Looking to knit or crochet a blanket? Find the best yarn for blankets here, including the best yarn recommendations plus tips and tricks.
A blanket can be a big investment in both time and money, so you want to be sure you are choosing the right yarn for the job. There are many factors that go into picking out the perfect yarn for a blanket, and today we are going to look at these in depth.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Yarn for Blankets
Let’s take a look at all the factors that should come into play when choosing the perfect yarn for your next blanket project.
1. Ease of Care
This is a big one in my book. I want a blanket that is easy to care for (especially since I have four kids!).
Some yarns may look really nice, but have to be hand washed or handled with extra special care. You will have to decide if this is something that you are willing to do if your blanket gets dirty (and, let’s face it, if you use the blanket you will eventually need to wash it!).
Many yarns are machine washable. You can find premium acrylics, cotton yarns, and even superwash wool that can easily be tossed in the washer and dryer wth ease.
2. Fiber Content
The fiber content of the yarn is a huge factor in how easy it is to care for. When knitting or crocheting a blanket, you want to choose a yarn that feels soft, is a joy to work with and fits the intended use of the blanket.
For example, if you are making a thick, cozy blanket for cold weather, you wouldn’t want a lightweight cotton yarn. You’d opt for a thick wool, blend or premium acrylic yarn.
On the other hand, you wouldn’t make a summer blanket out of super bulky wool.
It really depends upon what you intend to do with the blanket when it is complete. Decorative blanket? Any yarn will probably do that looks good. Baby blanket? That yarn had better be super soft, made for babies and machine washable.
3. Cost
Blankets can eat up a lot of yarn, especially if you are making one larger than a baby blanket. Even a toddler blanket can use up an impressive amount!
We don’t want to break the bank with our project, and some of the yarns out there are pricey. Over $20 a skein! To make a blanket with a yarn like that would cost a fortune.
Luckily, there are plenty of yarns out there that not only look nice, but are also affordable. We are going to look at some today that won’t break the bank, even if you are planning a large blanket.
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.
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 nearby, although there are times that I really love ordering online, from places such as We Crochet.
Best Yarns for Blankets
There are many different yarns on the market that make amazing blankets, and it would be impossible for me to list them all here, but these are some of my favorite ones that I have used and loved.
1. Bernat Blanket
This blanket yarn is well known for its ability to create a warm, cozy blanket in record time. This Bernat yarn is a very soft yarn that works up so fast because it is a heavy yarn weight. While it’s not quite jumbo yarn, I’ve seen people use it for arm knitting by holding two or three strands together since it is such a thick yarn.
You can also find Bernat Baby Blanket yarn, too!
Fiber Content: 100% polyester
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (#6)
Yardage/Weight: 220 yards/10.5 oz
Check out Bernat Blanket here!
2. Red Heart Baby Hugs (Medium and Light)
This acrylic yarn is tested to be free from harmful levels of over 300 substances, which makes me feel great about using it as a baby yarn. This is a wonderful baby blanket yarn and it comes in both DK and Worsted weights!
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic
Yarn Weight: Comes in both DK (#3) and Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: Varies by type, typically around 240 yards in a 4.5oz skein
Click here to check out Baby Hugs yarn!
3. Caron Cotton Cakes
Caron Cotton Cakes yarn comes in solids and stripes and is a great choice for blankets. It is 60% cotton and 40% acrylic, making it easy to care for. It comes in a large 520 yard skein. The best thing about this yarn is that it’s machine washable unlike some other types of yarn. This makes knitting or crocheting a blanket easier because you don’t have to hand wash it every time you want to clean it. It can be found at Michael’s stores or online.
Fiber Content: 60% cotton, 40% acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 530 yards/8.8 oz
Check out Caron Cotton Cakes here!
4. Lion Brand Baby Soft
Lion Brand Baby Soft yarn is a best yarn for blankets 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.
Fiber Content: 60% acrylic, 40% nylon
Yarn Weight: DK (#3)
Yardage/Weight: 459 yards/5 oz
Click here to check out Baby Soft yarn!
5. Biggo Yarn from We Crochet
This is really one of my favorite bulky yarns of all time! Biggo yarn comes in a range of colors, is soft and billowy, and is wonderful to work with. It’s also machine washable!
Fiber Content: 50% superwash merino wool, 50% nylon
Yarn Weight: Bulky weight yarn (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 110 yards/100g
Click here to check out Biggo yarn!
6. Lion Brand Feels Like Butta
The Feels Like Butta yarn is a chenille yarn that can be used in so many different types of projects. From a baby garment to blankets to hats and mittens, this is one of my go-to soft yarns.
Fiber Content: 100% polyester
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight yarn (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 218 yards/3.5oz
Click here to check out Feels Like Butta yarn!
7. Red Heart Soft
I made my first ever baby blanket, the Duchess Baby Blanket, with this yarn. It’s super affordable and comes in a huge variety of colors. This is similar to the colors found in Red Heart Super Saver, but this yarn is a much better acrylic and is not much more expensive.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 256 yards/5 oz
Click here to check out Red Heart Soft yarn!
But what about novelty yarn?
There aren’t many novelty yarns out there that I think make good blanket yarn. The best I can think of is a yarn like Bernat Pipsqueak yarn, which is more of a furry type yarn. I have some true hand spun novelty yarn in my stash, and I can’t imagine making a blanket out of it.
Common Blanket Questions
It really depends on what you are looking for in your yarn. It might be best to start by looking at your budget and then base your decision off of that. The best yarn for blankets will be one that meets all of your needs and is within your budget.
For example, if you are looking for yarns that are easy to wash, then it might be best to choose a yarn with acrylic fiber content or an easy care fiber such as wool, cotton, linen, silk or blends such as a cotton-wool blend. If you want best wool for blankets that hold up well and last longer, choose a natural fiber such as 100% alpaca wool or 100% merino wool. If you want best yarn for blankets that are soft, look for blends of wool or premium acrylic yarns.
It is best to find a best yarn for blanket that you like rather than trying to force yourself into liking something. Your best yarn choice will be one you enjoy working with.
Yes. Cotton yarn is good for blankets, but it is also best to not limit yourself by choice. Blankets can be best made from yarns of any fiber or material. It’s best to use a natural fiber or premium acrylic if you are not familiar with knitting, as they have the best properties for blankets–they are warm and soft while still being easy to care for. Whatever yarn you choose, it should be treated so that it is washable and you can best take care of your blanket.
There are a lot of great chunky or bulky yarns out there to crochet blankets with! I really like Lion Brand Color Made Easy and We Crochet Biggo. These would be my top choices to crochet a blanket with chunky yarn.
For best summer blankets use lighter weight, cotton yarn. You can have thicker blankets in the winter months to trap more body heat. This will be best if made with wool or acrylic yarn as these best wools for knit blankets are best for warmth and are best used in cold climates.
Acrylics also make great warm weather yarn for blankets. They are not only cheap but easy to care for, and these best yarns do not shrink much when washed in the washing machine. The best yarn for blankets will keep you cool while camping or watching sporting events outside on a summer night if you choose heat-resistant yarn such as wool or cotton blends.
Wool is best for knitting or crocheting a blanket because it is both warm and durable. Like other animal fibers, wool fibers are also very elastic and can stretch back into place, which makes them less likely to break by being pulled in different directions. Wool blankets also require less maintenance than cotton blankets, as they can be washed in a washing machine without any problems. Just be sure the person using the blanket isn’t allergic to wool!
The best yarn for knitted blankets is wool or wool blend yarn. This type of yarn best suits a dense weave pattern and is best suited for people who live in cool or moderate climates. If you don’t want to use wool, a premium acrylic yarn is another great choice.
When choosing best yarn for knitted blankets, fiber content, ease of care, cost and availability are some considerations to take into account. Machine washable fibers best suit people who do not want to have to hand wash their blanket.
Lightweight yarns are a good choice for blankets if you don’t mind taking longer for your project to be finished. Personally I use at least a DK (#3) yarn when knitting or crocheting a blanket, but you can certainly use any yarn you wish!
I like Yarn Bee Sugarwheel Cotton (DK weight) for just about everything that a cotton yarn is good for and also Lion Brand Mandala (another DK weight yarn).
Today we’ve learned about the best yarn for blankets, whether you choose to knit or crochet them. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post! Click here to find out the best hook sizes for blankets.
Happy Knitting and Crocheting!
Amanda
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I really enjoyed your information on which yarns to use. I have only dishclothes lately but wish to try light weight summer one for my daughter.