I was recently asked what I would recommend as the best yarn for a crochet blanket. And it is another one of those “it depends” type answers. But I would also say, that a crochet blanket is probably one of the most versatile and limitless when it comes to options, and one that you’re going to struggle to get wrong.
So what does it depend on?
And there are so many answers to this one too! But I will list the ones that I would consider and then outline some additional questions to then ask yourself and consider.
This is what I would consider, and in this order too:
- The size and style of the blanket you’re making
- Who or what you’re making it for & how it will be use
- Your fibre preferences
- Your colour preferences
- Your budget
Now if you’re planning on making a blanket to a written pattern, then a lot of these choices will be removed for you as you will most likely just go with what the designer wanted. But some designers, like me, will encourage you to choose your own yarn and will provide assistance with options.
Let’s go through the things to consider.
The size and style of the blanket you’re making:
Now this is going to impact every decision after it in the list. The bigger the blanket, the more yarn you’re going to need. If it’s a big blanket you need to consider how long you have to make it and how heavy it is going to end up. You also need to consider the stitch design too as this will impact the yarn choices. You’re not going to want to make an intricately designed pattern with a bulky weight yarn as you will lose the details. A smaller ply or finer weight yarn is going to require a lot more stitches to get to the same size as a bigger ply or heavier weight. Similarly, it is going to take a lot longer to make a blanket if the yarn is a light weight yarn and the stitches are more dense or intricate.
If you’re unsure, then the best option is to choose a DK/8ply weight yarn or a worsted/aran/10ply yarn. These will require a 4 or 5mm hook depending on the yarn and your tension and can be made up reasonably quickly. They’re suitable to most style blankets from basic stitch designs to your more intricate designs. And they have quite a large range of fibres. brands and colours to choose from. If the blanket is a smaller size one, then you could opt for a finer weight yarn, but remember that it will take longer to make. If you’re making a bigger blanket, then you can choose a chunky or bulky weight yarn, but I would limit these to more basic stitch designs.
Who or What You’re Making it for:
Let’s be honest. There are some people that you’re happy to spend more money on, and some that you’re not. There are also some occassions that might warrant a more ‘special’ yarn than others. if you’re going to be selling the blanket, then the cost of the yarn will impact your final price, so you will need to consider what your customer is willing to pay. You also need to consider what it is going to be used for. A baby blanket for every day use is likely to be used and need washing more often than one that is to be kept as an heirloom. A toddler may be likely to drag their blanket all over the place, but a teen or adult may be more likely to leave it in their favourite chair.
How it is going to be used will impact fibre choice. A blanket that is going to be used and washed more regularly will mean you need a hard wearing yarn that can be washed in a washing machine regularly. A blanket that is going to be more decorative, or used and washed less can be made with a less hardy or more fussy yarn. This will mean checking the care instructions on the label and using that as your guide.
Your fibre preferences:
You’re the one making it, so your fibre preferences can definitely be considered. If the size of the blanket and budget and use don’t impact the choice of fibre then I am most likely going to choose cotton. I love the stitch definition that it gives. I also prefer natural fibres over manmade, so I would choose wool over acrylic as both can be simiar in overall appearance. If the blanket is for someone special or a special occassion and budget allowed, then I would also consider a a wool blended with another special fibre like silk or alpaca.
Your preferences may be totally different to mine. And that is ok. We like what we like and we don’t like what we don’t like. No one should judge you for your choices on yarn!
Your colour preferences:
Sometimes you can decide on what you want to then discover that your favourite yarn or the one you want to use isn’t in the colours your want for the project. You then need to decide if you’re sticking with your colour choice or sticking to your preferred yarn. Sometimes sticking to a colour choice can make things much easier. I know when I was designing my tetris blanket that I was driven by the colours needed to make it look realistic. It was the colours that ended up being my deciding factor on the yarn I bought.
Your Budget:
Now this one should go without saying, but I also know that I am not alone in ignoring the cost of yarn when there is something that I really want. But, you really should consider your budget! And some yarns are frequently on sale, so sometimes you just need to wait for the sale to come along.
Hopeully that gives you something to think about when deciding on the yarn you need for your next blanket. I’ve also included some links below to some of my favourite choices of yarns when it comes to blankets. For now it is just a list, but if you’re keen I can write another blog post to outline why each one is a favourite so that you can make a more informed decision.
Let me know if you found this useful and if there is a yarn that is your favourite for blankets!
Seona x
Honouring M.E. Crochet Blog 