There are a lot of choices when it comes to finding the best acrylic yarn for your next knitting or crocheting project. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best options and help you know what to look for when choosing acrylic yarn, because all acrylics are not created equal.
We’ll also give you some tips on how to care for your finished project. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced knitter or crocheter, keep reading for great acrylic yarn advice!
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Factors to Consider when Choosing Acrylic Yarn
Let’s take a look at all the things that should come into play when choosing the right acrylic yarn.
1. Ease of Care
This is a big one in my book. I want a yarn that is easy to care for (especially since I have four kids!). Since this is a synthetic yarn, it has been created for easy care.
Luckily, acrylic yarns are easy to care for thanks to the nature of the fiber. You can machine wash and dry most every acrylic yarn. I’ve personally tested many of these and they come out of the dryer looking good as new (and smelling even better).
This is what makes them such good choices for many different items.
2. Cost
There are plenty of affordable, quality acrylic yarns on the market today. Gone are the days of bargain-basement acrylics that would rub your fingers raw (been there, done that!). Acrylics have come a long way and this is great for us as knitters or crocheters, as we can easily find a yarn to meet our needs.
From sturdy acrylic that can handle the wear and tear of repeated washings to a fine, comfy acrylic, you can find great affordable yarns in just about any yarn weight.
3. Weight
Speaking of yarn weight, the type of item you are making is another thing to keep in mind when choosing the right acrylic yarn.
Acrylic yarn comes in pretty much every weight of yarn there is, from size 0 lace weight to size 6 super bulky (and maybe even some size 7 jumbo!).
4. Availability
I know the internet has opened up lots of options, but sometimes I just want to feel the yarn before I decide which yarn I want to use, especially with acrylic. They are still not all created equal, even though they are leaps and abounds above where they used to be.
So as much as I love online shopping, there is just something about being able to handle the yarn that appeals to me. I tend to use yarn that is available locally, although there are times that I really love ordering online, from places such as We Crochet or Mary Maxim.
Best Acrylic Yarns on the Market Today
There are many different acrylic yarns that make wonderful projects, and it would be impossible for me to list them all here, but these are some of my favorite ones that I have personally used and loved.
Some of these are pure acrylic and some are blends, but they are all amazing yarns you should try.
Here they are in no particular order:
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
This amazing acrylic yarn has been around forever and has been a fan favorite for years! Some of my friends who are die-hard amigurumi fans swear by this yarn for their creations. It’s inexpensive, comes in a lot of colors, and has excellent stitch definition. Not to mention it’s easy to care for – making it a wonderful acrylic yarn for your next project!
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic for most colors, some have a slight rayon content
Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight #4
Yardage/Weight: Varies by style (solids vs prints, etc), but solids have 100g/3.5oz and 156 yards
Care: Machine Wash, Machine Dry
Click here to check out Vanna’s Choice!
Paintbox Yarns Simply DK
Oh, my, how I love this yarn!! It comes in so many colors and is a dream to work with. If you are looking for a DK acrylic yarn, this is a must for you. Its genergous yardage means you get a lot for your money. You can also find this in worsted and chunky.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic
Yarn Weight: DK weight #3
Yardage/Weight: 3.5 oz, 302 yards
Care: Machine wash cold, tumble dry low
Click here to check out Paintbox Yarns Simply DK!
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LION BRAND HEARTLAND
This premium acrylic yarn is one that I have chosen to make items for my boys with. I love the way it’s gently heathered and it feels amazing.
I created the Kid’s Saddle Shoulder Sweater and the Simple Pocket Shawl with this yarn and my son and I both love this yarn. It washes well and we love how comfortable it is.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic (tweeds have a slight rayon content)
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight yarn (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 251 yards/142g
Click here to check out Heartland yarn!
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BERROCO COMFORT CHUNKY
This is seriously one of my favorite acrylic blends of all time. I remember the first time I picked up a skein of Berroco Comfort in a local yarn store. I couldn’t believe it was mostly acrylic!
This yarn is soft enough that I chose it for the Orchard Sweater I designed for my son – and I’ve also used it’s worsted cousin for a sweater for myself!
And don’t think that just because I found it in a local yarn store it costs an arm and a leg – this yarn is less than $8 a skein regular price!
Fiber Content: 50% super fine nylon, 50% super fine acrylic
Yarn Weight: Bulky weight yarn (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 150 yards/100g
Care: Machine wash
Click here to check out Berroco Comfort Chunky!
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LION BRAND YARN WOOL EASE THICK AND QUICK
This is my go-to super bulky yarn. I love all the colors it comes in, the feel of the yarn and how great the stitch definition is. It’s one of my faves!
I’ve been using this yarn since I first started knitting in 2006. I’ve both knit and crocheted with it (hats, scarves, etc) and have made my hubs a sweater in it (that I never released on the blog). It’s super comfy and warm and he loves it!
This is an acrylic and wool yarn blend.
Fiber Content: 80% acrylic, 20% wool
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (#6)
Yardage/Weight: 106 yards/170g
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to see Wool Ease Thick & Quick!
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KNIT PICKS BRAVA
Brava is a premium acrylic yarn that comes in many different colors (including mini packs of 25g skeins like the one shown above) and is such a joy to work with. It comes in sport, worsted light, worsted and bulky and you can also find it in tweed, speckle, and stripes.
Fiber Content: 100% premium acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight (#4) but also available in sport (#2), worsted lite (closer to a DK #3) and Bulky (#5)
Weight: You can get 25g, 100g and 500g of worsted Brava
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out Brava worsted yarn!
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LION BRAND YARN BABY SOFT
Lion Brand Baby Soft yarn is a great acrylic choice because it is so soft and easy to care for. This yarn is available in classic pastels and prints and can be found in craft stores and online. I have found this yarn at my local JoAnn’s (and used it in the Ice Cream Blanket pattern!).
Fiber Content: 60% acrylic, 40% nylon
Yarn Weight: DK (#3)
Yardage/Weight: 459 yards/5 oz
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out Baby Soft yarn!
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MARY MAXIM STARLETTE
This worsted weight acrylic yarn is a very affordable yarn and works up wonderfully. I’ve used this yarn for a vest, hat and mittens and love them all.
Fiber Content: 100% Ultra Soft Acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted (Category #4)
Yardage/Weight: 180 yards/3.5oz
Care: Machine wash and tumble dry
Click here to check out Starlette yarn!
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RED HEART SOFT
With this yarn, I created my first ever baby blanket, the Duchess Baby Blanket. It’s really inexpensive and comes in a wide range of colors. This is comparable to Red Heart Super Saver, but it’s a superior acrylic that isn’t much more expensive.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 256 yards/5 oz
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out Red Heart Soft yarn!
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Caron Simply Soft Yarn
This is one of the first yarns I fell in love with when I learned how to knit. I liked the fact that it was inexpensive and widely available (I liked to only buy yarns I could pick up at the store). However, unlike some of the other yarns I had been using, this yarn really was a lot softer and didn’t scratch my finger or hand like the other yarns I was using at the time.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 315 yards/6 oz
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out Caron Simply Soft yarn!
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Common Acrylic Yarn Questions
Yes. Acrylic is a great choice for blankets, but keep in mind that acrylic doesn’t “breathe” like a yarn made with a natural fiber would. It is a wonderfully warm yarn, which makes it great for winter blankets, especially if it is in a wool blend with acrylic fibers. Another plus is that you can get acrylic in pretty much any color you want!
This depends on what the end use of the item is. Acrylic is NOT a good choice for anything hot, so don’t make hot pads, oven mitts or trivets with this yarn. A cotton yarn would be a better choice for something like these items. For most all other projects, acrylic works well. I prefer Lion Brand Heartland, Berroco Comfort and Mary Maxim Starlette as my acrylics.
Yes! Unlike wool and some other natural fibers, acrylic does not bother people’s allergies and is generally a good choice for those with sensitive skin. Be sure to check the yarn label to make sure there are no other fibers blended in.
Acrylic yarns are good for most any projects, except those that will be subjected to high heat (acrylic will melt!) and some people do not like using it for summer garments as it doesn’t “breathe” as well as cotton yarn.
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Today we’ve learned about the best acrylic yarn, whether you choose to knit or crochet with it. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post!
Happy Knitting and Crocheting!
Amanda
