The Best Knitting Yarn For Beginners (A Guide)
THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.In this blog post, you will see the best knitting yarn for beginners (a guide).
When you’re just starting out with knitting, having the right yarn is crucial.
From soft, easy-to-work-with acrylic yarns to luxurious, natural fibers like merino wool, this list has something for everyone.
Watch for affordable options, versatile yarns, and fun color choices that inspire your next project.
What Are The Best Yarns For Beginners?
Choosing the right yarn is crucial for beginner knitters.
Start with worsted weight yarn, which is versatile and easy to handle.
Opt for natural fibers like wool or cotton—they're forgiving and easy to work with.
Acrylic yarn is also a great choice for practice, as it's affordable and available in many colors.
Look for smooth, non-textured yarns to avoid frustration with tricky stitches.
Begin with light or medium colors to see your stitches clearly.
Check out the list of yarns below to find the perfect one for you.
Paintbox Yarns Wool Blend Worsted
This is a versatile and beginner-friendly yarn composed of 50% wool and 50% acrylic.
This blend combines the warmth and elasticity of wool with the durability and easy care of acrylic, making it machine washable and practical for various projects.
This is the perfect yarn for beginner knitters and crochet beginners.
Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick
This is a popular bulky yarn ideal for beginners.
It combines the warmth and softness of wool with the easy care of acrylic, making it machine washable and durable.
This super bulky yarn is perfect for quick projects like scarves, hats, and blankets, and its large stitches are easy to see and work with.
It is also a great beginner knitting yarn, helping new knitters build confidence and achieve fast results.
Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran
This is a versatile and medium-weight yarn made from 100% acrylic.
It is soft, durable, and machine washable, making it ideal for a wide range of projects, from garments to home decor.
The yarn comes in a variety of vibrant colors, allowing beginners to experiment with different patterns and color combinations.
A great yarn for beginner crocheters and knitters.
Lion Brand Hometown USA
This is a super bulky yarn made of 100% acrylic, ideal for beginners.
It is known for its softness and quick workup, making it perfect for fast projects like scarves, hats, and pillows.
The yarn is machine washable and available in a variety of vibrant colors, which helps beginners see stitches clearly and complete projects quickly.
Bernat Blanket
This is a super bulky, 100% polyester yarn known for its softness and quick workup, making it perfect for cozy projects like blankets and throws.
It is machine washable and comes in a variety of colors, which helps beginners see their stitches clearly and complete projects quickly.
The Wool by We Are Knitters
This is a chunky, 100% Peruvian wool yarn that is ideal for beginners due to its thickness and softness.
The yarn's large gauge makes it easy to handle and see stitches, which is perfect for quick and cozy projects like scarves and blankets.
This yarn is available in a variety of natural shades, making it a versatile choice for creating textured items.
The animal fibers make it perfect for winter projects.
Use my code – MGM4VHHAT – for 10 off on your WAK yarn order.
The Petite Wool by We Are Knitters
Yarnicorn is a soft and chunky yarn made from 100% Peruvian wool.
It is designed to be easy for beginners to use due to its thickness, which makes stitches easy to see and handle.
This yarn is perfect for creating cozy, quick-knit projects such as scarves, hats, and sweaters.
The colorway makes it a great choice for simple patterns.
Use my code – MGM4VHHAT – for 10 off on your WAK yarn order.
Lion Brand Hue & Me
This is a bulky weight yarn made of 80% acrylic and 20% wool, designed in collaboration with Two of Wands.
This yarn is perfect for beginners due to its softness, ease of care, and the ability to quickly create warm and cozy projects like scarves, hats, and sweaters.
It offers excellent stitch definition and comes in a wide variety of modern, harmonious colors.
A ball of yarn is perfect for a hat pattern.
Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky
This is a bulky yarn blend of 50% wool and 50% acrylic.
This super chunky yarn is excellent for beginners due to its thick texture, which makes it easy to handle and helps projects work up quickly.
Ideal for warm and cozy items like blankets, scarves, and hats, it offers good stitch definition and is available in a variety of colors.
A great choice for a first project.
Hayfield Bonus Super Chunky
This is a bulky yarn made of 100% premium acrylic, which is perfect for beginners due to its affordability, durability, and ease of care.
This yarn works up quickly, making it ideal for creating warm, cozy items like scarves, hats, and blankets.
Its large gauge helps beginners see their stitches clearly and complete projects faster.
Debbie Bliss Super Chunky Merino
This is a luxurious yarn made from 100% merino wool, offering exceptional softness and warmth.
Its super chunky weight makes it ideal for beginners, as it knits up quickly and makes it easy to see and manage stitches.
Perfect for cozy garments and accessories, this yarn is both elegant and practical.
The natural fiber content makes it a good choice for winter projects.
Malabrigo Chunky
This is a 100% merino wool yarn, known for its incredible softness and rich, vibrant colors.
Its chunky weight makes it easy to work with, ideal for beginners looking to create quick, warm, and cozy projects like scarves, hats, and blankets.
The yarn is hand-dyed, giving each skein a unique color pattern and making every project distinctive.
A great choice for beginner and advanced knitters.
Rowan Big Wool
This 100% merino wool yarn is perfect for beginners due to its super bulky weight, which makes it easy to see stitches and work up projects quickly.
It is incredibly soft and warm, ideal for cozy items like scarves, hats, and blankets.
Available in a variety of vibrant colors, it offers excellent stitch definition and a luxurious feel. This is the best knitting yarn for all makers.
The Best Yarn Weights For Beginners
For beginners, the best yarn weights to start with are worsted weight and bulky yarns.
These yarns are easy to handle and see, making it simpler to learn and master basic stitches.
Worsted weight yarn is versatile and commonly used in many beginner patterns, providing a good balance between thickness and manageability.
Bulky yarn, being thicker, allows for quicker project completion and helps new knitters see their progress faster.
Both yarn weights are forgiving and help prevent the frustration that can come with using finer or more intricate yarns.
Starting with these yarn weights will set beginners up for successful and enjoyable knitting experiences.
What is yarn weight?
Yarn weight refers to the thickness of the yarn strand.
It is a crucial aspect that affects the gauge (number of stitches per inch) and the final texture and appearance of the knitted or crocheted fabric.
Yarn weight determines how heavy or light, thick or thin a project will be, and influences the type of projects for which the yarn is suitable.
The numbered system created by the Craft Yarn Council helps the makers identify the different types of yarn.
Learn everything about the different yarn weights here – Yarn Weight Guide (+ Yarn Conversion Chart)
Yarn Weights Explained
Worsted Weight (Medium #4)
Worsted weight yarn is ideal for beginners due to its balanced thickness, making it easy to handle and see individual stitches.
It offers versatility for various projects, such as scarves, hats, blankets, and sweaters.
Widely available in numerous brands and colors, it provides a smooth learning experience.
Learn everything about worsted weight yarn here – What Is Worsted Weight Yarn?
Bulky Weight (Bulky #5)
Bulky weight yarn works up quickly, allowing beginners to complete projects like scarves and hats faster, which boosts confidence and motivation.
The larger stitches are easy to see and manage, simplifying the learning process.
Its cozy and warm nature makes it perfect for creating chunky, comfortable items.
Learn everything about bulky-weight yarn here – What Is Bulky Weight Yarn?
Super Bulky Weight (Super Bulky #6)
Super bulky weight yarn is excellent for beginners seeking immediate gratification, as projects made with it progress rapidly.
The thick yarn and large stitches are very easy to see and count, reducing frustration for new crafters.
Ideal for making quick, cozy blankets and oversized accessories, it helps beginners achieve noticeable progress quickly.
Learn everything about super bulky weight yarn here – What Is Super Bulky Weight Yarn?
Best Yarn Fibers For Beginners
What exactly are yarn fibers?
Yarn fibers are the raw materials used to create yarn, which is then used for knitting, crocheting, weaving, and other textile crafts.
The type of fiber determines the yarn’s properties, such as softness, elasticity, durability, and care requirements.
Understanding different yarn fibers helps crafters choose the right yarn for their projects and achieve the desired results in terms of texture, warmth, and appearance.
Learn everything about the different types of fibers here – Yarn Types Explained: A Guide To Different Fibers
The best yarn fibers for new knitters
Acrylic
Acrylic yarn is affordable and widely available, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
It is machine washable and durable, which is ideal for practice projects that may require frequent washing.
The wide range of colors and smooth texture make it easy to work with and see stitches clearly.
Cotton
Cotton yarn is soft, breathable, and perfect for making summer garments, dishcloths, and accessories.
Its smooth texture makes it easy to see and work with stitches, though it has less stretch than other fibers.
Being easy to care for and machine washable, it is practical for beginners’ projects.
Wool
Wool yarn is warm, elastic, and forgiving, which helps beginners correct mistakes easily.
It provides good stitch definition and is versatile for projects like scarves, hats, and sweaters.
Although it can be slightly more expensive, and some people may have allergies, its natural feel and warmth make it a favorite.
Blends (Wool – Acrylic, Wool – Nylon)
Blended yarns combine the best qualities of different fibers, such as the warmth and elasticity of wool, with the durability and affordability of acrylic.
These blends are often softer and easier to care for than pure wool, making them suitable for a wide range of beginner projects.
They provide a balance of ease of use, affordability, and versatility.
How To Determine What Size Knitting Needle To Use?
To determine the appropriate knitting needle size, start by checking the yarn label, which typically provides a recommended needle size tailored to that yarn’s weight.
If you’re following a pattern, use the needle size specified to achieve the correct gauge.
Knit a gauge swatch with this needle size and measure your stitches and rows per inch, comparing them to the pattern’s gauge requirements.
If your gauge doesn’t match, adjust the size of the needles accordingly—use larger needles if your stitches are too tight and smaller needles if they’re too loose.
Additionally, consider the desired fabric texture and your personal knitting tension, as tighter knitters may need larger needles, and looser knitters may need smaller ones.
By combining these guidelines and adjustments, you can select the best needle for your project.
Learn how to read a yarn label here – How To Read A Yarn Label (Step By Step)
Check out the best knitting needles for beginners here – Best Knitting Needles For Beginners
Dive Into More Yarn Facts
Yarns Beginners Should Avoid
Novelty Yarns
Novelty yarns include varieties like eyelash, boucle, and fur yarns that have an unusual texture or appearance.
The textured or fluffy nature of these yarns makes it difficult to see individual stitches, which can be frustrating for beginners trying to learn and perfect basic techniques.
Dark Colors
Yarns in very dark colors such as black, navy, or deep brown.
Dark colors make it hard to see stitches clearly, increasing the difficulty in identifying mistakes and learning new patterns.
Thin Yarns (Lace, Fingering Weight)
Very fine yarns like lace weight and fingering weight.
These thin yarns require smaller needles and more stitches, which can be tedious and challenging for beginners to manage and see.
Single Ply Yarns
Yarns made of a single strand, which are often loosely spun.
Single ply yarns can split easily while knitting or crocheting, making it difficult to create even stitches and maintain consistent tension.
Highly Textured or Metallic Yarns
Yarns with high texture, sequins, or metallic threads.
These yarns can snag and tangle easily, complicating the learning process for beginners who need to focus on mastering basic stitches and techniques.
Very Expensive Yarns
High-end luxury fibers such as cashmere, mohair, silk, or rare blends.
Beginners are likely to make mistakes as they learn, and using expensive yarn can add unnecessary pressure and cost.
More affordable yarns allow for practice without worrying about the cost of errors.
By steering clear of these types of yarns, beginners can ensure a smoother, more enjoyable learning experience, allowing them to focus on mastering the basics before moving on to more complex materials.
Check out more tips for new knitters here – Knitting Tips For Beginners
Knitting Lessons
If you are new to knitting and need help with the basics, check out these posts here: Knitting Lessons (With Video Tutorials).
There, you will find step-by-step tutorials for all the different knitting techniques a newbie needs to know.
This includes how to cast on, how to bind off, how to knit the basic stitches, how to knit the knit stitches, how to knit the purl stitches, and how to knit the rib stitch.
Included is a list of knitting abbreviations (UK + US terms), instructions on knitting the linen stitch, and more.
And if you need more video tutorials to help you practice your basic knitting skills, check out my YouTube channel here – Handy Little Me – YouTube.
Patterns You May Be Interested In…
- How To Knit A Hat For Complete Beginners (+ Video Tutorial)
- 20 Temperature Blanket Patterns (The Ultimate Guide)
- How To Knit A Hat With Circular Needles (Step-By-Step)
- 31 Free Baby Blanket Knitting Patterns (Easy Knit Blankets)
- How To Knit Baby Booties (Step-By-Step)
- Knitted Dog Sweater Pattern (3 Sizes)
- 12 Simple Knitting Stitches For Beginners
- Free Knitted Dishcloth Patterns
- 37+ Patterns To Use Up Your Yarn Stash (Small Projects)
- Free Dog Sweater Knitting Pattern (Straight Needles)
- Super Easy Corner To Corner Baby Blanket Pattern (Knit)
- Easy Baby Sweater Knitting Pattern For Beginners
- How To Knit A Baby Hat (Straight Needles)
- Pumpkin Knitting Pattern (Beginner Friendly!)
- 8 Cable Stitch Knitting Patterns
- How To Knit The Linen Stitch (Tutorial + Pattern)
- Free Knitted Heart Pattern (Easy + Quick Project)
- 20+ Fall Oversized Knits (Sweater Knitting Patterns)
- Ribbed Beanie Knitting Pattern (Unisex Mariner’s Hat)
