Best Yarn for Winter Knitting and Crochet {yarn season!}
Is winter your favorite time to knit and crochet? Wondering what the best yarns are for winter crafts? I think the winter season is the BEST time to grab your needles and hooks and spend time with cozy yarn. People love to receive handmade hats, scarves, and mittens for winter gifts, too. If you are struggling with how to choose yarn for winter knitting or trying to find the best winter yarns for crochet, this post is for you. Today I have a terrific list of warm, neutral-colored yarns that are perfect for the winter months. Check out my favorites below…
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Best Yarn for Winter
Which yarn is best for winter?
As knitters and crocheters, we often get excited to make things during the coldest months of the year. There’s just something about working with cozy yarn in winter! It’s a good idea to get familiar with the variety of textures and colors available for winter yarn so that you can narrow down your favorites. Knowing what you love and what suits winter projects will help you choose and plan your winter yarn crafts.
The first thing you may want to choose is the material of the yarn. The warmest yarns for winter are made from wool or wool blends. Cotton is fine for home good projects this season, but probably not for winter wearables. We’ll also talk about the benefits of using acrylic yarn in winter.
You should also pay attention to the yarn size you want to work with. Winter is a perfect time to work with bulky warm yarns (size 5 and up) since they provide such a cozy look. Medium weight (aka worsted weight) yarn is probably the most popular size for any kind of yarn project no matter the season. Look for size 4 and 3 for these. The thinner and lighter yarns (size 2 and less) may be better suited to spring and summer crafts or tiny ornaments. However, you could use this size for socks in a warm fiber.
Which yarn is best for sweaters?
When it comes to knitting winter sweaters, you’ll want to choose a yarn that is best for both warmth and drape. If the yarn is too bulky, the sweater will not drape as fluidly, but if the yarn is too thin the sweater may not be warm or durable enough for winter.
Yarn made from sheep’s wool (or a mix with wool) will provide both warmth and moisture-resistance, which is quite a benefit during cold months. But these sweaters can pill over time and aren’t meant for the dryer.
Mohair, angora, and alpaca are lovely choices for sweater yarns but can be more expensive and difficult to work with.
Despite their challenges, animal fiber yarns (such as those mentioned above) are the best choices for warm sweaters. Just pay attention to how to care for them! Blended yarns are the next best choice, as they include the benefits of both animal fiber and synthetics.
Suggestions for the best yarn for winter…
1. Wool Yarn (or wool blend)
Wool yarns (or those that have a mix of wool) are perfect choices for winter wearables and blankets since they are designed to keep you warm. Keep in mind that wool can feel itchy to sensitive skin, so a wool blend may be ideal. But you just can’t beat wool for the warmest yarns for winter.
The warmest yarns are usually made with wool. But what type of wool is warmest? There are several types of animal wool: sheep’s wool (such as Merino wool), Alpaca, Cashmere (goat), Mohair (goat), Angora (rabbit), Camel. In general, Angora is usually rated the warmest wool, but the sheep and goat’s wools will also keep you very warm.
Fingering Weight Yarn
Soft angora is super warm, and you can find this rabbit hair yarn in light weight sizes, such as fingering. These would be a cozy choice for socks.
Chunky Wool Yarn or Wool Blend (size 5 and above):
My favorite chunky wool yarns are in the neutral colors category. Creams, whites, grays, and speckled oatmeal colors are fabulous for this time of year. My go-to choice for yarn in the Super Bulky size is LION BRAND WOOL EASE THICK & QUICK. It’s a blend of 80% acrylic with 20% wool, and is a terrific choice for beginner knitters.
Medium Wool Yarn (size 4):
Wool of the Andes is a lovely pick for 100% Peruvian wool in worsted weight (Medium 4). There are TONS of colors to choose from, but these are some fitting winter choices:
Fisherman’s Wool is another 100% wool yarn with cozy winter colors to choose from:
If you are looking for sustainable choice yarns, made without dyes or bleaches, these 100% Superfine Alpaca may be just what you need. Their natural colors are gorgeous for winter sweaters and scarves..
2. Acrylic Yarn (with a focus on neutral winter colors)
By far one of the most popular yarns crafters work with is acrylic yarn, which is a manufactured synthetic. A popular question regarding this yarn is:” is acrylic yarn warm for winter?” This yarn is not as warm as wool or angora, but it can be warmer than bamboo or linen. Acrylic can get fuzzy (especially after washes) and isn’t too breathable, but that may be fine for winter projects. Just remember that acrylic is not moisture resistant. The main benefits of acrylic yarns are that they are more affordable and easier to take care of.
I’ve chosen some cozy choices for soft or blended acrylics below (click on the photos to view). The classic winter colors can be found in various sizes:
Chunky Acrylic Yarn (size 5 and above):
Brava Bulky is a 100% acrylic yarn that is gentle enough for sensitive skin, yet hard-wearing & good for projects where durability and easy-care is a must. It’s hypoallergenic and machine washable, too.
Medium Acrylic Yarn (size 4):
Cream, gray, and pale blue colors exude a cozy winter feeling. I love Vanna’s Choice yarns from Lion Brand, as they have SO many colors to choose from…
3. Chenille Yarn
You can’t beat the soft texture of big chenille yarn. These choices can be used to make snuggly winter throw blankets…
4. Cotton Yarn
You may be wondering “is cotton yarn good for winter?” and that’s a valid concern. Cotton, linen, and bamboo are all plant-based fibers and are therefore not as warm as animal-based fibers (like wool, angora, mohair). Cotton yarns are best suited for wearables outside of winter season. You could always use cotton for home décor projects you can work on in the winter, such as NAPKIN RINGS, WASH CLOTHS, BASKETS, or wreaths. These are my favorite home decor cottons to work with:
Choosing the best yarn for winter…
I am curious – how do you choose yarn for winter crochet? Do you look at the colors first to determine yarn for winter crochet projects? Or perhaps start with the yarn size you know you want to work with? Do you try to find a winter pattern you love before you decide what type of yarn you will need?
And if you knit, how do you choose yarn for knitting in the winter? Maybe you want to create a sweater or cable vest and need the best yarn for winter knitting projects.
I hope the yarns listed above inspire you. The best advice I can give is to go with both your head and your heart when choosing yarns for winter. Select a yarn fiber and size that will work for the winter season, as well as one that you will love to comfortably wear or admire in your home!
Patterns for Winter Knit and Crochet
What kind of patterns are best for winter knit and crochet?
Now that you have perused some yarn selections for winter crafts, the fun begins when you can find winter knit patterns or winter crochet patterns. The best type of stitches for these projects will be closed stitches. Cable stitch patterns are also very popular during these months. Closed stitch patterns, as opposed to open-weave, will ensure a wearable item will keep its warmth. Classic ribbing with crochet stitches or knit and purl combinations are often showcased in winter patterns. Winter is also the best time to stitch up a crochet afghan or chunky knit blanket because you get to rest the piece on your lap as you work! (Perhaps while sitting by a fireplace?)
Shawls, scarves, cowls, hats, mittens, vests, sweaters are fabulous ideas for winter yarn projects. Use lots of creams and grays to suit the season. Or add a pop of color for a hat or scarf pattern to stand out against the snow. No surprise here that my favorite yarn colors are in the neutral category, so I always have them on hand to pair with bolder choices.
WINTER PATTERNS FOR WEARABLES
KNIT – GRAY MARBLE CABLE SCARF
KNIT – CABLE COWL (in a gorgeous Mist color)
WINTER PATTERNS FOR THE HOME
KNIT – NAPKIN RINGS with Scandinavian style
CROCHET – BASKET (put winter bulb plants or a small Xmas tree in this!)
I hope you enjoyed learning about the best yarn for cozy winter weather. Find more WINTER PROJECT IDEAS on the blog and let me know if you give any a try.
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