The Best Yarns to Learn to Crochet with

When I first started to teach crochet I went with the flow around what other teachers were doing around me and I used cotton double knitting. Were cottons truly the best yarns to learn to crochet with? The main reasons cited for using cotton were that given it’s rigid structure it helped beginners tension, it is widely available and in great colours. Whilst these reasons are true I found through experimentation and experience that there were some key things for beginners to consider. Whilst it is also true that you can learn to crochet with any yarn, the right materials can improve your overall learning experience. I find that chunky and thicker yarns work best because you can see what you are doing better. You can see your stitches, the definition and more easily find where you are supposed to put your hook. I also find the construction of the yarn and avoiding “splitty” yarns can make a massive difference. This is where cotton yarn does not work for me any more given it’s construction is, generally speaking, very splitty. So what are the best yarns to learn to crochet with? Check out these options that, in my humble opinion, work well.

T-Shirt Yarn

T-shirt yarn can work well and making pots and containers is a popular workshop for beginners as in the picture below of the blue pot. It can however be quite hard on your hands so best for those with good hand strength. It is a bit of a workout! T-shirt yarn has good bounce, has some stretch and is forgiving from a tension point of view. Results can be achieved quickly and this can be very motivating for a beginner. You can even make your own t-shirt yarn and I have a whole other Blog post on how to try this at home. The shop bought t-shirt yarn is always going to be easier to work with in the first instance though as the finish of the yarn is more consistent. The corresponding hook size would be 10-20mm and best to check your ball band for guidance or use your judgement as to the fabric you are creating. T-shirt yarn costs approx £10 for approx 120m but you can buy little balls of Hoooked Zpagetti for a few pounds for little 7.5-10m bundles and these are great little samplers. I like Wool and the Gang Jersey be Good or Hooked Zpagetti. Your local yarn store would be my first port of call but ebay can be a good source too (always check the quantity of yarn being sold on ebay as these differ greatly).

Make your own Seamless T-Shirt Yarn

https://www.woolandthegang.com/en/products/jersey-be-good

https://www.hoookedyarn.com/en/yarn/category/zpagetti

Tape Yarn

So tape yarn is a bit like t-shirt yarn but is thinner, more airy, more pliable and therefore easier on your hands. For these reasons I really think tape yarn is one of the best yarns to learn to crochet with. It has a shoelace structure, like a big knitted tube. It has all the same benefits as t-shirt yarn just creates a softer texture, so where pots are concerned rather than creating a firm plant pot holder you would create a squishier version. A 10mm hook corresponds to this yarn and it is a bit cheaper than t-shirt yarn & with better yardage too. Brands I like are Wool and the Gang Mixtape yarn and Hooked RibbonXL. I have used this to effect upcycling cushion covers. It creates a softer overall effect but still chunky and funky. The cushion front below is crocheted using up leftovers. The cream & dark grey are mixtape yarn and the taupe is t-shirt yarn. The t-shirt yarn is thicker and so I thought I would try just adding a single row stripe as any more than this would have made the tension difference very obvious. I think it works, I really like the effect. This is a really great project for beginner crochet as it is completed using just double crochet stitch, learning to go back & forth in rows and the stripes just give it something extra!

https://www.woolandthegang.com/en/products/mixtape-yarn

https://www.hoookedyarn.com/en/yarn/category/ribbonxl

https://www.retwisst.com/

Super Chunky

I think wool or acrylic can be great for beginners too and there is such variety in this space as one of the best yarns to learn to crochet with. Super chunky and a 10mm hook keeps everything big and visible and growing quickly. You will be inspired to create soft and plush projects like cushions, hats & blankets. I do prefer wool and wool brands I like are Rowan Big Wool for quality, Drops Eskimo for value or Wool and the Gang Heal the Wool for it’s eco credentials (it is made from recycled wool). Wool will generally not be “splitty”. The less spun the yarn is eg. Drops Eskimo the more fibrous the yarn will feel and will not glide as easily on your hook as would a wool that has been through the spinning process and is smoother and firmer. Just bear this in mind.

Acrylic is very widely available and can be a cheaper option to get started with. Just watch out for some of the cheaper acrylics which will “split” and be less comfortable for a beginner. You can test the “splitability” of yarn by holding the strand between your fingers and bending it in on itself lengthways. If it separates or splits into multiple threads as in yarn 1. below then it will be more difficult to work with. Stylecraft Life Super Chunky and Lion brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick should work ok.

Chunky

Yes, chunky yarn is one of the best yarns to learn to crochet with and I would tend to make this the thinnest possible option as a beginner ie. don’t go thinner. The hook size would be 6mm and wool or a wool mix would offer a great choice. I would suggest trying the thicker yarn options first and as your skills progress move down to try thinner yarns. You will be more fluent in knowing where your hook goes, you will recognise the stitches better and have more of a flow on the go! Chunky yarns will lend themselves to softer project choices and finer, so great for baby blankets, hats, blankets and garments!

Shoelace Structure Yarns

This is a category of yarns that I cannot ignore in my list of the best yarns to learn to crochet with. Over the years I have found yarns with a woven structure are an ideal choice for crochet beginners (no splitting). Sometimes these yarns come and go because they are driven by fashion & trends and so I will list the ones I have used and make some suggestions of others that I would like to try. These are a mix of yarn weights and will offer more variety in your projects.

Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton – as far as a cotton yarn is concerned this one is a stand out. It has a woven construction, it is mercerised and so it glides through your hands and with a fantastic sheen to it and comes in a myriad of colours. Lion brand is a US brand and so it is generally only available through one of the online yarn stores like Love Crafts. It is a bit thicker than more common DK cottons – it is a worsted, aran weight and suggested hook size is 4.5mm. It comes in 100g balls, is machine washable and tumble dry friendly, making it very practical for toys, kids clothes, blankets and accessories.

DMC Natura XL – this is unusual as it is a super chunky cotton. It is brushed and so it very soft and would suit vegan crocheters looking for something with the softness of wool and cosyness not generally associated with cotton. It comes in lovely colours, in 100g balls and suggested hook size is 7mm.

Bobbiny Cord – this has similar usage as t-shirt yarn. It is a rigid shoelace structure and works well for pots, containers, bags, home accessories etc. It can be used for macrame too and the cord comes in varying thicknesses. It is good for crochet beginners because it doesn’t split and the 5mm cord would roughly equal super chunky yarn – the 3mm cord roughly a chunky. The Orry Mill in Eaglesham stocks a good selection of this locally and t-shirt yarn/mixtape yarn.

Rico often have a number of shoelace or ribbon yarns and this time finer again down to double knitting (DK). Have a look at Fashion Cotton Double Printed DK, Fashion Cotton Light & Long Tweed DK (amazing yardage), Creative Cotton Colour Coated & Fashion Balance. These yarns are all very summery and would make fabulous scarves or tops. Remember though that yarns with a sheen will be slippier and thus harder to keep an even tension. Better for a bit later in to your crochet journey.

I could go on and on but for now the above selection offers a few options for the early days of crochet.

Don’t Worry

So having said all of the above, if you can’t afford new yarn or can’t justify buying any more!!…….then just use what you have. If you are determined to learn then you won’t let anything stop you. Just a few additional pointers……..

• Check your ball band for suggested hook size to correspond with your chosen yarn. If your tension feels tight, go up a hook size or too loose go down a hook size. What “FEELS” right for you?
• Don’t use mohair, boucle, fur or any other fancy textured yarn as your stitching becomes difficult to see and ripping it back is a nightmare.
• Don’t use dark colours as you can’t see clearly.
• Don’t compare yourself to others as everyone learns at their own pace and needs time to find their own crochet style.
• Don’t worry too much about forcing the perfect hand hold at the beginning as it will generally feel too awkward as a beginner. There is no right or wrong way and over time people find their own preferred methods. I crochet like a knitter but at the end of the day my crochet is neat and uniform and that is all that matters.

JUST ENJOY!

Here at Knitting on Cloud Nine we are passionate about passing on the multi-therapeutic life skills of knitting & crochet. If you are on this journey and want to connect with like minded people then we have a private facebook group where we chat & support one another. We have a mindful 9 minutes of mindful knitting or crochet every Monday evening too and a monthly Knit & Natter on Zoom.

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