New to crochet? Learn how to choose yarn for crochet here and pick the perfect yarn every time!
Handmade knitted crochet flowers. Cotton textile for needlework.
The yarn you use can have a major impact on your finished project. Once you have the hang of crochet there is really no limit to the yarn you can use, from the finest crochet thread to the bulkiest yarn you can find. If they make it, you can crochet it!
However, when you are first starting out you will want to stick with simple, tried and true yarn varieties that have been proven to work well for beginners. There are lots of brands, colors, and textures on the market, but what works the best for a true beginner?
YARN WEIGHT
First, let’s discuss yarn weight. The Craft Yarn Council has created a standard yarn weight system that is extremely helpful in finding the right yarn for your project. They even have great icons on all ball bands so you can quickly and easily see if this yarn is the proper weight for your project.
The yarns are assigned a number from 0 to 7. The thinner the yarn, the lower the number. The newest category 7 is for Jumbo yarns that are usually used for arm knitting.
Most people recommend a worsted weight yarn, which is very easy to find and affordable. It works up quickly but isn’t too bulky. It is assigned a number 4 on the standard yarn weight system.
I also like a bulky yarn (weight number 5), as you really get excited when you see how quickly your project is working up. You can try this as a beginner, but I would save the Super Bulky (number 6) for a little while until you get the hang of the basic stitches. Then, using that yarn will make your projects work up amazingly quickly!
Try to save the fingering weight yarn (weight #1) or sport weight yarn (weight #2) for later after you are more comfortable crocheting.
Whatever weight yarn you choose, you can find the recommended crochet hook size on the yarn label. This will give you a good idea of what size hook works best with your chosen yarn.
YARN FIBER CONTENT
A lot of people start out with the cheapest acrylic they can buy. I know I did! However I was soon disappointed by how it rubbed my fingers raw and how the stitches had a tendency to split.
Once I discovered the many fiber options out there it was amazing how it changed my crocheting. I really like to crochet with cotton yarn, but many people find those difficult for beginners because there is not a lot of stretch to the yarn. I have never had a problem crocheting it and love the way it looks.
If you want to use synthetic yarn, and I certainly use my fair share of it, avoid the bargain-basement brands and go with a nicer acrylic yarn. These nicer yarns will be labeled Premium Acrylic and there are a lot of good options out there.
Wool yarn is another good option for beginner crocheters. It can be a bit rough on the skin when you are not used to it, but it stretches well and the texture is nice so you can see your stitches. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to wool, so make sure the person you are making for doesn’t have any sensitivities.
If you want to try a wool yarn, I’d recommend a superwash merino wool, as it can be machine washed and dried. Then, you get the benefits of wool with the easy care of acrylic!
If you’d prefer another natural fiber besides wool, there are an amazing array of other types of fibers out there on the market. You can get bamboo yarn, alpaca yarn and even silk yarn and blends that are seriously amazing.
If you’re in doubt about the fiber content of your yarn, be sure to check the yarn label. It will always have the fiber content listed, so you’re sure to know what type of yarn you are crocheting with.
COLOR
It’s much easier to see your stitches if you use a solid, light color. It may be tempting to buy color-changing yarns or darker colors, but save those for once you’ve gotten the hang of the basic stitches.
The hardest part for me when learning to crochet was seeing the stitches, and I finally learned on a white yarn! In fact, color is so important that the CGOA Master of Crochet Stitches and Techniques program requires that the 48 swatches you create for them are in a solid, light color so they can see stitch definition. It matters!
TEXTURE
Save textured yarn and novelty yarn for later. For a beginner, you will want to stick to smooth yarns. It’s easier to see the stitches with a smooth yarn. I have used an eyelash yarn before and had to guess where my stitches were – I did okay because I had been crocheting for a while but definitely would not recommend that for a beginner
EASE OF CARE
I also used to pay no attention to the care instructions on the yarn label. I guess it didn’t really occur to me that I might actually want to clean my projects after they were made!
If you don’t mind hand washing your project then you can use any yarn out there. However, I don’t often take the time to hand wash anything, so I vastly prefer things that can be thrown in the machine. If it can also be tossed in the dryer that’s even a bigger plus in my book.
If you’re making something for babies ease of care is something that is even more important. Babies are messy! There is no doubt that if a baby item gets any use, it will need to be washed at some point. If I’m making for a baby, machine washable yarn is a must.
