Many people are under the impression that knitting is a hobby for seniors and the older generation, but that is further from the truth.
Today, the number of knitters within the 25-35 has reached new levels, with Etsy helping to turn an entire generation onto the joys of crafting.
Knitting is among the beautiful simple crafts which leaves you with lasting results and is easy to pick at any age. You can whip up everything, from simple clothing, scarves, mitts to baby caps in a matter of days or weeks, but you’ll need to right yarn to make it.
But who would have thought it would be so hard to choose a yarn? Not me!
See, I love all kinds of yarn. And while I’m not the picky type, picking the right yarn is always trouble for me, although my mom almost made all of my clothes when growing up.
Understandably, it’s nothing to feel ashamed about as I’ve come to learn there’re more yarn options than the color shades or yarn types.
We are aware that identifying genuine-quality and practical craft products is challenging, especially for beginners.
And since we want you to have the most fun possible on your knitting adventure, we’ve scoured the internet for the brightest, bounciest, and easiest-to-handle yarn to help you create striking projects you’ll keep for a year.
Table of Contents
- 1 Table of Contents
- 2 Quick Comparison Table!
- 3 The Best Knitting Yarns For The Money
- 4 #1 Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn - EDITOR'S CHOICE
- 5 #2 Red Heart Scrubby Yarn - Best Cotton Alternative
- 6 #3 Premier Yarn Cotton Fair Solid Yarn - Value Option
- 7 #4 Homemoda Studio Non-Mulesed Chunky Wool Yarn - Value Option
- 8 #5 Dirunen Merino Wool Yarn Big Chunky Yarn Super Wool - Heavy Duty Option
- 9 Best Knitting Yarns Buying Guide
- 10 Wrap Up: Our Choice
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table!
The Best Knitting Yarns For The Money
#1 Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn - EDITOR'S CHOICE
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn is one of the well-known and hard-wearing cotton yarns. This yarn is commonly known as the kitchen cotton because it’s often used for washcloths and dishrags.
Originally, Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn was under Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., and while the yarn is still around, the brand was discontinued. Today, Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn is produced under Sprinrite, the brains behind the popular Lily Sugar’N Cream.
Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn is often compared to the Lily Cream, but knitters who have worked with both can tell the difference.
It’s easy to tell the Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn by squishing the balls, and it seems like this yarn is softer and easier to knit.
In the least, it’s a more pleasant yarn because it doesn’t come with the rough feeling on your hands.
Away from softness, this yarn also has plenty of other desirable properties, including strength and versatility; it’s a great all-around option for use on various projects.
Performance-wise, the four plies of cotton spun tightly makes the yarn easy to use, while the Peaches’ added softness makes the knitting experience it a little more pleasant.
As with any other cotton yarn, the stitches on the Peaches & Crème Yarn are slightly uneven, but it doesn’t pose any challenge with splitting while knitting. You’ll love how the needle will find its way between as opposed to through the strands.
Even upon a sampling of the bright yellow yarn, users also love that the yarn doesn’t come with noticeable dye release.
Peaches & Crème, a multi-functional use, could be a great choice for the traditional kitchen cotton uses such as dishcloths and washcloths. It also makes a perfect option for making napkins because it’s so soft.
The softness also makes the Peaches & Crème an inspiring option for projects you’d like to knit with cotton yarn.
And because it’s such a great value yarn, Peaches & Crème can also be used for larger projects without digging into your pockets too much.
Overall, Peaches & Crème is a fantastic all-around yarn that you’ll turn for basic knitting and more.
And if you’re obsessed with knitting dishcloths as I am, the Peaches & Crème come complete with a free pattern to get started.
Pros
- Ultra-soft
- Easy to use
- Versatile
Cons
- Runs a bit expensive
#2 Red Heart Scrubby Yarn - Best Cotton Alternative
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Red Heart Scrubby Yarn is 100% polyester yarn and was developed to replace cotton yarn when making washcloths or dishcloths.
Make no mistake; cotton yarns make the best crafts out there. However, if you’ve used traditional cotton, you may have found that after using it for a little while, it starts to get a smell and runs “sour.” For the most part, the smell happens because cotton takes a long time to dry.
This is not the case with Scrubby because it is made of polyester. Polyester dries quickly and doesn’t get the moldy smell.
Performance-wise, it’s not any different from cotton because you’ll still get the strength and softness of cotton. Plus, the polyester yarns tend to last for a long time because you don’t have to discard them after they start to smell.
Scrubby is unique for several reasons. First, it has an extra fiber sticking out along the yarn. Combined with the added texture, it makes this yarn a wonderful option for picking up the dirt you’re trying to clean.
Now, depending on your skin type and sensitivity, Scrubby is a textured yarn, meaning it might be a little rough for cleaning and exfoliating. While some users feel it’s scratchy and harsh, there’re the users who use the yarn to make their face cloths. In my opinion, though, this yarn isn’t as soft as cotton and doesn’t have much drape.
When it comes to the looks, Scrubby has a neat look, thanks to the texture, resembling a fun-fur yarn. Plus, it comes in 27 colors, including solids and prints and a sparkly variety with 12 more colors-plenty of options.
However, Scrubby isn’t the most user-friendly yarn. As far as being difficult to use, I would rank it slightly above the furry yarns. While it’s thinner than other furry yarns, I find it still pretty challenging to use. For the best knitting performance, it would help you work in between the stitches rather than into the stitches themselves.
The good news is Scrubby is machine washable and gets good points for that.
Overall, the Red Heart Scrubby is an awesome yarn, and I find the texture cool for making household items. Though it’s challenging to use and expensive for the yardage, it’s still a fantastic option for washcloths and other projects.
Pros
- Doesn’t smell
- Reliable
- Strong
Cons
- Challenging to use.
#3 Premier Yarn Cotton Fair Solid Yarn - Value Option
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Okay, back to the cotton yarns; third on our list is known as Cotton Fair, a product by Premier Yarns.
It’s a sport weight yarn consisting of a cotton acrylic blend. In it, you get 317 yards in a 100-gram ball.
As with the Red Heart Scrubby, the Premier Cotton Yarn is machine washable but not tumble dry.
It’s equally a solid and neat product, coming with 28 different colorways, some solid and other variegated.
Unlike the traditional cotton yarns, Premier Solid Yarn is great to work with and rarely splits. It also has generous yardage and holds up well in the wash.
Despite not being 100% cotton, I find the Premier Solid Yarn beautiful and ultra-soft- much softer than the pure cotton yarns. In particular, we loved the nice, tight twists, which improved the overall stitch definition, meaning it’s less likely to split when knitting.
The acrylic/cotton blend is also welcome, as it combines the lightweight feel of cotton and the absorbency of acrylic.
The material blend is particularly welcome for users with hand mobility issues like arthritis or carpal tunnel. See, pure cotton lacks elasticity whatsoever, meaning it can be a challenge to work with, especially if you’ve a tight gauge.
However, acrylic adds elasticity to the yarn, making it far easier to produce stitches and knit faster. Plus, the acrylic adds strength to the yarn.
The only issue we had with acrylic is that it’s prone to pilling, meaning it collects unsightly little fiber balls on the surface of the fabric.
But cotton is less prone to pilling as acrylic is, so with the blend, you might find a little less pilling.
Overall, the blend makes the finished products lighter and the knitting process easier and convenient.
The yarn is an inspiring option, especially to the knitters with hand mobility issues such as arthritis or carpal tunnel system.
Pros
- Ideal for users with arthritis
- Soft
- Easy to work with
Cons
- Has some level of piling
#4 Homemoda Studio Non-Mulesed Chunky Wool Yarn - Value Option
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
While plain and simple is good, using the same product can bring boredom. If you can only add some modernity to your design and contrast over your product’s plainness, it’s easy to add a bit of life to the façade of your life.
And this is exactly what the HomeModa yarn helps you achieve.
HomeModa, sporting a wool blend, is a uniquely versatile yarn, allowing you to create plenty of knitted products. From the giant blankets, throws to scarves, the list of opportunities for craving your favorite product are limitless with this yarn.
However, for beginners, we recommend starting with the snoods and scarves to boost their confidence. And with time, you can branch out to the more complex products.
A striking benefit of the HomeModa lies in its unique softness and fine fibers. These wool fibers bend comparatively quicker and easier than most other fibers, ideal for crafting large craft products like blankets.
If you’ve ever knitted a giant product, you’re aware of the tension that comes with achieving the perfect shape. Choosing a low-quality yarn will often result in the loss of shape with time.
With the HomeModa, you don’t have to worry about any of that because it’s made from unspun wool.
Unspun wool is among the highest quality wools, in many cases the de facto standard for quality. And so, you don’t have to get anxious about the shape of your finished product as reliability is always assured.
Plus, this yarn has a higher elasticity, meaning it will keep your rafts in shape for an extended period.
When it comes to maintenance, this yarn is dry clean compatible, so cleaning should be the least of your concerns. Plus, cleaning helps to extend the longevity of your clothing.
To add icing to the cake, HomeModa is available in a myriad of colors and sizes, so you can always have fun experimenting with different stitching and fibers.
Pros
- Soft yarn
- Bouncy texture
- Dry cleaning compatible
Cons
- Not ideal for beginners
#5 Dirunen Merino Wool Yarn Big Chunky Yarn Super Wool - Heavy Duty Option
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
If you’re searching for a versatile merino wool yarn for making chunky blankets, you can’t go wrong with the Dirunen Chunky Super Wool.
It’s a premium and heavy-duty wool yarn available in different sizes, including 4.4lbs, 6.6lbs, 8lbs, and 9lbs.
The yarn is also available in 13 different colors, and along with the premium quality, Dirunen brings pleasure in knitting for sure.
Despite the heavy-duty performance, this yarn is fine, and the soft wool doesn’t irritate the skin. In particular, blankets made with this wool easily regulate body temperatures and keep you comfy and warm on cold days and cool during summers.
Unlike most chunky wools, Dirunen is uniquely crafted with active fibers and natural elasticity to eliminate the wool’s stretching.
On the other hand, the active fibers help with the overall sustainability, allowing the Dirunen products to adapt to the body temperature. Additionally, active fibers are ideal for any weather condition and are less likely to get clammy when going outdoors from indoors.
This wool yarn also offers a gentle and soft texture that doesn’t irritate your skin and is the perfect option for newborn babies.
It’s a versatile option and can make an inspiring gift option. From the wedding or marriage anniversary to the bridal showers, Dirunen-made crafts offer a perfect gift for any occasion.
The Durunen-made crafts are also a fantastic option for interior decoration, and knitting your sofa-cover or even blanket will add comfort and beauty to your living space.
Our only issue with the Dirunen is it supports dry wash only, meaning you never have to put it into your washing machine.
Pros
- Soft
- Versatile
- Easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t support machine washing
Best Knitting Yarns Buying Guide
When choosing yarn, you need to meet several criteria, including color, weight, texture, comfort, flexibility, and durability.
To help you select the right yarn for your knitting, we’ve compiled some of the special benchmarks or guidelines that must be met.
How to Choose a Yarn for Knitting
Weight Category/Weight Type
Yarns are divided into several categories based on their weight. This is probably the best way of distinguishing between different types of yarns.
The weight categories range from 0, which is the finest type of yarn, to 6, extremely bulky and heavy.
Category 0 types of yarns are ultra-light and fine, and they tangle easily-they cannot be washed often.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, categories 5 & 6 are super bulky, coming with 12 to 14 ply or more. They’re quite thick, meaning you’ll need large hooks and crooks and long knitting needles to work with these yarns.
Weight
The weight of a yarn determines the purpose it will be used for.
For instance, if you’re making a scarf or mitt for the winter session, you’ll probably need a bulky item, meaning a yarn with a higher weight category would be best. Here, yarns belonging to category 5 or 6 would do.
On the other hand, if you need something for use in the summer, then a lightweight yarn would be an inspiring option.
Material
Traditionally, yarns were synonymous with natural sheep wool, but today, it’s easy to find yarns from other materials such as mohair, cotton, cashmere, silk, and even nylon.
Different materials feel different against your skin, so you need to pick your favorite. The materials also vary in their pricing, a big factor to consider.
Cotton yarn is the most common yarn when it comes to sewing and popular material for knitting and crocheting.
The cotton products are machine-washable and easily absorb water.
Acrylic yarn, unlike cotton, is synthetic, made from polymers from crude oil. While not exactly a natural fiber for yarn, it’s more vibrant and colorful than cotton, wool, or silk yarn.
These yarns are also easily dyed to take on your favorite color. They’re also inexpensive, easy to clean, lightweight, and durable.
Pattern
Every yarn has a particular gauge or tension, referring to the number of stitches you can make per inch area with the yarn.
Your choice of the pattern will determine the number of stitches per inch.
Generally, you need to choose a yarn that offers a specific gauge; otherwise, your pattern might come out completely different from your intended design.
Number of Plies
The number of plies determines the thickness of a yarn; the thicker yarns have more yarns, and the opposite is true.
The more ply yarn has, the bulkier and larger the end product is, and the more warmth it guarantees.
Generally, the number of ply in a particular skein is found in the product description, so it’s easy to know how warm or bulky your finished product will be.
Color
When picking a thread, it’s essential to know that the color affects the display of the patterns or stitches.
For instance, a multi-colored yarn may make your design invisible, so you might need a single-colored one.
A solid lighter color is perfect for cables, while fancy colors may be challenging when making elegant patterns.
Until you get your knitting art right, we would recommend you stick to yarns with fewer colors that are bright. This helps you see the stitches and patterns you create in each step.
Type of Project
If you’re knitting bulky items such as blankets or rugs requiring large stitches, a chunky yarn works best.
The yarn knits faster and will let you use larger needles and hooks. Plus, it lets you see your progress with every stitch.
Also, beginners may not have the patience of knitting for long, and their stitches don’t have to be tight. Knitting loosely encourages you to continue with the item as a beginner and might be handy when creating larger items.
Durability and Ease of Care
If you’re knitting items that require regular washing, a durable, sturdy, and easy-to-care or yarn like a bland of nylon and acrylic is suitable.
The ideal thread should also be breathable and absorb moisture to help keep your feet dry.
A durable yarn also means you don’t have to keep on replacing the elements.
Wrap Up: Our Choice
Based on our research and user reviews, we would recommend the Peaches & Creme (Cream) Cotton Yarn.
The Peaches & Cream is a reputable brand, but this 100% cotton made yarn is ultra-soft and durable.
It doesn’t irritate the skin, and most importantly, it’s easier to handle even for beginners.
It might run a bit expensive, but we feel the aesthetics, practicality, and softness makes it worth every penny.
