Are you planning on making a some warm, cozy mittens? The yarn you choose can make a big difference in how comfortable your finished project turns out. I used to think any ol’ yarn would do for my mitten patterns, but I was wrong! Once I started using the right yarn, it made a world of difference!
When choosing a yarn for your knit or crocheted mittens, there are a lot of factors to consider. It will depend upon several factors, such as how elaborate your stitch pattern is, how easy the yarn is to care for and how it feels.
Wait, Can’t You Use Any Yarn for Crochet or Knit Mittens?
While you can use any yarn you like for a crochet or knit mitten pattern, there are huge differences in how the finished project looks and feels due to yarn choice, especially in how easy the mittens are to care for.
It’s perfectly okay to use acrylic, wool, polyester and blends of fibers for mittens. You can even use fun fiber options such as faux fur!
Today we are going to look at some of the best yarns that I have personally used and love – so you know these are good quality yarns. You’ll find a collection of yarns here that are affordable and work up well in most any stitch pattern.
Plus I’ll share some of my favorite free knit and crochet mittens patterns throughout the post.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Yarn for Mittens
Let’s take a look at the factors to consider when choosing a yarn for your next (or first!) knit or crochet mittens!
1. How Easy is it to Care For?
If your mittens are going to be worn (and, let’s face it, that’s the goal for making them in the first place!) then you need a yarn that is going to be easy to care for. You might be okay with hand washing your mittens when they get dirty, but I know that’s not something I’m likely to do.
I love to throw my items into the washing machine, so I look for yarns that don’t mind being thrown in with the rest of the laundry. Superwash wool, wool blends, and premium acrylic yarns are all good choices for this, as you’ll see below.
I used to use 100% merino wool for my mittens (NOT superwash) until I happened to have these thrown in the washing machine… and dryer… and came out super small and felted! So now I know not to choose fibers that will shrink because it’s possible someone else (like my hubs) will accidentally wash them.
Acrylics are good because they hold up extremely well to repeated washings. If you aren’t sure about the yarn you’re considering, get one skein and whip up a swatch. Then, toss that swatch in the washer and dryer and see how it turns out. This way you won’t go to all the trouble of making a pair of mittens just to have them ruined the first time they are washed.
2. What is the Fiber Content?
This really piggybacks on the first question, because the fiber content of the yarn will, for the most part, determine how easy the mittens are to care for. When making mittens, you want a yarn that won’t kill your hands while you are making it (not too rough), looks great in your chosen stitch pattern and holds up well to being worn and washed (plus it can’t be too scratchy on your hands when wearing!).
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular fibers for mittens.
Acrylic
Acrylic is wonderful for a lot of uses, including mittens. It is machine washable, which is the first important item to consider! It’s also relatively inexpensive, so if you are making a lot of mittens (such as for Christmas gifts) you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
Acrylic yarn can be found in just about any color you can imagine, too, so the sky is the limit when crocheting or knitting mittens out of this fiber! This yarn isn’t too rough on your hands as you work it (unlike some of the scratchy bargain acrylics of the old days!) and it is very durable.
I especially love premium acrylics, and there are a lot of great ones on the market today that don’t even feel like acrylic!
Wool
Another popular choice for mittens is wool yarn. This fiber has amazing stitch definition and is super warm. Some people find wool to be itchy or bothersome, so the type of wool yarn definitely makes a big difference.
Superwash wool is machine washable and very durable. I don’t use 100% wool for my mittens anymore as I mentioned above, but I know plenty of people who do and love it. They are just careful to hand wash and lie flat to dry. I prefer a superwash wool if I’m going to use it, or even a wool blend, as we will see below.
Wool Blends
By adding in another fiber with wool, you will find that the feel of it is much softer on your skin and most of the times it can now be thrown into the washing machine. I do like to use wool blends in my mittens as they combine the qualitites of wool that I love with the softness of other fibers (and won’t felt in the wash!).
Wool is often blended with acrylic or nylon and can also contain other natural fibers such as alpaca, silk and even bamboo. All of these can make great options for mittens.
Other Fibers
You can use just about anything for mittens, such as polyester (like Lion Brand Feels Like Butta), faux fur or other novelty yarns. If you are going for warmth I probably would not use 100% cotton as it tends not to be warm, so save that for spring and summer makes (or kitchen items!)
3. How Much Does it Cost?
Since you are usually not using a lot of yarn for one pair of mittens, this doesn’t factor in as much as if you were making something large like a blanket or sweater. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care how much the yarn is!
For me, I love it if a pattern calls for a single skein, as I can use up my odds and ends, but I also will go for patterns that use two skeins of a nice yarn. Most mitten patterns only use one skein of yarn, so that makes it super easy to choose any yarn you like without breaking the bank.
4. Where Can I Find it?
Sometimes I really just want to feel the yarn before I choose it. Can you relate? I like to squish the skeins and see how the fibers feel, especially if I’m able to choose a single beautiful skein for an amazing pair of mittens.
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 Knit Picks/We Crochet and Jimmy Beans Wool.
So while I am providing links to the yarns below, many of these are also available at your local store (think JoAnn or Michael’s, and sometimes even WalMart!) and a lot of times you can use a coupon at the big craft stores or they run sales on yarn! (I love the 20% off total purchase coupons when they run them and sometimes they will have 25% off a certain brand, so be on the lookout for deals!)
Some of the yarns are only available online, such as the more premium yarns like Berroco and the yarns from Knit Picks/We Crochet, but I strive to choose different yarns available both online and in person so you can choose.
5. What Colors are Available?
Color is another choice you’ll have to make when deciding upon a yarn for your mittens. The color you choose will play a big factor in how happy you are with the finished product.
Some yarns don’t come in a wide variety of colors, so if you choose one of those yarns you will be limited as to what color you can make. You will also want to keep in mind the stitch pattern you are using. Busy, colorful yarns will obscure intricate stitch work, so make sure the chosen yarn and color show off those stitches.
On the other hand, if you are using a simple stitch such as garter stitch or Stockinette stitch (for knitting) or a basic single crochet or double crochet stitch, the yarn itself may be the star and you might want a colorful or crazy yarn.
Best Yarn for Mittens (Crochet or Knit)
There are many different yarns on the market that make amazing mittens, 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.
I’ve broken them down by fiber type so you can easily choose the yarn that best meets your needs.
Acrylic
Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
This amazing acrylic yarn has withstood the test of time and has been a fan favorite for years! Some of my friends who are die-hard knitters and crocheters swear by this yarn for most of their acrylic projects. It’s inexpensive, comes in a lot of colors, and has excellent stitch definition. Not to mention it’s easy to care for!
This yarn has been a fan favorite for years!
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!
Berroco Comfort
One of my all-time favorite acrylics. I remember the first time I saw this in a Local Yarn Store and squished it. I really couldn’t believe it was acrylic! I ended up knitting an entire sweater out of this yarn and still love it.
Even though this yarn is sold in yarn shops and online, it’s not an expensive yarn. It’s a premium acrylic that doesn’t even FEEL like an acrylic, so be sure to check it out. It is a blend of acrylic and nylon.
Fiber Content: 50% acrylic, 50% nylon
Yarn Weight: Worsted Weight (#4) and it also comes in Sock (#2), DK (#3) and Chunky (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 100g, 210 yards
Care: Machine wash gentle, tumble dry low
Click here to check out Berroco Comfort!
Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable
The color changes of this yarn are absolutely amazing! I created the Unforgettable One-Skein Scarf with this yarn and fell in love. Apparently so did many others because it’s been made almost 100 times with projects on Ravelry!
This yarn is also amazing for mittens. The only challenge is lining up the color changes just right if you are wanting a matching set.
Fiber Content: 100% Acrylic
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight #4
Yardage/Weight: 270 yards/100g
Care: Machine Wash and Dry
Click here to check out Unforgettable yarn!
Wool
Patons Classic Wool Roving
If you are looking for a great roving yarn, this is it! Just like it’s Classic Wool cousin, this yarn is soft and strong. I love the stitch definition that the roving yarn provides.
I crocheted a pair of men’s mittens for my hubs in this yarn, but we have to be careful how we wash it because it is hand wash only, so if you choose a wool roving yarn keep that in mind.
Fiber Content: 100% Wool
Yarn Weight: Bulky (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 120 yards/100g
Care: Hand wash and dry flat
Click here to check out Classic Wool Roving yarn!
Swish from Knit Picks/We Crochet
Swish is one of my favorites for mittens! You can get this yarn in several weights and it comes in many colors. Swish is a superwash wool so it can be laundered, which is amazing for items that can get really dirty like mittens.
It is made from superfine wool so it has a softness to it unlike a lot of wools. A lot of people who don’t like wool DO like this yarn, so I encourage you to check it out.
Fiber Content: 100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight (#4) but also comes in DK (#3) and Bulky (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 110 yards/50g
Click here to check out Swish Worsted!
Malabrigo Arroyo
I love every colorway and type of yarn I’ve tried from Malabrigo, so one of these amazing yarns had to make the list somewhere!
Arroyo is one of my favorites as it is a superwash wool that can be tossed in the washing machine and it comes in SO many amazing tonal and variegated shades. You have to check them out (and the pictures just don’t do them justice!).
Fiber Content: 100% Superwash Merino Wool
Yarn Weight: Sport (#2)
Yardage/Weight: 335 yards/100g
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to see all the colors of Arroyo!
Blends
Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick
This is really a great super bulky yarn that I regularly use for mittens. It has amazing versatility and it really shows off your stitch definition.
I’ve used it for both knit and crochet projects and love it so much for both. It does have a wool component, but there is also a version that does not have wool that works up just as beautifully.
Fiber Content: 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool (some colors have a slightly different fiber content)
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky Yarn #6
Yardage/Weight: 170g, 106 yards (solids)
Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low
Click here to check out Wool Ease Thick & Quick!
Stroll from Knit Picks/We Crochet
Stroll is an amazingly soft yarn that has a wool and nylon component, making it a perfect sock yarn – but it also does just as well for mittens.
You can get Stroll in solids, tweeds, tonals, gradients and even hand painted! You’ll have no shortage of ideas with all these gorgeous options. (Shown is the tonals).
If you are looking for a light weight yarn to crochet or knit up some mittens, this yarn is for you.
Fiber Content: 75% fine superwash merino wool, 25% nylon
Yarn Weight: Fingering (#1)
Yardage/Weight: 50g, 231 yards
Care: Machine Wash Gentle, Tumble Dry Low
Click here to check out Stroll!
Common Mitten Yarn Questions
Depending upon the weight of your yarn and the size mittens you are making, you could need anywhere from 50 to 250 yards to knit or crochet a pair of mittens. One skein of yarn is usually sufficient even for adult mittens, but on rare occasion you might need two.
Sock yarn makes wonderful mittens! The wool component keeps you nice and warm while the nylon component helps the mittens hold up to wear and tear. Plus, a lot of sock yarns are meant to be washed over and over again, so they will hold up to a lot of wear.
You can use a good merino wool to knit or crochet mittens, but be aware that most of the time they will have to be hand washed if made with 100% merino. If you want to be able to wash your mittens in the machine, be sure to choose a superwash or a blend.
Cotton does not make a great choice for mittens because it is not a very warm yarn, so you will end up with cold fingers. Plus, if you happen to wear your mittens out in the snow and they get wet, the cotton yarn will freeze and your hands will be icy.
Looking for an awesome mitten pattern?
Check out this collection of amazing knit mittens and gloves or this collection of amazing crochet mittens and gloves!
If you like fingerless mitts, check out crochet fingerless mitts and knit fingerless mitts, too!
Well, that about wraps it up for our talk about the best yarn for mittens. I hope this guide was helpful – and that you’ll give a new mitten pattern a try sometime soon!
Happy Knitting or Crocheting!
Amanda
Want More “Best Yarn” Posts? Check These Out:
How to Choose a Yarn for Your Next Pair of Mittens
Learn how to choose a yarn for your next (or first!) pair of mittens.
Materials
- Information for chosen yarns, either from yarn labels or online
Tools
- None
Instructions
- Find the yarn label on your yarn or have the information pulled up online.
- Check to see if the yarn is appropriate for the scarf you are making. Will the color(s) compete with the stitch pattern? Is it the right yarn weight?
- Check to see if the yarn is available in the color(s) you want.
- Check the care information for the yarn to determine if you will be able to care for it correctly. Check the fiber content as well to ensure it's what you are looking for.
- Check the cost to ensure it's not more than you're willing to pay.
Once you have checked to make sure all of these items fit your criteria, you'll know if the yarn is a good choice for your mittens or not. It's awesome if you can look at the store and feel the yarn, but if you can't get what you want nearby looking at this information online will help ensure you are getting what you want.
Gerry
Thank you – very informative about the yarn that we can use for making mittens .
Please send pattern for easy mittens
Thank you