Which Yarn Should You Pick for Knitting or Crochet?
Lion Brand Wool-Ease is the most versatile choice, blending wool warmth with acrylic durability for garments and accessories. Bernat Blanket suits fast, cosy throws with its chenille loft, while Red Heart Super Saver remains the value option for large projects and charity work.
For most knitters and crocheters, Lion Brand Wool-Ease is the yarn that covers the widest range of projects without fuss. Bernat Blanket is the shortcut to a finished throw in a weekend, and Red Heart Super Saver stretches furthest when a pattern calls for a lot of yardage.
Choosing yarn is tricky because the label tells you fibre and weight but not how the strand behaves in your hands, and a yarn that shines in stockinette can blur every stitch in textured crochet. We compared fibre blends, published gauge and yardage, wash instructions and what makers report about splitting, pilling and colour consistency between dye lots.
The shortlist, ranked
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn
A wool and acrylic blend that gives you the warmth and blocking behaviour of wool with the machine washability of synthetic. Stitch definition is clean enough for cables and textured crochet, and the worsted weight suits the majority of published patterns. Makers report it holds up well through repeated washing, which is why it stays a default for sweaters and hats.
Pros
- Warm without the itch of pure wool
- Machine washable for everyday garments
- Crisp stitch definition for cables and texture
Cons
- Colour range is smaller than pure acrylics
- Slight halo can soften very fine detail
Bernat Blanket Yarn
This chunky polyester chenille turns a throw into a weekend project rather than a season long commitment. The plush texture is genuinely soft and forgiving of uneven tension, which makes it a popular first blanket yarn. The trade is stitch definition, since the pile hides detail and the strand can worm if stitches are worked loosely.
Pros
- Projects finish quickly at bulky gauge
- Very soft against skin
- Hides uneven tension well
Cons
- Poor stitch definition for textured patterns
- Can worm or snag if worked loosely
Red Heart Super Saver Yarn
The workhorse acrylic that has been carrying afghans and charity projects for decades, with large skeins that cut down on joins across big pieces. The colour range is enormous and dye lots are generally consistent. It feels stiffer than premium yarns on the ball, though makers report it softens noticeably after the first wash.
Pros
- Very high yardage per skein
- Huge colour selection including variegated
- Hard wearing for blankets and toys
Cons
- Stiff feel until washed
- Not the softest choice next to skin
Caron Simply Soft Yarn
The silky finish and tight twist give this acrylic a smooth surface that keeps crochet stuffing from showing through, which is why it turns up so often in amigurumi patterns. Colours have a subtle sheen that photographs well. The same slipperiness that helps stitch definition also makes it prone to splitting if your hook has a sharp point.
Pros
- Tight stitches hide stuffing well
- Soft enough for baby items
- Attractive sheen in finished pieces
Cons
- Splits easily with sharp pointed hooks
- Slippery strand can loosen tension
Lily Sugar’n Cream Cotton Yarn
Pure cotton with no stretch, which is exactly what you want for dishcloths, market bags and pot holders that need to absorb water and take heat. Stitch definition is excellent because the strand has almost no halo. Makers report it feels rough on the hands during long sessions and softens considerably after a few washes.
Pros
- Highly absorbent for kitchen projects
- Sharp stitch definition
- Safe around heat unlike acrylic
Cons
- No elasticity, harder on the hands
- Garments made from it can sag over time
Malabrigo Merino Worsted Yarn
Single ply kettle dyed merino with the kind of colour depth that makes a simple shawl look considered. It blooms beautifully after blocking and feels superb next to skin. Being a loosely spun single, it pills more readily than plied yarns and needs hand washing, so it suits accessories more than daily wear garments.
Pros
- Exceptional softness and colour depth
- Blooms nicely after blocking
- Lovely drape in shawls and cowls
Cons
- Pills faster than plied wools
- Hand wash only and noticeable dye lot variation
Patons Classic Wool Worsted Yarn
Untreated wool that felts predictably, which makes it the standard choice for slippers, bags and any project meant to shrink into a dense fabric. The slightly grippy surface also helps stranded colourwork sit evenly. It is warmer than blends but needs careful washing, since a hot cycle will felt a finished garment by accident.
Pros
- Reliable felting for bags and slippers
- Grippy surface suits stranded colourwork
- Genuinely warm for winter accessories
Cons
- Will felt if machine washed by mistake
- Can feel scratchy against sensitive skin
What matters most
Start with fibre, then weight Fibre decides how a finished piece behaves. Wool is warm, elastic and blocks into shape, which makes it forgiving for garments. Acrylic is durable and machine washable, so it wins for blankets, kids items and anything that will be washed weekly. Cotton is absorbent and inelastic, ideal for kitchen goods but prone to stretching in sweaters. Only once fibre is settled does weight matter, and matching the pattern’s stated weight is the simplest way to avoid a gauge surprise.
Read the gauge on the label against your pattern The ball band lists stitches per ten centimetres at a given needle or hook size, and that number is your quickest compatibility check. Substituting a yarn with the same weight category still requires a gauge swatch, because twist and fibre change how the strand fills space. Crochet in particular eats more yardage than knitting at the same weight, so buy extra when converting a knit pattern to hooks.
Match twist to the stitch pattern Tightly plied yarns with a firm twist show cables, bobbles and textured crochet stitches clearly. Loosely spun singles and brushed yarns create a halo that softens everything, which flatters simple stockinette and lace but buries intricate detail. If you have chosen a pattern built around texture, a smooth plied yarn will repay you far more than a fluffy one, however nice it feels in the skein.
Buy dye lots together and plan for care Colour can shift noticeably between dye lots, and hand dyed yarns vary the most. Buy all the yarn for a project at once and check the lot numbers match, then alternate skeins every couple of rows on large pieces to blend any difference. Care instructions deserve the same attention, since a gift made from hand wash wool for a household that machine washes everything rarely survives its first year.
Side by side
| # | Model | Fibre | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn | 80 percent acrylic, 20 percent wool | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Bernat Blanket Yarn | 100 percent polyester chenille | Best for blankets | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Red Heart Super Saver Yarn | 100 percent acrylic | Best value | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Caron Simply Soft Yarn | 100 percent acrylic | Best for amigurumi | 8.8 | Check price |
| 5 | Lily Sugar’n Cream Cotton Yarn | 100 percent cotton | Best cotton for kitchen makes | 8.6 | Check price |
| 6 | Malabrigo Merino Worsted Yarn | 100 percent merino wool | Best premium wool | 8.3 | Check price |
| 7 | Patons Classic Wool Worsted Yarn | 100 percent wool | Best for felting and colourwork | 8.0 | Check price |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best yarn for a beginner?
A smooth worsted weight acrylic or wool blend in a light, solid colour. Worsted is thick enough to see your stitches, light colours make mistakes visible, and acrylic tolerates the frogging and re working that comes with learning.
Does crochet use more yarn than knitting?
Yes, generally around a third more for the same fabric area, because crochet stitches have more yarn wrapped into each one. Buy extra when working a crochet version of a pattern originally written for knitting.
Which yarn is best for baby items?
A soft machine washable acrylic or a superwash wool blend. New parents are not going to hand wash a blanket, so washability matters as much as softness. Caron Simply Soft and Lion Brand Wool-Ease both fit that brief.
What does superwash mean?
The wool has been treated so it can go through a washing machine without felting. It stays softer and more colour stable, though it also relaxes more after blocking, so garments in superwash tend to grow slightly with wear.
Why does my yarn split when I crochet?
Usually a combination of a loosely plied yarn and a sharp pointed hook. Switching to a rounder hook head or a tighter plied yarn solves most of it, and slowing down through the first rows of a new yarn helps you find the right entry angle.
Can I substitute a different yarn in a pattern?
Yes, if you match the weight category and then knit or crochet a gauge swatch to confirm the stitch count. Also check yardage rather than skein count, since two yarns of the same weight can differ significantly in metres per ball.
Which yarn holds up best for blankets?
Acrylic, because it survives frequent machine washing and resists pilling better than soft wools. Red Heart Super Saver is the durable option and Bernat Blanket is the plush one, with the trade being stitch definition.
How do I stop acrylic yarn feeling stiff?
Wash and dry the finished piece before judging it. Most budget acrylics soften considerably after one cycle, and a low heat tumble dry helps the fibres relax. A gentle fabric softener rinse is another common approach among blanket makers.
Our take
Lion Brand Wool-Ease remains the yarn we would put in front of most makers, because it handles garments, accessories and gifts while surviving the washing machine. Reach for Bernat Blanket when a throw needs finishing quickly, Lily Sugar’n Cream for anything kitchen bound, and Malabrigo Merino when the project deserves a splurge.
