Looking for an affordable option for that arm knitting blanket you’ve been eyeing?
It takes a lot of yarn to create an arm knitting blanket, so before you spend a dime on yarn, check out this guide.
In this review, we will check out the best yarn for arm knitting and look at yarns for all budgets.
So let’s get started!
Top 10 Arm Knitting Yarns
What is Arm Knitting Yarn?
Arm knitting is the technique of using huge yarn with your arms in place of knitting needles. This technique requires very large yarn so the market met the demand with size 7 “jumbo” yarns and some even larger than that to be used with just your arms.
Here we are covering everything you need to know about these giant yarns – from the best yarns to use for arm knitting to things to look for when picking out an arm knitting yarn.
The Different Types of Arm Knitting Yarns
There are many choices on the market today for giant yarn, so you have some great options when picking your yarn for an arm knit blanket, scarf or other project.
The two biggest differences in type of arm knitting yarn are in the fiber used and the size of the yarn, so let’s dive into those a bit more.
Fiber
Most of the yarns in our list are merino wool roving yarns that come from different breeds of sheep. This is a very popular choice for an arm knitting chunky blanket.
If you are looking for a vegan yarn, you will want to look for a lofty acrylic yarn and we have a great choice on our list.
Size
In your local yarn store, you aren’t likely to find a great selection of chunky arm knit yarn. The largest weight yarn they usually have is a size 7 (jumbo), which is smaller than the specially made giant yarn on Etsy.
Looking for a yarn weight just a bit lighter than this? Check out the best yarn for chunky blankets here.
Be aware that a lot of the blankets you see on Instagram and other websites are made with the very large yarns like the Merino Roving on Etsy and are not produced by major yarn retailers.
Now let’s look at some factors to consider when choosing your yarn.
Things to Look for in a Great Arm Knitting Yarn
Material
The really nice merino roving is expensive, but in this case you get what you pay for. The cheaper options are often not as nice, so if possible order a skein or two to test out before committing to an entire blanket’s worth of yarn.
You have several options when it comes to yarn for arm knitting. Classic wool and wool roving yarns are the most popular, but you can also find acrylic and wool blends in our line up.
Texture
You want a yarn that is smooth and easy to work with since you will be feeling the yarn on your arms as you work. Definitely keep that in mind if you are sensitive to wool!
You also want to think about how stiff the yarn is. If it is too stiff it will be difficult to work with and won’t make a very comfy blanket.
Also, if you plan on this item being next to your skin after creation, then you want to make sure you enjoy wearing it or snuggling up in it. Don’t waste all that time and money making it and then never use it.
Ease of Care
Think about how you plan on caring for the item once it is made. Will it need to be thrown in the wash from time to time? Do you mind hand washing it or taking it to the dry cleaners?
Read up on the care for each particular yarn you are considering and choose what works best for your life. I have four small children so I know that a dry-cleanable yarn is not a good choice for my house – I need a yarn that is able to stand up to the washing machine.
Color
The color of a yarn makes a big difference in your satisfaction with the finished project. If you are already a knitter or crocheter, think about how you are likely drawn to the same colors over and over again?
I have found that most yarn hoarders… um, I mean collectors, okay – knitters or crocheters – tend to have a certain hue that makes up the majority of their stashes. For me it is shades of blue and turquoise, so I know that would probably be a good bet for the color of an arm knitting project.
Also, if you are going to leave your blanket out for display, you will want to think of how the color goes with the other items in your home decor. Of course, there are no hard and fast rules on this, so go with the color that makes you happy!
Durability
Similar to ease of care, you want a yarn that is going to hold up to the use it is intended for. Want a blanket that is mostly for decor? Any yarn will do. But if you want a chunky knit blanket to cuddle up in, you want one that isn’t going to shed all over you or fall apart while using.
Yarn Weight
This is more important than you realize. While some people like to use the size 7 “jumbo” yarns for arm knitting, it can really change the look of the final project.
The wool yarn used for the arm knit blanket you see on Instagram is larger than the size 7 jumbo yarn. These yarns make for neat, even stitches with no extra space between them.
If you choose a yarn that is a lighter weight or go with a lighter chunky yarn or super bulky yarn (weight #6), you may want to hold two strands together and use them as one. This will give you the tighter stitches. Otherwise, you could end up with spaces in between the stitches that don’t make for a warm knit blanket.
Best Arm Knitting Yarns Reviews
- 70% wool 30% synthetic fiber ;Chunky yarn wool yarn for extreme knitting
- It is amazing about this wool its supersoft fluffy have so many colors and known for so many natural wool benefits: regulates temperature so it makes you really warm in the winter and cool in the summer ;
- Perfect for trying itinerant, extreme knitting, crochet or arm knitting,hand knitting ;Not good choice for felting
- Specially Easy for beginers abd professionals to work for ,you can make your own thick knits like blankets, hoods, scarves, hats, rugs, etc for home decor or gifts;
- The yarn is such fun to work with and offers instant gratification for those who want a homemade luxury item that can be made up in no time at all.
- Fuzzy Soft Yarn is High Quality and Ideal for a Cozy and Warm DIY Knitting or Crochet Craft Project.
- Large Single Skein of Chunky, Chenille Yarn Measures: 24 yards, 250 grams, 8.8 oz, 1.18 inches/ 30mm diameter. Use Knitting Needle Sizes US 50 / 25 mm or by Hand or Arm Knit.
- Amount of Skeins Needed for DIY Knitting Scarf Project; Adult Scarf Needs 2 Skeins, Kids Scarf Needs 1-1.5 Skeins.
- Amount of Skeins Needed for DIY Knit Blanket Project: Throw Blankets Aprox. 40 inches x 60 inches Need 6-8 Skeins. Afghan Baby Blanket Approx. 30 inches x 50 inches Need 4-6 Skeins.
- Helpful Tips: Project Measurements Depend on the Tightness of the Stitch. The Looser the Stitch = Larger Size. Recommended for Beginners to Practice a Looser Stitch. Makes a Great Gift for Her, Mothers Day, Christmas, or Birthdays.
- 70% wool 30% synthetic fiber ;Chunky yarn wool yarn for extreme knitting
- It is amazing about this wool its supersoft fluffy have so many colors and known for so many natural wool benefits: regulates temperature so it makes you really warm in the winter and cool in the summer
- Perfect for trying itinerant, extreme knitting, crochet or arm knitting,hand knitting ;Not good choice for felting
- Specially Easy for beginers abd professionals to work for ,you can make your own thick knits like blankets, hoods, scarves, hats, rugs, etc for home decor or gifts;
- The yarn is such fun to work with and offers instant gratification for those who want a homemade luxury item that can be made up in no time at all.
- 【High-quality Materials】: The giant yarn is made of soft and comfortable cotton material, no ball, no lint, and elasticity, it is a high-quality DIY woven merino material that you can always have.
- 【DIY Fun】: This chunky giant wool yarn is perfect for extreme giant knitting and arm knitting, each time producing a beautiful soft yarn. Surprise and enjoy.
- 【Applicability】: This super soft chunky wool yarn is ideal for woven home blankets, pillows, thick scarves and cat and dog beds to satisfy any fantasy.
- 【Maintenance】: Super chunky yarn can be cleaned and dried in a washing machine, making maintenance easy and simple.
- 【Size】: 2.5cm in diameter, 0.5kg/1kg (1.1lbs/2.2lbs) for weaving scarf, 1kg/2kg (2.2lbs/4.4lbs) for weaving cat/dog bed or pillow, 2kg (4.4lbs) for weaving 30“X42”blanket, 5kg(11lbs) for weaving 60“x60” blanket.
- CRAFT & KNITTING YARN: Each cake of this chunky yarn weighs 7.9 oz. (226 g) and is 28 yd. (26 m) long.
- HAND-KNITTING YARN: Use this supersoft yarn for beautiful knitted or crocheted projects with or without knitting needles!
- FIBER COUNT: Made from 100% polyester chenille and rated CYC #7 jumbo, this soft, chunky yarn is great for any craft kit.
- CARE INSTRUCTIONS: This yarn pack is machine washable in cool water and should be dried at a low temperature.
- LION BRAND YARN: The perfect yarn for knitting and yarn for crocheting. We are committed to providing high-quality yarn to both beginner and expert crafters.
- ✅ Jumbo Chenille Yarn: super fluffy and soft; Get unique and fashion arm knitting, big stitch projects or large hand knit items with this super soft bulky puffy blankets chenille yarn that does all the color switching for you!
- ✅ Chunky Chenille Yarn is super cozy and fluffy, almost as thick as super chunky Merino wool but much lighter and softer! a classic chioce of all your knitting craft projects, and excellent chioce if you want a yarn that's machine washable and stretchable
- ✅ The huge yarn maintains a stylish chunky & cozy appearance with the added benefit of being light in weight, machine washable ,thickly to be easy to use
- ✅ Chunky chenille polyester yarn is perfect for many types of knitting; Ideal for beginning knitters and experts alike
- ✅ The diameter of this Chenille Chunky Yarn is approximately 3/4"; ideal for use with US 50 (25 mm) needles as well as arm knitting. Creating warm blankets, cushions, rugs, and more
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- This super bulky yarn is ideal for creating luxuriously thick accessories and home decor projects with a stylish textured stitch look.
- Content: 100% acrylic
- Ball Size: 300g / 10.5 oz, 58 meters / 64 yards
- Knitting Gauge: 5 sts and 7 rows with a 19 mm (U.S. 35) knitting needle
- Crochet Gauge: 4 sc and 4 rows with a 19 mm (U.S. S) crochet hook
- Package of three
- Airy; open net-style yarn perfect for sophisticated scarves and accessories
- 81 Percent acrylic; 19 Percent polyamide
- Package Dimension: 4.0 H x 4.0 L x 8.75 W
- super chunky yarn for arm knitting crocheting blankets ;;; Craft type: Crochet, Kids' crafts, Knitting, Rug making, Weaving & tapestry;It's machine-washable, durable, and pet-friendly.
- HomeModa Braid is a chunky vegan yarn:cotton tube filled with hollowfiber; It's easy to use, holds its shape well, and can be cleaned in a washing machine.
- Great alternative to Merino Wool and can be used comfortably all year long; lightweight, super fluffy, all year use;Very chic, adds style to any room,no shed !!!
- Super chunky and is a great yarn for chunky knit throw blankets and pet beds! very kid friendly and pet friendly!!
- Satisfaction Guarantee:if you have any problem or suggestion, please kindly contact us, we provide support for you within 24 hours.
Common Questions about Arm Knitting Yarn
Arm knitting differs from traditional knitting in that you use your arms instead of knitting needles. The yarn has to be much larger since the “needles” are large.
The most popular is the super huge merino wool roving, and this is a great choice, but the factors we’ve discussed above also count. The best arm knit yarn is going to be one that you enjoy the feels good to you, is easy to care for and that is the right thickness for the project.
Making a diy chunky knit blanket is different than an arm knit blanket. You can use any super bulky (size #6) or jumbo (size #7) yarn to make a chunky blanket. If you are using knitting needles then the ball band will have a recommended size for the needles and I usually size up one or two to give the blanket some drape.
There are a lot of opinions on this and the best you can do is get an estimate because it will depend on the yarn used, your gauge and how big you want your blanket to be. From what I’ve seen, you can do a smaller blanket (more of a baby blanket size or smaller throw) around 30×50 inches with 6 pounds of yarn and a bit larger blanket with 8 pounds of yarn. Since arm knit yarn is so large it is usually given in pounds. Pretty crazy, huh?
This is hard because arm knitting tends to be a bit uneven, yet the thick yarn helps to even out the stitches. Typically you get your gauge from the size of the knitting needle as the yarn wraps around it. When you use your arms as the needles, though, it isn’t as easy. Your arms are thinner at the wrists and thicker as you get to the elbow, so the gauge can vary just a bit.
Most people think of the giant, cozy chunky knit blanket, but that isn’t the only thing you can make with some chunky knit yarn and your arms. You can also make a regular or infinity scarf, pillow case, or even a lacy item with thin yarn like this sarong!
Tips and Tricks for Using Arm Knit Yarn
The biggest tip I can give is to make sure you leave enough yarn to bind off! Knitting isn’t like crochet where you just fasten off at the end of a row and call it good. No, you have to make sure you have enough yarn for that final bind off row, so leave several yards of yarn (I usually check to see if my yarn will stretch over the area 2-3 times) for the bind off.
