Crocheting an afghan blanket is one of the best ways to enjoy your crocheting hobby. Afghan blankets range from beginner to advanced, and there are patterns available which cater to every level of crocheting.
No matter how good your pattern is, the yarn you choose can make or break your project. There are specific yarns to use if you want the best quality afghan, that is both comfortable and durable.
The best type of yarn to use for a crocheted afghan is a soft, inexpensive yarn that is easy to wash. There are a few options available that fit these categories, giving you a bit of option to decide on.
Yarn Material For Afghan Blankets
Choosing the right yarn material is your best bet to ensure your afghan blanket turns out as best as it can, and the right yarn also goes a long way to help you enjoy the crocheting experience as a whole.
Acrylic
Acrylic yarn is a great choice. It is fairly inexpensive to use, it is easy to wash and it is durable.
Acrylic yarn is the most affordable of all yarns, but it might have low yardage, meaning you will have to buy quite a few skeins to finish a blanket.
Acrylic yarn also melts under heat, which is another consideration to factor in when using acrylic. Different acrylic yarns have varying levels of softness, so spend some time trying to find the one that you are happy with.
Cotton
Cotton is considerably softer than acrylic yarn and is still fairly affordable compared to some other yarns. Cotton is lightweight and is easy to wash, making it the perfect choice for a summer afghan.
If your cotton does not feel incredibly soft at first, it will soften after a few washes.
Polyester
Some polyester yarns can be incredibly soft. Polyester is also able to withstand high temperatures, which means it can be machine washed and dried. After washing, polyester yarn retains strength and color and has good flame retardant properties.
You will just have to try and find a polyester yarn that is soft enough to use for an afghan blanket.
Wool
Wool is one of the softer yarns available, but it comes with a slightly higher price tag as well, especially considering you will be using numerous skeins to complete an afghan.
Wool is also trickier to wash, with most wools not being suited for machine washing.
If you are looking for fairly soft, low-maintenance yarns to use for your afghan, acrylic, cotton and polyester yarns are best. They are easy to care for, easy to crochet with, and yield wonderful results.
The 5 Best Yarns For Afghan Blankets
To save you the time scouring online for the best yarn to use, we have done the work for you and found the 5 best yarns to use when crocheting an afghan. These all have great reviews and are trusted by crocheters time and time again to create incredible pieces, and beautiful, durable afghan blankets.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo | Range of colors, acrylic, jumbo, 2x the yarn |
2. | Caron Bulk Buy Simply Soft Ombres | Acrylic, durable, soft, medium weight |
3. | Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Butta | Velvety soft polyester, durable, split-resistant |
4. | Lily Sugar ‘N Cream The Original Ombre Yarn | USA grown cotton, ombre, wide color range |
5. | Bernat Blanket Yarn | Durable and soft, 6 packs, long-lasting |
1. Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo
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The Red Heart Super Saver Jumbo Yarn is available in a wide range of different colors, from bright pops to subtle hues, there is a color for every project!
Made from 100% acrylic fibers, the super saver jumbo yarn is both durable and soft. It contains no dye lot solids and maintains its color well after each wash.
What makes this a great choice for afghans is that it is a larger skein, having around twice the amount of yarn of a normal super saver skein.
The acrylic yarn is suited for a size i-9 crochet hook, which is ideal for crafting an afghan. It is an incredibly versatile yarn, from being used to make scarves and hats, to being perfectly suited to create an afghan.
Red Heart has been trusted for many years, and this super saver jumbo acrylic yarn will prove why so many people consider it a first choice when crocheting afghans!
2. Caron Bulk Buy Simply Soft Ombres
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Caron offers up some of the best yarns around, and this simply soft ombre range is one of the top choices for crocheting an afghan.
The yarn is made from 100% acrylic fibers, ensuring that the yarn is both durable and soft enough to use for a blanket. It is a medium weight yarn, also referred to as afghan weight knitting yarn, and it is suggested to be used with an H8 crochet hook.
This three-pack is an economical choice, with all the skeins in the pack coming from the same dye lot, ensuring there is no variation between color that would cause your afghan to appear mismatched.
The different blue tones work together to create a beautiful ombre effect, which will make even the most simple afghan pattern seem intricate and detailed. The color does not run after washing, and the washing instructions are to hand wash and leave flat to dry. There is also a wide range of other colors available!
This wool is reliable, soft, and a great choice to use to create a cuddly and long-lasting blanket.
3. Lion Brand Yarn Feels Like Butta
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From pastel tones for baby blankets to darker tones and brighter colors suited for adult blankets, the Feels Like Butta range from Lion Brand has it all.
This particular yarn is made from polyester, but it has the incredibly velvety feel of chenille, but with a much easier care process and maintenance.
Both machine-washing and drying suitable, this yarn is easy to care for and is incredibly durable as well, which is perfect for an afghan that is in regular use.
When it comes to crocheting with this yarn, it is a breeze. The yarn resists splitting and slides over the crochet hook very well.
Crocheting with this yarn is very enjoyable, and at the end of the process, you will be left with an afghan that will stand the test of time, hold its shape well, and be velvety soft to the touch. With so many colors to choose from, you can make a different afghan for every member of your family, and then some!
4. Lily Sugar ‘N Cream The Original Ombre Yarn
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Made from 100% USA grown cotton, this is one of the softest yarns around, suited to be used to crochet a lovely afghan.
The Original Ombre Yarn range from Lily Sugar ‘N Cream has such a wide variety of different colored ombre yarns, there is truly a yarn for every taste.
Each of the different ombre yarns works to create a beautifully colored afghan, with varying color hues and tones, matching together perfectly.
The yarn is 100% cotton, being perfectly soft, but still durable enough to use for an afghan. An afghan crocheted using this yarn can have more delicate detailing, as the yarn is suited to a 5mm crochet hook.
Neutrals, pastels, and brights, there is an ombre color scheme waiting for you, giving you the opportunity to make a wonderfully soft blanket, with almost seamless maintenance.
5. Bernat Blanket Yarn
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Made specifically for afghans and other blankets, there is no reason that the Bernat Blanket Yarn would not help you to create an incredibly durable and soft afghan.
The yarn is luxuriously soft, with an added texture that works to create an interesting pattern and feel to your afghan. It is best suited to a size K crochet hook, which is a good size to use for an afghan.
The yarn can be machine washed and dried, ensuring easy, hassle-free maintenance and care. There are various color options to choose from, all available in 6 packs, which should be a decent amount to use to crochet an afghan.
Using this yarn, you will achieve an afghan that has a wonderful softness but is still long-lasting, holding its shape well after each wash.
This is a luxurious yarn at an affordable cost, with easy maintenance and no-stress crocheting!
The Right Yarn for The Perfect Afghan
When crocheting an afghan, you are almost spoiled for choice with the yarns you are able to use. Between acrylic, cotton, polyester, and wool, there is a wide range of incredible yarns to choose from, in almost any solid color, color combination, and ombre tone.
The rest of it comes down to personal preference and ease of care. If you are happy to spend a little more money and spend more time handwashing your afghan, you can choose a ball of soft wool. Otherwise, acrylic is a great choice for easy crocheting, has affordable prices, and hassle-free maintenance.
Once you have your pattern in hand, you can shop for one of the above yarns, and after some time spent crocheting, you will have a wonderful, long-lasting afghan to enjoy or give to a loved one as a gift.
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