You have your next project picked out, and you know exactly what you want to make. The next task…picking out the yarn. But, your project would be well suited for almost any type of fiber, and now you are confused. Do you want an easy-care acrylic? Cool cotton? Warm wool? A soft alpaca? Where do you begin? Read the article for tips on how to choose a yarn.

How to Choose a Yarn For Your Next Project

Each one of those fibers that I mentioned has its good qualities, and it really just comes down to preference in a situation when the project itself isn’t fiber specific.

Acrylic Yarns

If you’re the type of person who really likes an easy-care piece, or the item is for a baby or child, then the acrylic yarn may be the right choice for your project. Keep in mind, acrylic does not mean cheap and scratchy. Over the last several years, many acrylic yarns have been made that are soft, squishy, and feel really great next to the skin (these bode extra well for those who cannot wear wool). It’s just a matter of finding those soft acrylic yarns.

Check out your local yarn shops, the ones that sell some of the higher-end yarns, to see what they have. Just because most local yarn shops stock some higher-end yarns does not mean that they won’t have a reasonably priced, high quality, soft, acrylic yarn. If you don’t have a local yarn shop near you, then check your local craft shops. Some of the big-name labels have been making some very nice acrylic yarns.

Wool Yarns

If you’re looking for warmth, then a natural fiber such as wool, alpaca, or yak might be your best bet. That is if you don’t have a sensitivity or allergy to these types of fibers. Many people do, so if that’s you, you’re not alone. However, if you don’t (or the recipient doesn’t), then this opens up a wide range of yarn choices.

The options for wool are almost endless. The way it looks and feels can vary greatly based on things like the type/breed of sheep that it comes from, the manufacturer, how it was processed, etc. If you are all about how a yarn feels, then making your selection is going to depend on touching and feeling.

For wool, you probably will find your largest selection at a local yarn shop (not counting online shops because you can’t really touch and feel those, before purchasing). If you don’t have one near you, it may be worth taking a fun Saturday afternoon road trip to go to one in a nearby city or town. Once you touch and feel, and find the type and brand of wool that you like, you can always purchase it online in the future. If you have a shop near you, that just makes it easier for you to return there and make other choices later.

Wool yarn is going to be warm, but not quite as easy-care. They do make “superwash” wools, which just means that these selections can be put through the washing machine, usually on a cold, gentle setting. Regular wool is going to be hand wash, all the time. No tumble dryer – only laying flat to air dry. But if you are a traditionalist, and love the idea of a wool sweater, hat, mittens, etc., then these extra steps in the care process may not matter to you so much.

Alpaca Yarns

Alpaca and other unique natural animal fibers are fun alternatives to regular wool. Some people who find that they have sensitivities to wool realize that they can wear alpaca (and other fibers) without that issue. Plus, alpaca is typically very soft and decadent! This is a yarn that you will most likely have to find at a local yarn shop, or online. Some of the big box retailers do carry a version of an alpaca yarn or a mix, but the really luxurious ones will be from one of the higher-end yarn labels.

The best alpaca yarn that I’ve ever worked with was one that I bought from the State Fair here in Wisconsin. It was sheared off of an Alpaca named Dusty right there at the fair and spun on a wheel a few feet away. Fun! It was ridiculously soft and a dream to work with. It was pricey but worth it!

Cotton Yarns

Cotton yarns fall into a wide range category also. They are nice for those people who don’t like wool or acrylic, or who live in warmer climates. Cotton is great for kids and baby projects because it’s a little easier to care for than wool and other animal fibers. They’re also good for summer apparel, housewares, and things of that like. One of the qualities of cotton that I am not a fan of is that it tends to stretch out a bit, and isn’t very easy to get back to its original size or shape.

Cotton, like all of the other fibers, can be found in a wide range of prices and qualities. You can get very inexpensive cotton yarns, at the big box stores, that are made mostly for kitchen items, dishcloths, or home décor. Some of those can be a little on the stiff side, but great for their purpose.

If you head over to your local yarn shop again, you can find some beautifully soft and luxurious cotton yarns. Of course, a little pricier, but depending on what you want to make with them, mostly worth it. If you are concerned about the “stretching out” quality of some cotton yarns, you can also look into a cotton blend. Having a little bit of another fiber type in there (like acrylic, polyester, viscose, etc.) can really help to hold the shape of finished items.

So really the big question you have to ask yourself when selecting a yarn type for your next project, is what do you want it to feel like, does it have to be super warm or very cool, who is it for and does it have to be easy-care based on that, and what do you like. It is a fun process, especially when you get to touch and feel all of the possibilities!

Time to pick out that next project and shop for some yarn!!

Warm Wishes,
Tammy