Looking to knit or crochet a sweater or cardigan? Find the best yarn for sweaters here, including the best yarn recommendations plus tips and tricks.
A sweater 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 knit or crochet sweater, and today we are going to look at these in depth.
What to Consider when Choosing the Best Yarn for Sweaters
Let’s take a look at all the factors that should come into play when choosing the perfect yarn for your next sweater project.
1. Ease of Care
This is a big one in my book. I want a sweater that is easy to care for (especially if I make them for my 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 sweater gets dirty (and, let’s face it, if you wear the sweater 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 with ease.
I vastly prefer to machine wash my sweaters. Ideally I like them to go in the dryer, too, but as long as I can at least toss them in the washing machine, I’m good to go.
I’ve made a lot of sweaters in my designing career (I started out designing sweaters for magazines) and I used to only care how the yarn looked. I’ve learned SO much since then! Now I always check the care instructions on the yarn label before making my final choice.
2. Fiber Content
This really goes along with the first factor because the fiber content of the yarn is a huge factor in how easy it is to care for. When knitting or crocheting a sweater, you want to choose a yarn that feels soft, is a joy to work with and fits the intended end use (summer or winter, etc).
For example, if you are making a thick, cozy sweater 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 sweater out of super bulky wool.
It really depends upon how you intend to wear the sweater when it is complete. Decorative sweater that you can hand wash? Any yarn will probably do that looks good. Baby sweater? That yarn had better be super soft, made for babies and machine washable.
If you’re planning on wearing your sweater on one of these coziest winter vacations in the US, you’ll need a warm yarn!
3. Cost
Sweaters can eat up a lot of yarn, especially if you are making one larger than a baby sweater. Even a toddler or child sweater 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 an adult sweater with a yarn like that would cost a pretty penny.
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 sweater project or even a dress.
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, especially when it’s something I will be wearing.
So as much as I love online shopping, there is just something about being able to handle the yarn that appeals to me. I like to squish it! 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 and Knit Picks.
5. Color
For me, the color of a yarn is often the first thing that speaks to me. I walk by or am browsing online and I see an amazing color that I think would work well for my project (or I just think it’s pretty haha!).
Only after I peruse the color choices do I feel the yarn (if I’m in person). I’m particularly drawn to shades of blue and teal for sweaters for myself, and darker shades of blue or gray for my boys (although I do let them pick out the yarn for their own sweaters).
Check the color choices of the yarn you are considering. That can be a deal breaker if the chosen yarn doesn’t come in the color you like. Color is super important! It can be the difference between a sweater you love and one that is just okay.
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Best Yarns for Sweaters
There are many different yarns on the market that make amazing sweaters, 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.
DK Weight Yarn (Category #3)
Lion Brand Coboo
Coboo is a wonderful cotton and bamboo blend and I love it so much for lightweight summer tops. This yarn is super affordable and I’ve even seen it at my local Wal Mart.
I made the Easy V-Neck Crochet Top with this yarn and I am in love with the drape and feel of it. Definitely a sweater that gets a lot of use when it’s warm out (it’s sleeveless).
Fiber Content: 50% cotton, 50% rayon from bamboo
Yarn Weight: DK (#3)
Yardage/Weight: 232 yards/100g
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to see more of Coboo!
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Swish DK from Knit Picks/We Crochet
This superfine merino wool is so soft you won’t believe it’s wool at all! This is a superwash wool, so you can throw it in the washer, and believe it or not it comes out even softer than before!
You can also get Swish in worsted and bulky weights and comes in many gorgeous colors, so you’re bound to find one you love for your next sweater.
Fiber Content: 100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool
Yarn Weight: DK (#3) but also comes in worsted (#4) and bulky (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 123 yards/50g
Care: Machine Wash Gentle Cold / Tumble Dry Low
Click here to check out Swish DK!
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Worsted Weight Yarn (Category #4)
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 sweater to blankets to hats and mittens, this is one of my go-to soft yarns.
I’ve designed two baby sweaters with this yarn – the Sleepy Bunny Sweater and the Polar Bear Sweater.
Fiber Content: 100% Polyester
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight yarn (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 218 yards/3.5oz
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to check out Feels Like Butta yarn!
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Lion Brand Heartland
This premium acrylic yarn is one that I have chosen to make items for my boys with. I love the way it’s gently heathered and it feels amazing.
I created the Kid’s Saddle Shoulder Sweater with this yarn and my son adores it. It washes well and he loves how comfortable it is.
Fiber Content: 100% acrylic (tweeds have a slight rayon content)
Yarn Weight: Worsted weight yarn (#4)
Yardage/Weight: 251 yards/142g
Click here to check out Heartland yarn!
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Bulky Yarn (Category #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
Care: Machine wash, tumble dry low
Click here to check out Biggo yarn!
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Berroco Comfort Chunky
This is seriously one of my favorite acrylic blends of all time. I remember the first time I picked up a skein of Berroco Comfort in a local yarn store. I couldn’t believe it was mostly acrylic!
This yarn is soft enough that I chose it for the Orchard Sweater I designed – and I’ve also used it’s worsted cousin for a sweater for myself!
And don’t think that just because I found it in a local yarn store it’s expensive – this yarn is less than $8 a skein regular price!
Fiber Content: 50% super fine nylon, 50% super fine acrylic
Yarn Weight: Bulky weight yarn (#5)
Yardage/Weight: 150 yards/100g
Care: Machine wash
Click here to check out Berroco Comfort Chunky!
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Super Bulky Yarn (Category #6)
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick
This is my go-to super bulky yarn. I love the color choices, the feel of the yarn and how great the stitches look in this yarn. It’s one of my faves!
I’ve been using this yarn since I first started knitting in 2006. I’ve both knit and crocheted with it and have made my hubs a sweater in it (that I never released on the blog). It’s super comfy and warm and he loves it!
Fiber Content: 80% acrylic, 20% wool
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (#6)
Yardage/Weight: 106 yards/170g
Care: Machine wash and dry
Click here to see Wool Ease Thick & Quick!
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Malabrigo Rasta
If you don’t mind hand washing your sweater, this is the yarn of your dreams. The colors are absolutely to dye for (haha!), it’s one of the most amazing yarns to knit or crochet with, and it’s super comfortable to wear.
I knit an Elbow Patch Sweater using this yarn in a tonal brown shade and I love, love how it turned out (I used the rest of the yarn to make mittens and a headband and love them all).
Fiber Content: 100% Merino Wool
Yarn Weight: Super Bulky (#6)
Yardage/Weight: 90 yards/150g
Care: Hand wash
But what about novelty yarn?
There aren’t many novelty yarns out there that I think make good sweater yarn. The best I can think of is a yarn like Bernat Pipsqueak yarn, which is more of a furry type yarn and might be okay for a baby sweater. I have some true hand spun novelty yarn in my stash, and I can’t imagine making a sweater out of it, but I’m sure there are some out there that make sweaters with novelty yarn.
Common Sweater Questions
The best fibers are acrylic, polyester, wool (especially superwash wool) and fiber blends. You want a yarn that is easy to care for, feels good to your skin both while working with it and while wearing it and doesn’t break the bank.
The best yarn weights for sweaters are DK, worsted, bulky and super bulky. There are some amazing sweaters knit or crochetd from fingering or sport weight yarns as well, but the most common weights are a bit heavier.
Acrylic yarn is an excellent choice for sweaters because it holds up well to washing, comes in an amazing array of colors, and is not terribly expensive. A premium acrylic can feel as soft as natural fibers and makes an excellent choice for sweaters.
When looking for a super soft yarn for sweaters, go for a fiber blend that contains cashmere, angora, alpaca or other soft animal fibers blended with an acrylic, rayon or nylon component for durability. There are also some super soft superwash wool blends out there.
While you can use a single ply yarn for sweaters, you should be aware that it will not hold up as well as a yarn with more plies. I’ve found when working with single ply that it tends to break if pulled too hard. It does show excellent stitch definition, but it may not last as long.
Cotton is a great choice for a lighterweight summer sweaters and cardigans. Cotton breathes well, feels great and pulls moisture away from your skin, making it ideal for warm weather garments.
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Today we’ve learned about the best yarn for sweaters, whether you choose to knit or crochet them. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post!
Happy Knitting and Crocheting!
Amanda
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How to Choose a Yarn for Your Next Sweater
Learn how to choose a great yarn for your next (or first!) sweater.
Materials
- Yarn labels of your choice, or information found online about chosen yarn
Tools
- None
Instructions
- Find the yarn label on your yarn(s) of choice or have the information pulled up online.
- 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 sweater 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.
Martha
Have you tried to knit a sweater with the new yarn from Bernat forever fleece 6 mm, would it be to chunky or stiff?
Thank you!
amanda
I’ve felt the Forever Fleece in the stores and it’s really nice and soft. I don’t think it would be stiff, but it is a very heavy weight yarn, so it would be pretty chunky.