yarn if it’s not a well-established name. It’s always fun to try new things.
Closing Thoughts
There are many things you need to consider when choosing a crochet yarn. The best way to approach choosing a yarn is to figure out which yarns work best for whatever you are making and find a good yarn within your budget.
As you continue to develop your crochet skills eventually you’ll know exactly what to look for in a yarn, and things won’t be so challenging.
