Are you planning on making a some amazing scarves? The yarn you choose can make a big difference in how your finished project turns out. I used to think any ol’ yarn would do for my scarf 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 scarves, there are a lot of factors to consider. It will depend upon several factors, such as how elaborate your stitch pattern is, how the yarn curls at the ends and how it feels.
Wait, Can’t You Use Any Yarn for Crochet or Knit Scarves?
While you can use any yarn you like for a crochet or knit scarf pattern, there are huge differences in how the finished project looks and feels due to yarn choice.
It’s perfectly okay to use acrylic, wool, polyester and blends of fibers for scarves. You can even use loop yarn for a needless scarf knitting pattern!
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.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Yarn for Scarves
Let’s take a look at the factors to consider when choosing a yarn for your next (or first!) knit or crochet scarf!
1. How Easy is it to Care For?
If your scarf is going to be worn (and, let’s face it, that’s the goal for making it 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 scarf when it gets 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 laundry. Superwash wool, wool blends, and premium acrylic yarns are all good choices for this, as you’ll see below.
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.
2. What is the Fiber Content?
This really piggybacks on the last question, because the fiber content of the yarn will, in large part, determine how easy it is to care for. When making a scarf, 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 the delicate skin of the neck!).
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular fibers for scarves.
Acrylic
Acrylic is wonderful for a lot of uses, including scarves. It is machine washable, which is the first important item to consider! It’s also relatively inexpensive, so if you are making a larger scarf 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 a scarf 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.
Wool
Another popular choice is wool yarn. This fiber has amazing stitch definition and is super warm. Some people find wool to be itchy or bothersome around their necks, so the type of wool yarn definitely makes a big difference.
Superwash wool is machine washable and very durable. I don’t usually use 100% wool for my scarves, but I know plenty of people who do and love it. 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. I do like to use wool blends in my scarves as they combine the qualitites of wool that I love with the softness of other fibers.
Wool is often blended with acrylic or nylon and can also contain other natural fibers such as alpaca, silk and even bamboo.
3. How Much Does it Cost?
Since you are usually not buying a ton of skeins for a scarf, 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.
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.
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!)
5. What Colors are Available?
Color is another choice you’ll have to make when deciding upon a yarn for your scarf. 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 (which needs a border or it will curl!) 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 Scarves (Crochet or Knit)
There are many different yarns on the market that make amazing scarves, 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 their scarves. It’s inexpensive, comes in a lot of colors, and has excellent stitch definition. Not to mention it’s easy to care for!
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!
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!
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.
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! You can get this yarn in several weights and it comes in many colors. Swish is a superwash wool so it can be laundered.
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!
Blends
Lion Brand Yarn Wool Ease Thick & Quick
This is really the only super bulky yarn that I regularly use for scarves. It has amazing versatility for so many projects, and it really shows off your stitch definition.
I’ve used it for both knit and crochet scarves 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 scarves.
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)
Fiber Content: 75% fine superwash merino wool, 25% nylon
Yardage/Weight: 50g, 231 yards
Care: Machine Wash Gentle, Tumble Dry Low
Click here to check out Stroll!
Color Changing and Variegated Yarn
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!
You can find both a knit and crochet version of the scarf I designed with the Petunia colorway of this yarn.
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!
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 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!
Common Scarf Yarn Questions
There are many great yarn options for scarves. You can use acrylic, wool (especially blends) and other soft natural fibers. Color changing and variegated yarns are also excellent options for scarves.
The best yarn weight for scarves is worsted weight yarn, although DK and bulky yarns are also popular. Worsted is thick enough to keep you warm while keeping excellent stitch definition. Lighter weight yarns are appropriate for delicate spring scarves.
Wool is a good fiber for scarves as long as it’s not too scratchy. Wool yarns vary widely by brand and yarn line, so be sure to check the way the yarn feels against the skin. A superfine wool or a wool blend yarn are both good options.
For a normal length scarf you will only need one to two skeins of yarn. This depends on the yardage of the skein, the weight of the yarn and the pattern used, but most scarves do not take more than two skeins (unless you are making one of the super long scarves!).
Acrylic is a good choice for scarves because it’s so easy to wash, it’s inexpensive and it does not irritate the skin. It doesn’t breathe as well as natural fibers, but most people do not have a problem with the scarf being too warm.
Looking for an awesome scarf or cowl pattern?
Check out this collection of over 25 crochet scarf patterns, 25 crochet infinity scarf patterns and check these collections of over 25 knit scarf patterns and 25 knit cowl patterns.
Well, that about wraps it up for our talk about the best yarn for scarves. I hope this guide was helpful – and that you’ll give a new scarf 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 Scarf
Learn how to choose the right yarn for your next (or first!) scarf.
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 project 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.
Really appreciate the yarn types and the time you spend getting this ready
I have knit for 77 years
I enjoy your posts
Barb