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If you’ve ever knitted, crocheted, or dabbled in embroidery, you know that not all yarn is created equal. There’s nothing more frustrating than starting a new craft project only to find that the cheap yarn you bought was a godsend. It doesn’t help that there are so many types of yarn on the market, whether it’s the hundreds available at your local craft store or the countless small-batch makers churning out wares on Etsy and other artistic corners of the internet. So we spoke to nine craft experts about their favorite yarns for a variety of projects, covering the spectrum from lightweight to extra-thick and chunky, and to suit every budget.
Yes, yak wool. Denise Byron, a designer and patternmaker at Bayron Handmade, says it’s her favorite yarn for lace work, perfect for lightweight shawls, scarves, and sweaters. “If you’ve never woven with yak wool, you have to try this unique fiber from Tibet,” Byron said. “It’s warmer than wool and as soft as cashmere. It’s ethically sourced, so it’s kind to animals and the planet. Pure luxury.”
If you’re looking for a fine, delicate yarn (the kind that’s perfect for socks and shawls), Byron is a fan of West Wool by Dutch company Stephen & Penelope. “The blend of 32-micron-plus Texel wool and Merino wool makes this yarn fluffy and warm,” she says. “The Merino content makes the product soft to the touch, and the stronger Texel wool helps the finished product last longer.”
Our in-house knitting experts Mia Leimkuehler and Marcy Handler (a master knitter and mother of writer-strategist Chloe Anello) tell us that lightweight yarn is ideal for knitting socks and other delicate items. Leimkuehler favors the durable, machine-washable merino yarn from Black-owned Neighborhood Fiber Co.
Leimkuhler also loves mohair yarn because it’s “really soft and fluffy, and you can combine it with other, smoother yarns to give your knitwear the look of a really fluffy dog ​​sweater,” she says. This alpaca-silk blend “feels like mohair, but it’s really soft,” she adds. For a more classic mohair, she recommends Tussock by Purl Soho. “They have such beautiful, vibrant colors, and they’re so soft,” she says. “Some mohairs can be itchy, but this one definitely isn’t.”
If you’re the kind of crafter who has trouble deciding which colors to use, an ombre kit like the Lightweight Finger Ombre Kit from Leading Men Fiber Arts is a great option. “You can get a variety of brightly colored yarns that will add a pop of color to any project,” says Lisa K. Ross of Paper Daisy Creations.
As we learned in our expert-recommended knitting guide, Lily Sugar ‘n Cream cotton yarn is a big hit because it’s affordable and easy to use. “I include this yarn in all my kits, give it to everyone in my workshops, and recommend it in my books and classes,” says Lindsay Campbell, founder of Hello Hydrangea and author of Welcome to Weaving, adding that it’s “a great choice for a thick base.”
When you need a particularly soft yarn, wool is always the best choice, which is why Cascade 100 Peruvian Wool Yarn is so popular for craft kits. “With this yarn, you can complete a project with just one skein, whether it’s a hand warmer or a small neckband. It’s so easy to grab a ball of yarn and some knitting needles and get started,” says Carolyn Heitmann, co-owner of Brooklyn Crafts.
Spruce & Linen founder Jenelle Flynn doesn’t hold back in her praise for Canadian brand Sugar Bush Yarns. “The Bold series is my favorite worsted weight yarn,” she said, noting that it comes in more than 50 colors. Flynn added that the product is available on Amazon, but can also be found in “lots of small yarn shops and Etsy.”
Both Campbell and Flynn cite Lion Brand’s Thick & Quick yarn as one of their favorite brands for knitting projects. “When I need to make something quickly, I’ll go to Michaels and buy some of this yarn,” says Campbell. “As an affordable option, it works really well.”
Loops & Threads Cozy Wool, $4 for 90 yards, is a wool-acrylic blend that Flynn also recommends. “It’s one of my favorite yarns for weaving wall hangings, especially the tassel ones,” she says.
In addition to the brand’s 220 series, Cascade’s Magnum yarn is also popular among professional crocheters. Like 220, it’s made from 100% Peruvian wool, and many experts call it an easy yarn for beginners. And the best part is that it comes in a variety of attractive earthy tones, like Elderflower, Moss, and Blue Heron.
Campbell loves Niroma Studio’s Wool Art Yarn because “it comes in a ton of colors” — 53 colors, in fact — “which is perfect for knitting,” she says. If you’re having trouble finding additional color combinations, Campbell notes that in addition to being sold individually, “they’re also available in separate kits with the colors already selected. Choosing the colors can be the hardest part!”
Flynn favors cotton macrame cord from Canadian Etsy shop Unfettered Co. “I really like using it for weaving,” she says. “It’s 100 percent recycled cotton rope, and they have it in a lot of different sizes and colors.”
It’s no secret that Wool and the Gang’s Crazy Sexy Wool is a favorite among strategists and pros. “It’s easier for beginners to figure out what they’re doing when they’re using a thicker yarn,” Heitmann told us earlier this year. The beloved brand, she says, “has a lot of thick yarn in really fun colors.”
Slightly more expensive is ReLove Merino by Love Fest Fibers, which is Campbell’s favorite yarn. “This super chunky yarn with a core turns any project into a chunky dream,” she says. “It’s made from 100 percent wool and recycled water bottles and hand-spun in a small mill in Washington state.”
This chunky yarn from Sugar Bush is a little more affordable. “The Chill Series is the ultimate chunky single strand yarn (aka pencil roving),” says Spruce & Linen’s Flynn. The $15 yarn comes in more than 35 colors and is made from 100 percent merino wool.
Campbell says DHG European Merino wool is her “yarn of choice” for felting, spinning, weaving or mass knitting. She uses the soft “ultra-fine merino yarn to give sumac fluffiness to tapestries or non-wovens,” she says.
For about a fifth of the price, you can get this colorful, handmade plush toy. “It’s a synthetic, fuzzy fiber that’s really fun to work with, even if you’re a beginner,” says textile artist Briana Bibbs.
In addition to Niroma Studio, those of us who aren’t as adept at picking colors can also turn to Wysteria Editions for help. The brand sells eight packs of 100% wool yarn in a range of colors, from fall colors to soft pastels and brights. Anne Weil, designer and maker of Flax & Twine and author of Weaving Within Reach, says felted wool has “more structure than regular yarn.”
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As part of your account, you will receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.