Are you planning on making a some knit or crochet potholders? The yarn you choose can make a big difference in how durable the finished potholder is, and with the kind of heat it will be subjected to you can’t take a chance with any old yarn. Today we are going to look at the best yarn for potholders so your finished project will hold up for years.
When choosing a yarn for your knit or crochet potholder, there are a number of things to think about. You have a lot of stitch options to pick from, so if you go with a more complicated stitch, make sure the yarn will show it off. The wrong yarn can cover up all of that labor. The most crucial thing to consider is how well the yarn can handle heat.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Yarn for Potholders
Let’s take a look at the factors to consider when choosing a yarn for your next (or first!) crochet or knit potholder.
1. How well will it hold up in the kitchen?
Let’s face it, these finished items are meant to be used and abused – and they touch hot stuff! So you want a yarn that can hold up to the wear and tear of holding hot items and being used as trivets, and also getting wet over and over and being thrown in the washing machine. Not every yarn can handle this.
Many yarns will melt if they touch high heat, so steer clear of any type of synthetic yarn, as they will melt. You might want to use a potholder as a hot pad, too, which can have hot items on it for a long time.
When choosing a yarn, check the yarn label to ensure it can be machine washed. These yarns will hold up much better than yarns that need to be hand washed (and who wants to hand wash a potholder??). Potholders will get dirty if they are used, so they need to be able to go through a wash cycle.
It’s much better to be able to pop these in the dirty laundry and wash them with everything else. This ensures they get truly clean and (hopefully) sanitized along the way. So the first thing to look for is a good durable yarn that can handle heat.
2. What is the Fiber Content?
This really piggybacks on the first question, because the fiber content of the yarn will, in large part, determine how easy it is to care for and how well it handles heat. When crocheting or knitting potholders, you want a yarn that won’t kill your hands while you are making it (not too rough), has wonderful stitch definition, can handle touching hot item and holds up to the wear and tear of kitchen use.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular fibers for potholder patterns. You will find that natural fiber yarns are the best choices, so steer clear of synthetic fiber yarns.
Cotton
The most popular choice is cotton yarn. This fiber has amazing stitch definition and is what I prefer for all of my kitchen use items, especially potholders. Cotton can handle the heat without melting, it’s aborbant and it’s a decent insulator, which means it can help keep the heat away from your hands.
Most cotton yarns are machine washable, although some can stretch out of shape a bit, so it’s best to look for a cotton made for kitchen use (don’t worry, we have a lot of good options below!).
You can find sturdy cotton yarn made for kitchen use in most any color and very inexpensively (even at most WalMart stores!). There are also other great cotton blend options, which we will look at below as well.
Wool
Wool yarn is another great choice for potholders that is known to be heat-resistant. It is used for potholders because it absorbs heat better than even cotton.
Wool is not quite as easy to wash as cotton, although you can get superwash wool that is able to be thrown in the washing machine.
There are a lot of great wool yarns that are suitable for potholders, and we will look at several below.
3. How Easy is it to Care for?
Like we mentioned in the durability section, you want a yarn that is super easy to care for. These projects are meant to be used, not just sit around and look pretty! (Although they can certainly be pretty, too!)
Always, always check the care instructions on the yarn label. For each recommended yarn below you will see the care information, and I’ve only chosen yarns that are machine washable, as I expect nothing less from the yarns in my kitchen.
4. How Much Does it Cost?
Since you are making a small item, this doesn’t factor in as much as if you were making something larger like a baby blanket or rug. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care how much the yarn costs!
Most kitchen cotton is super inexpensive, can be found online and at your local craft store (sometiems even at Walmart!) and comes in so many colors. Cost shouldn’t really be a major factor when choosing a yarn, but it can be a deciding factor if choosing between two yarns.
5. Where Can I Get 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.
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.
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!)
6. What Colors are Available?
Another factor to consider when picking a yarn for your potholder is the color. The color you pick will have a big impact on how satisfied you are with the finished product and how well it matches with the kitchen décor of its intended user.
Because some yarns do not come a wide range of colors, if you pick one of them, you will be restricted as to what color you may make. As a result, you should select a yarn that comes in many different hues so that you aren’t limited by the selection and can match any kitchen decor. There are several wonderful yarns out there that come in a wide variety of colors.
Want an Extra Layer of Protection?
When I make any type of potholder or oven mitt, I always add a layer of Insul-Bright, which is made just for this purpose. It doesn’t break down with washing and does an amazing job protecting your hands.
I first saw it at my local JoAnn and it really intrigued me – an inner layer specifically made for insulating items like pot holders, oven mitts and casserole covers? It’s not just for hot items, either. You can also use it for lunch sacks to keep cold foods cold!
Now I’m in love with this insulating material and I used it recently in my double thick crochet potholder pattern.
Click here to learn more about Insul-Bright.
Best Yarn for Knit or Crochet Potholder Patterns
There are many different yarns on the market that make amazing knitted and crocheted creations, 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, which is why I’m calling this the best yarn for potholders.
I’ve broken them down by yarn type (fiber) so you can easily choose the yarn that best meets your needs. These yarns all work well for both crochet and knit potholder patterns.
Cotton Yarn
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
24/7 Cotton is a wonderful mercerized cotton that would be completely amazing for any kitchen project. This yarn has been used for years as a favorite – and it’s made a lot of “best” cotton yarn lists!
Fiber Content: 100% Mercerized Cotton
Yardage/Weight: 186 yards/3.5oz
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out 24/7 Cotton yarn!
Dishie
This great cotton is one of my favorites! It’s tough enough to be used in kitchen items (hence the name), but soft enough for amigurumi. It comes in a wide variety of colors (including Multi and Twist) and is a real value.
Fiber Content: 100% Cotton
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight #4
Yardage/Weight: 190 yards/100g
Click here to check out Dishie Yarn!
Lily Sugar N Cream Yarn
This is a huge favorite among both knitters and crocheters who make kitchen items. It’s been around forever, can be found just about everywhere yarn is sold, and is super durable and inexpensive.
Fiber Content: 100% USA grown Cotton
Yardage/Weight: (Solids) 2.5oz and 120 yards
Care: Machine Wash and Dry
Click here to check out Lily Sugar N Cream Yarn!
A very similar, equally popular option is Peaches N Cream yarn .
Cotton Blend Yarn
CotLin
I love CotLin for making kitchen items! This cotton blend is a dream to work with, has amazing stitch definition and comes in a ton of colors. It’s a must-try. The reason it’s the only blend on the list is because it does NOT have a synthetic component. The other natural fiber here is linen.
Fiber Content: 70% Tanguis Cotton, 30% Linen
Yarn Weight: DK #3
Yardage/Weight: 50g, 123 yards
Care: Machine washable, tumble dry low
Click here to check out CotLin!
Wool
Swish Bulky
If you are looking for a chunky wool yarn, this is it!! This yarn is a superwash merino wool so you can machine wash it!! If you are looking for a thick yarn to make your potholder out of, then this is it, although you can also get Swish in worsted and DK.
Fiber Content: 100% superwash merino wool
Yarn Weight: Chunky (#5) – Also available in Worsted (#4) and DK (#3)
Yardage/Weight: 100g, 137 yards
Care: Machine Wash Gentle Cold / Tumble Dry Low
Click here to check out Swish Bulky!
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.
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!
Lion Brand Superwash Merino
I love this superwash merino wool that comes in over 25 colors. It’s very soft and strong and since it’s superwash it can be machine washed and dried.
Fiber Content: 100% Superwash Merino Wool
Yarn Weight: Worsted (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 306 yards/100g
Care: Machine wash, lay flat to dry
Click here to check out LBY Superwash Merino!
Common Potholder Yarn Questions
You should not use a synthetic fiber yarn for a potholder or hot pad/trivet. These fibers will melt when they come into contact with heat, so you need a natural fiber yarn such as cotton or wool, which can handle the heat without melting and are good insulators.
It typically only takes one skein of yarn to make a simple potholder, whether it is knitted or crocheted. A typical size for a potholder is 8-9 inches square, so it will take 85-90 yards of worsted weight yarn for this project, unless you are doing it double thick.
The best yarns for heat resistance are cotton or wool. You want a natural fiber that will not melt, so stay away from acrylic, nylon or polyester, or any yarn that uses a blend of these.
For most you will just need to know the basic crochet stitches: chains, single crochet, double crochet stitch and slip stitch being the most common. If you are knitting you will need to know how to cast on, work the knit stitch and purl stitch (or just knit if you are working garter stitch) and bind off.
No! Please do NOT use acrylic yarn for your potholders, as it will not protect you from the heat and it could possibly melt if it comes in contact with a heat source. Save your acrylic for another project, and choose a good cotton or wool yarn instead.
Well, that about wraps it up for our talk about the best yarn for potholders. I hope this guide was helpful – and that you’ll give a kitchen item a try sometime soon!
Happy Knitting or Crocheting!
Amanda
Want More “Best Yarn” Posts? Check These Out:
How to Choose a Yarn for Potholders
Learn how to choose the right yarn for your next (or first!) potholder pattern.
Materials
- Information from yarn labels or online
Tools
- None
Instructions
- Find the yarn label on your chosen yarn or have the information pulled up online.
- Check the fiber content to ensure it's a good choice for potholders (cotton, cotton blend made with natural fiber, wool).
- Check the care information to ensure you can wash it easily.
- Check to ensure this yarn comes in the color(s) you want.
- Check the cost to make sure it's within your budget.
- Be sure to pick up some Insul Bright if you'd like to use it! Available online via the link above or at your local craft store.
Margot Beebe
I know how to install batting between 2 woven fabric layers but I’m not sure how Insul-Bright would be caught between layers of knit yarn. Can you point me in the right direction?
amanda
Hi Margot! I actually took thread and basted it in to one side of my potholder and then crocheted around the edge. I’m sure you could also poke holes in it and crochet through the layers that way, too. It’s really cool stuff that actually works well!