Not long ago, I made this blanket for Kid 2.
It was made with Stylecraft DK yarn. I don’t really care for acrylic normally. If you ever felt a skein of Red Heart, it’s rough and scratchy and it kills my hands. But Stylecraft, although it is acrylic, is buttery soft, cloud-like, and shiny, and it comes in a million of colors, which is why I bought it from UK.
It is now time for Kid 1’s blanket, so I confidently ordered a bunch of yarn for it. Imagine my surprise when it arrived, and I felt it, and it feels like a horrible, scratchy mess. I am squishing this yarn and blergh.
So here I am, staring at the yarn and wondering if I have lost the whole bag of my marbles. Given all the things that are happening right now in my life, that was a distinct possibility.
I ended up googling it and guess what? Stylecraft moved their production from Turkey to West Yorkshire. Yarn produced in Turkey? Super-soft. Yarn produced in West Yorkshire? Scratchy mess.
I hate it. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it.
I’m actively controlling my irritation right now, because this is a tiny drop into a very full cup.
So I need a new yarn.
- Preferably DK weight
- Very soft on hands
- Must have many colors
- Should be durable enough to be washed and dried frequently, because Kid 1 will wash that blanket all the time. That’s the way she rolls.
It can be a blend of cotton and acrylic or acrylic. I don’t mind paying more as long as it’s soft, because if I’m going to invest that much time in it, I want it to be nice from my daughter and I want my hands to survive. Right now crocheting is off the menu for a bit, because the hands hurt, but I would like to buy the yarn and be ready.
Try Hobbii- I hate acrylic but didn’t hate theirs
I second this! I normally don’t like acrylic but my kid chose some Hobbii acrylic rainbow gradient for a scarf. Two years later it still feels soft and fluffy, and has kept its shape.
Also they have a tonne of colours
https://hobbii.com/amigo?option=15659
+1 for Hobbi! Super soft and squishy.
How long ago did they switch production ? Maybe some shops carrying the brand has old stock from Turkey. It might be worth a shot to ask some local yarn shops if they have old stock.
Stylecraft only switched production back to Yorkshire last September I believe and currently not all the colours are being made there only some of them although they are gradually adding more. The Stylecraft Mill is in a Village called Slaithwaite. I have actually been there as my sister and her late husband lived near there it’s a beautiful village with a river running right through the middle of it.
Wish I had a good suggestion. I’m still too new to crocheting to know much about yarn, plus I am so slow at crocheting that I am still on my first piece! It was going to be a scarf, but I think it’s going to be a table runner now!
So far I have been getting yarn from a local company where I live and they have just wool, cotton, and silk (they dye a lot themselves). Northwest Yarn &
Mercantile, Bellingham, WA.
Hope your hands feel better soon!
And thanks for the last snippet! I am happy to w**t patiently for them, whenever they come!
Have you contacted the manufacturer? Could you have gotten a bad batch or a knock-off imitation? I cannot find any place named North Yorkshire by the way, other than a region of England.
From the article above: “…and it comes in a million of colors, which is why I bought it from UK.”
It is from a region of England 🙂
So what are they feeding the animals in the UK that makes them so rough and scratchy? Sounds like they need to change their diets. Adding milk to the tea doesn’t seem to be doing it. 😉
Acrylic yarn doesn’t come from an animal like wool or silk. Believe it or not, it’s a synthetic material.
😂
Ok. What are they feeding the machines in the UK then? 😉
(I don’t buy yarn, as is probably obvious now.)
Our sheep drink builders tea, it puts hair on their chests but makes it rough😜
🤣
🤣🤣🤣
acrylic yarn is basically spun plastic. no animals involved at all just a lot of chemicals.
Try Plymouth yarn dream baby dk. It’s also being rebranded as Plymouth dream dk, but it’s the same thing.
I must have bumped something in my phone, it was supposed to be a general reply to the post.
So sorry. Just when you think you know a yarn product and it changes. Sounds nasty.
North Yorkshire is definitely an area and a good one at that though really it should be ridings in which case West is best (eyup all).
However New Yorkshire isn’t a place and that sent me down a rabbit hole until I actually thought to read the link to reddit and realised it just meant the new wool from Yorkshire and not a place called New Yorkshire. I don’t know why the idea of a place called New Yorkshire was so bizarre when I’m fine with New York but hey.
I used to live in Sydney, New South Wales, a city that is slightly bigger than the southern half of Wales. I also spent a very pleasant few weeks cycling through southern Wales, and the two places look nothing alike. I have no idea what Cook was thinking.
There’s even a hilarious sketch about it
https://youtu.be/WxKnFckhzUs?si=4u68XkBbqG1XdIQv
One of my favourites 🤣
I like Caron simply soft yarn. Very shiny and smooth and lots of colors! I will think more and let you know if there’s another brand I like
I second the Caron Simply Soft. That was the first one I thought of when you asked for something soft.
I’ve been using Caron Simply soft and they feel so good for an acrylic yarn and they have sooo many colors.
Third vote for Simply Soft by Caron. I knitted a cardigan for my then first grader, picked up and lengthened the sleeves and body several times, and finally had to make her a new one in 7th grade. Until she got it caught in her bike wheel, it was soft, shiny, and machine washed a billion times. Only brand I use for things that need to be washed. I do “kill” the acrylic when I block it by (carefully!!) holding an iron a few inches above the pinned knitting until it visibly relaxes. Sets the stitches and inhibits pilling, and gives a glorious drape.
I like the simply soft as well. It wears and washes well. I made a bunch of hats and scarves back in the 2015’s and they are still lovely.
I third this!
+1 Caron simply soft
I’ve bought it since 2009? or so. Canadian Michaels carries it (so I’m assuming it’s easily available down south), and it comes in a good range of colours.
Otherwise… raise your own alpacas and start spinning yarns more literally 😉
Another vote for Caron Simply Soft. Soft to the touch and a multitude of colors. I’ve been crocheting with it for somewhere in the neighborhood of twenty years with great results.
+1 for Caron Simply Soft!
Same for Caron Simply Soft! also inexpensive and easily available. Holds up for years and still soft.
I agree Caron is very soft, but the last couple times I used it I found myself annoyed at its tendency to split. That being said, I stumbled upon a post attributing the splitting to the type of hook used. Apparently it is more forgiving with tapered hooks versus inline, and plastic more than metal. I was not patient enough to experiment further and decide for myself.
Second this! I have been making blankets from this for years and the wash and dry load of kids blankets is high. I tell you that the yarn has worked super well and stayed soft and smooth.
I was going to suggest Caron simply soft too, first one I thought of. Also Hobby Lobby had a bamboo yarn that was SO soft, I made baby hats out of it, and it holds up really well.
KnitPicks has the only acrylic I like. Feels like butter, Knits up beautifully, has lots of colors and washes like a dream. Four out of my seven grands are on the autistic spectrum and are very sensitive to texture. They love this yarn. I’ve knitted blankets, hats, gloves and am considering sweaters out of it because they are all very hard on their stuff. This yarn is very soft but lasts like steel.
Second the suggestion of Knit Picks. I used their stuff for years. Can’t knit anymore (severe osteoarthritis in my thumbs *sigh*)
this will sound weird, but try crocheting with the hook stuck through a small tennis ball. I’ve seen videos of it helping people with arthritis.
They should win just for the name of the company. Knit Picks is an excellent name for a yarn company.
yes, a third for Knit Picks. Nicest acrylics I’ve ever used.
KnitPicks gets a vote from me too! I just found them and their Snuggle Puff yarn is the softest! I can’t speak to washing personally, as I haven’t finished my project, but the person who recommended it to me said it washed well.
What about Scheepjes Softfun (https://www.scheepjes.com/en/softfun-436/). It‘s a Cotton and Acrylic blend in 89 colours and very soft.
I really like Scheepjes, it’s soft and they have many colors, but it is difficult to find in the US (in my experience!).
No idea why I looked at this comment in a section I *know* is all about yarn and thought “OMG! They can’t get Schweppes in the US?”
The “soft and many colours” still applies to the tonic too, that didn’t raise my brain alarms. Nor did the spelling differences. I need more sleep 😀
Schweppes is definitely available here, if not inescapable.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Seconding Scheepjes, I’m sitting on a stash of color crafter. I normally order from Jimmy Beans Wool and haven’t had issues.
Ugh. What a dirty rotten thing to do. I completely understand your repulsion for icky, scratchy acrylic. Yuck.
I also suggest Hobbii. They are very nice people.
Wow, this sucks! Unfortunately I completely understand what you feel. Not so long ago my dog’s kibble company changed kibble composition. My Belgian Shepherd is allergic to chicken and salmon. I was buying the same, rather expensive, mono-protein, high meat concentration, good ingredients kibble for OVER 3 years. Out of the blue he gets upset stomach. Hmm, maybe water from a puddle…? I have not changed anything, still the same kibble, the same wet food, same dried meat as treats. But the upset stomach lingers. Then he starts to vomit – not a lot but still. What is going on?? Gave him medication (used to have the problem all the time so have it on hand), called the vet, she said to keep him on medication for three days and then observe. Three days later the problem is back. I call the vet to schedule testing and she asks me ‘I don’t suppose they could have changed ingredients, could they?’. Yes, yes they did! I was SO furious! How can you add salmon and chicken to mono-protein food? The ‘mono’ sign was gone from the kibble pack but there were no other signs of anything changing. I mean, what am I suppose to do – analize ingredients every time I buy the same product? Two years later and I’m still angry about it.
I don’t use acrylic at all so no recommendation from me but I hope you’ll find the PRFECT yarn :-).
I totally get where you’re coming from. So disappointing!
I have used Cascade 220DK superwash, Berroco VintageDK & Comfort DK machine-washable blends for baby sweaters, and enjoyed the knitting process. They’ve all held up decently well, although a fully acrylic yarn will be the most durable.
So sorry to hear about your yarn. I donated all of my nasty harsh yarn to charity. Maybe someone can use it for kids’ crafts. Maybe dipping it in starch and winding it around balloons or pasting it into a collage. I go to the craft store and feel the skeins. Sometimes there is a sample worked up already. I’m currently making hats using Lion brand Heartland which is made in Turkey. I think I’m going to hunt for Hobbii. I love this blog. I learn all kinds of useful stuff! Thanks! Stay safe everyone. Lots of areas are getting ice today.
I use Red Heart acrylic (sorry, Ilona) yarn for my blankets. Right now, I’m working on a 450 stitch half double crochet blanket in their bitty stripe yarn in Sunset Beach. The yarn is very nice to work with while I crochet. I crochet very fast (my brother used to tease me about needing a crochet hook with coolant inside to keep my hands cool as I went through row after row very fast) so if the yarn was icky to work with, my hands would tell me.
I found out over time it depends on the color dye Red Heart uses that makes acrylic scratchy and icky (learned the hard way). No matter how much laundry detergent, fabric softener (if you use it), and dryer sheets anyone uses, the awful color dye scratchiness won’t go away.
I am not sure if Paton’s yarn has cotton/acrylic anymore. I remember seeing something like that a while back. They had some pretty colors. It was very nice yarn to handle or poke your fingers into the center of the yarn skein.
Paton’s used to have silk/bamboo yarn over 10 years ago. I bought all I could. I am making a long tunic out of it. Got the knitted body and the neck done. All I have to do is finish knitting one sleeve and make the other one. 🙂
No one has mentioned Bernat acrylic yarn. I’ve used it for baby blankets to friends. It’s very soft, but the color selection may be limited.
I really like this DK yarn, it’s a Dutch company, very soft, tons of colors https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-us/p/scheepjes-colour-crafter?utm_source=bing&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=650113632&utm_campaign=US%20-%20Knitting%2FCrochet%20-%20Yarn%20-%20Product%20range%20-%20GCUS%20-%20Top%20Brands%20-%20GOOGLE&utm_term=scheepjes%20colour%20crafter&utm_term=scheepjes%20colour%20crafter&msclkid=7089f145e9931395f56e96e62d618184&utm_content=US%20-%20Scheepjes%20-%20Scheepjes%20Colour%20Crafter
I just bought a bunch of Lily’s Sugar & Cream 100% cotton yarn to finish a blanket (different color border) for my nephew and start a new blanket for my hubby and my bed. It washes very well, and is much better on the skin than acrylic is. Hopefully you’ll b able to start soon, at least in short sessions. I started having carpal tunnel issues, but find I can crochet for shorter times periods on good days. (Hugs)
Definitely feel the yarn with the cottons. I’ve had the sugar and cream, peaches and cream, and one other brand I can’t remember but that was awful. Some colors can be super dry and harsh on the hands. But it wears like iron. My family washes and dries them in the dryer.
I agree. I use peaches and cream for my bathroom mats. A lot nicer on the feet than store bought bathroom mats.
Have you ever tried linen yarn ? It’s supposed to be resistant, and more eco friendly than cotton. I don’t know about softness, but on the hobbii website everyone is talking about, it has good reviews and the colours are shiny. I really want to try it but I have other projects to finish first😅
In my experience, most pure linen yarn does get softer w/ each wash, but the yarn itself is stiff and has no stretch, so it can be hard on my hands. If you can get past those issues, though, the resulting fabric is scrumptious.
Thank you for your input ! I’m even more convinced on buying linen for my next project now 🙂 I really did not like the acrylic toutch on my hands. I like cotton and bamboo, and the synthetic polyester which is still plastic, but animal yarns itch my skin and acrylic is not a nice feeling. I also want to try more sustainable yarn. I heard that linen fibers are longer so more resistant compared to cotton.
I don’t know for the yarn.
But for scratchy hands, 3 years ago I got bleeding chapped hands because of my thin skin and all the hydrohalcolic gel around. So I bought a very good cream and couldn’t stand it because of allergies.
Finally I followed the advice of a nurse and bought pure glycerine at the pharmacy.
It’s the most efficient and very cheap (hurt a bit at the beginning).
Also my mother is doing her own cream with vaseline, glycerine, and calendula extract. Very nice too.
Thanks again for the snippet:)
I’d like to recommend a personally tried acrylic/wool (75/25) combo from Plymouth Yarns called Encore. Comes in lots of colors and weights. I’ve used mostly the heathered colors. Perfect for blanket making.
I think I remember you are on Ravelry. Have you thought of hunting your yarn in stashes that are for sale or trade?
Yes, it can be a pain but you might be able to find your Turkish Stylecraft. I’ve been able to find some fantastic yarn that way.
Either way, good luck on your quest.
I second this. I have used this yarn for all of my baby blankets. Super soft and super washable.
Patons Canadiana. My go to for baby gifts. It’s acrylic, which means it’s washable and indestructible. It’s also very soft, not hard on thr hands and comes in lots of colours.
Hmm DK acrylic with a lot of colors is tough. Lion Brand makes a DK cotton with a lot of colors, but not as soft. I do love their cooboo (cotton/ bamboo) DK or their bamboo yarns. Lots of colors too. Good luck. The blanket looks gorgeous!
Berroco Comfort is nice. They have DK and worsted.
https://berroco.com/yarns/berroco-comfort-dk/
I’ve used it for sweaters and it’s serviced my son’s laundry habits, so I’m happy with it.
It’s soft and somewhat cottony feel to me.
I really like Stylecraft DK and I’m in the middle of a blanket for my sister and ran out of a particular colour- wondered why I couldn’t get the extra yarn. This news is very worrying. Recommend Premier Yarns Anti-pilling acrylic, slightly thicker than Stylecraft, but crochets up beautifully, very soft, more muted colours but washes beautifully. I think it is Canadian or US brand, and made in Turkey.
Yarn.com(webs), halcyonyarn.com, and the woolery.com are my go-tos for yarn as a weaver. Kansas yarn barn has been recommended, but I haven’t checked them out( I think I’m in the minority for this).
Tencel is fun, I’ve done some bamboo. I weirdly didn’t really like linen, but I’ve only used it once. I’m mostly loving cotton right now, and cotton usually gets softer the more you wash it. Valley yarns unmercerized cotton for towels and a set of blankets I’m making. 😅 This is related as I bought the wrong color for the blankets and decided to make towels out of the mistake.
The Knitpicks DK swish is super wash and very soft but it’s wool. I have used their Brava Sport acrylic for baby blankets and it’s very soft too and nice colors. So sorry for your disappointment! I hate when that happens! And it seems worse when other things are already swamping you.
Yarn Bee makes a very soft acrylic yarn called soft secret. I’m using it right now for a small blanket.
Second for soft secret! I’ve used it for all of my blankets because it’s soft, shiny, reasonably priced, and comes in a bunch of beautiful colors. I would definitely recommend it!
The New York Times today has an article on Classic Romance Novels: A Starter Pack. Halfway down it: I’d like a suspenseful love story set in Victorian London — with magic, if possible
Second Sight
by Amanda Quick (2006)
Before romantasy, there was paranormal romance, and goodness did we have fun with it. Amanda Quick’s series about psychics and magic-users in Victorian London begins with Venetia Jones, a photographer who sees auras, and who is passing herself off as the widow of a man she shared one spectacular night with before his demise. But her “husband,” Gabriel Jones, is alive and well and stunned to find he has a wife — and now the same psychically powered enemies who tried to kill him are coming for Venetia and her family.
If you read it and love it, try … a book by Ilona Andrews, Isabel Cooper or Zoë Archer.
Yay! I sense we’re getting some new Horde members in soon! 🙂
I am a huge fan of Loops & Threads brand yarns. They have a DK yarn that is nice and has like 15 colors.
I like their Impeccable. It is a worsted weight but on the lighter side. 50+ colours. I’d recommend going to Michaels to make your selection. This one is pretty soft to work with and gets softer after being washed.
I second the vote for impeccable—it’s the only acrylic yarn I will knit with because I generally hate acrylic. (I have to use it for church stuff because we can’t use wool due to allergies.) I hope you find something nice because I feel your frustration!!!
Another vote for Loops and Threads but only their Impeccable brand. I’ve also used Vanna’s Choice from Lion but it is getter harder to find. It’s heavier than Impeccable but not as soft. Also Impeccable is available in stores so you can see what you are getting.
If you can get your hands on Scheepjes, I’ve made several blankets out of their colour crafter acrylic. It’s soft, washable, sturdy, and comes in a ridiculous array of colors. Their cotton range is also really lovely, but the acrylic is excellent.
It’s a Dutch brand but there are international stockists.
Jimmy Beans in US carries Scheepjes. They would *probably* special order for you if not in stock. Wool wise is great, and made from recycled wool. It’s a super wash, so can be machine washed, and line drying shouldn’t be an issue in TX.
Berroco Vintage DK has a very nice feel and it’s durable. I made a blanket for my DH that he sleeps with scrunched up under his head and it’s gone through the washer/dryer with no pilling. I’m now making a cardigan from it. Lots of colors
The way things feel is very important. Honestly by the time you find and begin to like things they change it or discontinue it. So irritating.
Beautiful blanket! I’ve recently taken up crochet, but still have a lot to learn before I can tackle anything that large and complex. My stuff is a bit wonky, but it doesn’t matter as much with little stuffed animals as long as they’re cute AND it helps me stay away from the news some.
One of the reasons I curtailed my crocheting is that the yarns I favor tend to be $$$ per skein and made of the fur from elegant shapeshifters. They don’t like giving up their fur much, either, and I fear being hunted down one day and being forced to give it back.
Also, I have far more scarves than there are days of the week or months in the year. Not quite days in the year, at least.
I agree – you can’t knit or crochet if you don’t like how the yarn feels. Sorry this happened to you. I like Caron Simply Soft. I’ve used it for baby blankets. I also like Scheepjes, a Dutch brand that is available through US stores. I haven’t tried their DK weight, but their Sport weight is very nice.
OK, I’m laughing, but NOT at Ilona, but because I have experienced this same feeling! I once bought a shirt in a store (unnamed) and loved. It was 100% cotton, soft, the perfect length, enough room in the bust where I didn’t feel like I was auditioning for a knock of H@@ters, wasn’t tight on my shoulders, and didn’t get pilly after washing. A few months later I decided to order a few of the same style in different colors. 1st wash in Cold water and I have 90s belly shirts. I gave them to my little step daughter because they fit her little 4’7″ self. I was disgusted with the whole situation
This might be too thick, but I’ve now made two baby blankets with Bluesky Fibers Worsted Sweater yarn. Lots of colors, made from a blend of super wash wool and cotton. One of the babies is four years old now, so his blanket has Seen Things, including many wash cycles, and it is holding strong with minimal fuzzing or piling. Makes for a really soft blanket. One of my favorite yarns. The downside is it can be pricey for big projects; generally it runs around $20 for 160yds/100g.
The blanket is so beautiful!! Is it possible to get the pattern somewhere? I’ve been scouting options for a new project.
Here is the Ravelry link https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cozy-days-daisy-blanket and here is the direct link to the designer’s blog https://www.allaboutami.com/cozy-days-daisy-blanket/
More details from Ilona here 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/the-time-between/
I second (3rd, 4th, 5th?) the Caron Simply Soft, it is silky soft. Also, Red Heart Soft isn’t scratchy like RS Super Saver, it’s my go-to yarn for afghans. Someone mentioned Yarn Bee – that is a Hobby Lobby brand and they have yarn weight and fiber (cotton, acrylic, wool, etc.) So if you have a nearby Hobby Lobby near you…send Gordon shopping!
Good luck in your search!
I don’t knit and therefore have no skein in this game but read through all these comments and it was like balm to my frazzled nerves. I’ve never been so happy to immerse myself in the minutiae of yarn management.
+1
One more vote for Hobbii – I’ve been very happy with the acrylic yarns from them and they have lots of pretty colours 🙂
I recently picked up several skeins of Uptown Worsted from Universal Yarns and really enjoyed working with it to make several hats. It’s acrylic, feels great in my hands while knitting, works up really nicely, and there are lots of fun vibrant colors. They also have it in a DK weight.
I am very fond of Knitpicks Brava, which comes in many weights and colors and is very washable and squishy. Order one skein and see if you like it.
I like a couple of the Caron yarns too but their color selection is limited. and honestly, Check the Vanna White yarns from Lion.
Sorry Ilona I do not have any yarn recommendations 🤷🏻♀️
I just bought two Wobbles to learn tho and am determined to have one done before “Maggie the Undying” is out!
On an up note Ozzy Osbourne is reuniting with Black Sabbath to tour!!! No jokes, thank you England😋
I love Caron Simply Soft. It’s a medium worset yarn. Big twist antipill is also super soft and is a med-light worest, I have made many beanies and scarfs with these as i also like the super soft options and.both are at Joann’s. Lion Brands mandala is very soft and is a light worest yarn but it usually comes in ombre cakes and not single colors best price is walmart. DK is a UK thing so I was looking for the equivalent in US.
I just made my husband a hat in Berroco Vintage DK and it was a lot softer than when I used it 10 years ago. I only hand washed it but it was still soft after. It’s a blend of wool and acrylic. I got it at Eat Sleep Knit. I live 45 minutes away but their online presence is huge.
If single ply + color changing is acceptable, I find Carnival from Hobbii is soft. If you want to see some super cool patterns with it, K.A.M.E. Crochet does a gorgeous granny square blanket with this yarn. It’s vibrant though, so definitely not a yarn for the faint of heart. It’s also on sale this week for 50% off, so that’s nice too.
Hope your hands feel better soon!
Caron simply soft is my go to for this kind of yarn. I also usually prefer natural fibers but Caron is cheap acrylic and silky soft and shiny. I use it when I’m making something that needs to be easy wash but smooth (like a baby hat). It’s a nice gentle synthetic.
I’m using swish DK from KnitPicks to make granny square blankets. it’s cheap and it’s nice.
Beanie Boat is a yarn shop I have heard of. It is a narrow boat trade company in the UK that claims to be ethically sourced material. But, tbh, I have not tried their product line.
Encompassingdesigns in Nova Scotia is our source, but it is 100% wool and scratchy ( used for rug hooking)
oops! just looked up their yarn store and it seems to be closed
Soft yarn is a must when yarn crafting. Luck to you in your search.
I have always had good luck with Lion Brand yarn.
I love the beautiful afghan. I can’t help with yarn, but hopefully you’ll find what you need. The horde will have suggestions.
Premier yarns are made in turkey and oeko Tex certified to be free of over 350 different harmful chemicals, I love their puzzle cotton it’s butter soft (worsted)it comes in the prettiest ombres and their chunky cotton for a super cloud soft thick one. I would def try out their dks.
Lion brand has some that are nice and oeko Tex as well.
Low dose naltrexone has given me my hands back and I’m knitting again and so thankful. I also got an Addi knitting machine for Christmas and it’s been super fun! Hope you can crochet again soon!
So sorry for the betrayal. It looks like you have a lot of good suggestions here! I’m trying a chunky chenille I got from Amazon. It was supposed to be for my attempt at arm knitting—-I actually found a lovely woman in UK on YouTube who finally had the right video to show me how to do it. But the yarn I got — while supremely soft is just not thick enough! So I had to get US 50 knitting needles to make the blanket.
I don’t know if chenille will work for your project but it’s ridiculously soft. My whole point for this project was to make something comforting and be comforted by it.
I haven’t crocheted in years, but if you use Reddit, you might want to check out
r/CrochetHelp or r/Crochet. Some very serious crocheters among the BDH but also on the subreddits.
It is where I learned about the knitted knockers group where volunteer knitters and crocheters make soft yarn prosthetics for breast cancer survivors : https://www.knittedknockers.org/
They have a list of approved soft yarns here: https://www.knittedknockers.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2016/10/Knitted-Knockers-Approved-Yarns-4-12-23.pdf
Other Recent recommendations on the crochet subreddits include:
– https://junipermoonfarmyarn.com/ for Cumulus Yarn (cotton)
– https://morrisandsons.com.au/ for merino wool
– https://andeansunyarns.com/ for baby-alpaca
Good luck with your search…
https://jimmybeanswool.com/collections/viscose_yarn/products/cascade_pandamonium_yarn_07_claret
cotton and viscose (bamboo). machine washable and super soft.
the red heart soft line at Michaels and it’s only at Michaels is soft and has quite a few colors. its the only red heart I’ll use
I’m currently making a temperature blanket out of Premier acrylic yarn. it’s anti pill, and I got it on Amazon.
I love Caron Simply Soft when I have to use acrylic (one sister is allergic to most animal fibers and one sister was vegan for several years) – listed as worsted but it actually works up closer to a sport / heavy-DK / light worsted.
I have to agree with Simply Soft by Caron being a nice option as far as feeling goes, although I’m not a huge fan of the shine.
I’ve also had really good luck with Hobby Lobby’s “I Love this Yarn”, but both of these brands tend to be worsted rather than DK.
oh this could be good! people sending in their soft yarns recommendations! i have to use acrylics because my child (47) is allergic to wool! i am always looking for soft yarn that comes by mail! I use washing bags to help them last longer! i also have to use thumb braces for my thumb and wrists with cbd ‘Flow’! I am 75 and have used my hand hard! looking forward to yarn ideas as I wait for a new story! did you complsin to the mfg?
https://www.macauslandswoollenmills.com/
MacAusland’s is the absolute best. They produce yarn, and they also spin it into blankets which they ship all over the world. Their quality is amazing.
Wow, lots of yarn users on here! Thanks for the snippet and hope all your physical ailments are resolving themselves.
premier yarn is lovely. soft lots of diffrent colors, reasonably priced. one of my favorites.
order it from there web site.
Second this:
Premieryarns.com
BasixDK
I agree about premier yarn. I’ve bought it directly through their website but you can sometimes find it elsewhere too. They have an anti-pilling acrylic that is very soft. I’ve used it for baby blankets and got good feedback from the parents. It’s also OEKO-TEX certified, which is a nice bonus for baby blankets.
I’m sorry this happened to you! I hate it when a product I love changes or becomes unavailable. It is a nuisance!
I saw this beautiful yarn at a show here in Montana but I know very little about it.
https://fiberyarns.com/
I’m a fan of Plymouth Encore Worsted.
Anything Knit Picks (knitpicks.com) is good. I also use a lot of Cascade 220 SW which is labeled as light worsted but is really DK. Knit Picks Swish DK is probably the softest and I think it’s reasonably durable, but with yarn, softness and durability tend to have an inverse relationship even with acrylics so there’s almost always going to be some trade-off.
Have you considered llama wool? There are many places in our area who raise llamas and a former student has a store where she sells wool from her dad’s herd (?) It is super soft and nice.
Have you tried Red Heart Soft
I also LOVE bamboo yarn but I have only found in very tiny.
I mostly quilt and have just started to learn to knit. I don’t have great knowledge but I do live near Austin, TX. The Quilted Skein is a shop in La Grange that sells yarn and cloth! This shop is why I started taking knitting classes. The Sated Sheep is a great store in Dripping Springs and they have a great selection. Cloth, thread or yarn its all about how it looks and feels and I really need to see and touch before I buy.
I have had good luck with Bamboo Pop, a cotton/bamboo blend. I made my kids some skirts with it, and they have held up nicely. Also a fan of Hobbii, as others have mentioned.
Pima Rino from Plymouth Yarn
I don’t normally get acrylic, but when I do and have been drawn by the softness, it’s been the sirdar sylvan range 90% acrylic, 10% wool. van be washed at 40degrees centigrade when I got it in the past, it’s been made in the UK in Wakefield. so if its still made there, hopefully it should be the same and lots of different colour ranges. in not sure if it’s DK though, may be finer….
Woolwhare house where I buy a lot of yarn from in the UK have designed their own brand. It’s called Yarnsmiths and comes in various weights with colours similar to Stylecraft. I bought some DK in the Yarnsmiths Create range and is very soft and the colour I chose is beautiful.
I’m an Aussie in the UK and mostly knit with Aussie yarn. It helps that I’m slow so I don’t have to stock up too often 🙂 I’ve just finished a cowl with Australian merino which was absolutely gorgeous to knit with. I went to a UK Yarn show with friends in January and a lot of the yarn while gorgeous colours was absolutely terrible to hold. I can’t imagine knitting with any of it and won’t be buying any UK yarn on the internet until I hold some first as I was told most people are using the same mill. I don’t know what happened here but assume it’s to do with brexit. I hope you find something gorgeous to knit with and hope your hands feel better soon.
Try knit picks Stroll. It is super wash wool, soft, comes in DK I’m pretty sure, lots of colors. Lovely to knit. Unless there’s a wool allergy involved.
Webs (yarn.com) search or Knit Picks.
No idea what is available to you in the US in terms of acrylic yarn, but have you considered a machine washable wool? Possibly not the most sensible suggestion for frequent washing as an acrylic. The bamboo yarns I have tried (which were all baby yarns) have all been really soft, but they were heading towards the cost of wool… Just thought, an acrylic meant to be used for babies would probably be softer and some of them come in a rainbow of colours. Good luck!
Berroco Vintage Dk
Try Caron Latte Cakes at Michaels. My afghan I made is so soft and warm. You might want to buy some online if you don’t have a store close. One skein makes a great scarf. Acrylic so totally washable
So, funny story. I have been crocheting for all of my life. When I was young I only wanted the super soft yarn that felt amazing on your hands. Then I read Kate Daniels, learned that wool keeps you warm even when wet, so thought I would try it. It is now my go to. Because someday you might only have a wet wool blanket to keep you warm, lol. About the hand issue, I have learned to use light weight yarn. The stitches are smaller so you would have to pick a blanket that you can add more to around the edges like more squares or borders, but I was getting to the point with regular weight yarn where I couldn’t crochet for my hands hurting. Using light weight yarn saved me. Beautiful blanket, by the way.
Just an idea, why not use sockwool? It comes in various colors and mixes. The thicker ones with 6 strings is said to be like a DK yarn. More positive factors: There is a big variaty of colours and material to choose from. Here in Germany we have normally a blend of 75% wool with 25% acrylic. It´s easy washable even sometimes on 60°C, can be tumbled and the companies who offer wool for socks are numerous. I often use sock wool for pullover because the material amount needed is most of the time less than normal yarn
I get you! My all time fave yarn is Premier Anti-Pilling DK and worsted. so very nice and soft! The blankets I have made with This yarn have held up to dogs, washing, scrunching and drying in the machine. Great yarn.
Also, Joann’s is going out of business and their Big Twist yarns have the bonus of in person squishing prior to buying and some of these acrylics are very soft, some are scratchy like red heart. Premier Yarns Anti Pilling yarn line can’t be beat.
hurt hands is honestly one of the most stressful and taxing injuries. fingers crossed they are sorted soon. no yarn recs, just requests for more lovely pics of your projects whenever you need to bribe the bdh!
I’ve been using the Caron ombré for an afghan for my little and it’s soft and reasonably gentle on my hands. I would add a picture but I’m not that savvy.
I’ve made 5 baby blankets with Plymouth Dreambaby. Very soft and lots of different colors!
My sympathies regarding your yarn betrayal. That’s so disappointing! Argh.
Paintbox yarn you can find at lovecrochet.com is great.
Cascade yarns Anchor Bay. It is half Marino half cotton and washable. It was very nice on the hands.
Berroco vintage is my favorite acrylic blend. It comes in various weights as well. Webs carries it as well as many LYS.
have you seen the tennus ball crochet hack? I’m told it will help when hands have problems.
I knit a lot using acrylic. I prefer Knit Picks, but their Brava yarn only comes in worsted and sport weights, not DK. Same with Caron Simply Soft—it’s fun to knit with and quite slick, but only comes in worsted weight ( although it does knit up smaller than other worsteds). Hobbii yarn is soft and easy to work with, does come in DK, but their DK mega ball yarn tends to pill after the first wash. I also use a lot of Lovecrafts Paintbox yarn. It comes in DK and aran weights, a ton of colors, it’s fine to work with and it washes okay. It’s also inexpensive.
Sirdar makes a nice set of acrylic yarns. Targeted for babies mostly, but good colorways. https://sirdar.com/en/yarns?products_production%5BrefinementList%5D%5Bfibre%5D%5B0%5D=Acrylic
Up to at least aran weight
Crochet.com
Their Brava yarn is inexpensive, lots of colors, and very similar to stylecraft (the Türkiye kind)
I haven’t seen this suggestion in the comments and you may be too annoyed with the yarn to try, but sometimes washing the whole ball/skein of yarn before you use it can make a big difference. They put some kind of sizing on it to keep the fibers from going all over the place when winding it up in the factory. It’s supposed to wash out and the yarn will ‘bloom’. Put a skein in a lingerie bag and throw it in with a similarly colored load of laundry. Maybe their new UK source went too heavy on the starch.
If that doesn’t help, I hope your batch of uncomfortable yarn finds a new home with a local charity that makes blankets for shelter animals. The cats and dogs won’t mind the scratchiness!
My machine washable blend of choice is Plymouth Encore, but I’ve also enjoyed the Valley yarn line from Webs. They have a DK version that might suit. https://www.yarn.com/products/valley-yarns-haydenville-dk
Sometimes I wonder if they send out the worse stuff if an order is online. I wear Skechers all the time but when I order onine, they never fit right. I have to go to the store to return them and pick up something else – which surprise – is the same size.
I am currently making a blanket with Premier Yarns anti-pilling yarn worsted weight and LOVE how soft it is and how lovely it is to crochet. There is also a dk weight that comes in a wide range of colours.
https://www.premieryarns.com/
Try Yarnsmiths Pebble Haze DK from wool warehouse – super soft cotton/acrylic blend and really beautiful color options. So soft, that I’m using it to make a sweater now. https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/yarnsmiths-pebble-haze-dk-all-colours?srsltid=AfmBOor04QhLG_LDAWagn8BegW9EPWP8KkaLFy7d-tC6IB7uXe0VxBaN
Bonus feature – 5 skeins for 10 pounds!
I know nothing about yarn. No idea if it’s returnable or not. But… Mom makes me dish cloths out of some scratchy material. They’re really good for cleaning. I know you have a lot of it but could some of it be used that way.
Just a thought as I get ready to do the breakfast dishes
You might try Scheepjes Colour Crafter. I don’t think it has changed production location. I have used it interchangeably with SSDK in the past.
I have no suggestions for yarn. Despite multiple attempts to learn to crochet I just can’t seem to figure it out. My yarn is too tight or my yarn is too loose. The fact that I haven’t been able to learn hurts my feelings. I love crocheted blankets.
I actually wanted to tell you how lovely the blanket is. Your colors all complement one another and I know Kid 2 will treasure it. I do sew and I do quilt. My kids like to get quilts. If I make one for kid 1 then kid 2 inevitably asks where is mine?
I am flummoxed about my inability to learn to crochet. Youtube makes it seem so easy. lol 😊
the hardest part about crochet is getting started! allow it to look like a mess and keep going. 😀
choose a bulky yarn and a big crochet hook in a bright solid color. i thread my yarn through all my fingers and around my pinky to control tension. I slide the yarn up and down my pinky finger and change how i curl my pinky finger to change the tension in the yarn. i haven’t ever seen a YouTube video mention it. might be worth a shot!
expressionfiberarts.com
Remember the recommendation for this company in the Carolinas,USA? Wide selection of yarn, free patterns posted weekly, dyed on site. I’m happy with the yarn I bought. Thanks for letting me know about them.
When searching online yarns I have found a this yarn substitution website very helpful in comparing my favorites to something new.
https://yarnsub.com/
I like Caron Simply Soft. It comes in all kinds of lovely saturated colors, and I’ve actually made queen and king blankets with it. It washes well, and stays soft.
I suggested simply soft because although it says worsted weight, quite a lot of online yarn forums call it DK weight based on their experience using it. Hope this helps.
Sorry it was a poor quality yarn. If you can’t return it, maybe you can donate it to your local schools for kids to use for art projects. They would love it and they can make lovely masterpieces for their parents and grandparents!
Caron Simply Soft. Macine wash and dry. 100% acrylic, but very silky in feel and shiny in appearance. Worsted weight. At least 30 colors.
Here’s another vote for Caron Simply Soft. I’m a crocheter who usually prefers natural fibers, but Caron Simply Soft is really wonderful when an acrylic seems to work best for your project.
Two yarns I have worked with lately and really liked for baby projects are Paintbox Simply DK and Cascade Anthem DK. Paintbox has a little more loft to it. The Anthem one is very soft. Both are available at LoveCrafts. I like that they are 100g skeins. Hate changing colors in the middle of a knitting project.
I am currently using a yarn called Yarn Bee Soft Secret. It’s from Hobby Lobby and comes in a slew of colors. It’s Acrylic and soft.
Try Caron Simply Soft. I use it for baby afghans.
Caron Simply Soft is what first comes to mind. It’s more of a 4 weight, but I also really like Lion Brand’s Jeans (if it’s still even around).
You could also try washing the yarn (in laundry bags) with fabric softener to help soften it up. I typically do it after a blanket is done, but if it’s really bad I’ll do it beforehand. Sometimes with these large mandala blankets Red Heart’s the best option. Although I do have to say their lighter colors typically aren’t quite as scratchy.
I’m making a few blankets that for project Linus and they need to be made with acrylic yarn. Checkout scheepjes color crafter line, it’s a Canadian brand, yarn is very soft and colors are fabulous. I also like the scrumptious line which is also a dk yarn.
https://www.scheepjes.com/en/colour-crafter-328/
Try Lion Brand Pound of Love. It’s acrylic, but so, so soft. I’m working with it now.
I sympathize with you about the scratchiness of Red Heart yarn. I thought it was only me that had the problem. After a long hiatus from doing any crocheting I decided to make another afghan using Red Heart yarn. Almost immediately the first three fingertips on my right hand (I’m left handed) got dry and the skin became rough and started peeling. Even tape and bandaids don’t help the soreness. I must have had calluses when I used to crochet and knit because I don’t remember this happening before.
I love loop and thread’s new yarn this year. It’s super soft, comes in many varieties of colors and is really easy to knit. They don’t tangle as much as other brands and you don’t necesserely have to make them into cakes. They also have a variety of size and weight.
https://canada.michaels.com/product/delicate-dk-yarn-by-loops-threads-M20035147
https://ca.prod.platform.michaels.com/product/silky-soft-yarn-by-loops-threads-10736700?cm_mmc=PLASearch-_-google-_-MICH_Shopping_CA_N_Knitting+%26+Crochet_N_PMAX_BOPIS_N-_-Generic&kpid=go_cmp-18653508142_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-10736700&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA2JG9BhAuEiwAH_zf3nd4zIjrCj_FeNW_2wNLoPl5fk2R66w3rFr5eSYcKvDPdYqpWQ9VDxoCVOEQAvD_BwE
Those are a few exemples, but I think you can find others. I do believe Michael’s also seell in the US.
I do feel your pain, I have the same problems with many yarns. It is always so disapointing.
I’m not sure if we have the same soft touch, but even though I would love to only buy cotton, I never have that kind of cash.
So I’ve had good luck with:
https://www.crochet.com/yarn/brava-worsted/c/5420219
and surprisingly,
https://www.herrschners.com/herrschners-worsted-3-yarn/
of course there’s always this fun stuff!
https://www.crochet.com/breccia/p/29442
Yay for Brava Worsted! I obtained two of their colorways bundles of quarter-skeins from KnitPicks and just want to pile it on the floor and roll around on it, it’s soooo soft for an acrylic…
I don’t know what the current stock of Paintbox Simply DK feels like because my order was way back in 2021 when I ordered it from LoveCrafts (UK based which also had a US website & distribution center) for the exact same reasons you chose the StyleCraft yarn.
I thought I hated acrylic yarn but the color range had every shade that I wanted for a blanket that needed to be easily washed by a non-knitter and not break my budget. I started by ordering a single skein of each shade I wanted plus 2 extra accent colors in order to verify if colors matched my monitor & find out what they felt like. It was so soft, squishy, nice to handle, and not fuzzy that I immediately placed the order for multiple bags of the yarn!
Since then PaintBox (or their parent company) has bought out WEBs here in the US so now their yarns are available at both locations, but right now both websites look like they are out of stock on several colors.
I’m a KnitPicks Brava Worsted (acrylic) fan, myself- but I never buy it in large amounts (like for blankets or shawls) so I don’t know how cost-effective it would be for you.
I feel your crankiness, though- the Loops&Threads cotton blend for my pot handle holders is stiffer than the Sugar & Creme that my Gammy taught me with, and I’m still sulky ’bout it.
I like Loops & Threads soft classic or Caron. Both are available through Michaels (at least where I’m at). Also Hobbii has some good stuff. I’ve got a great hat that I made from some Halloween colored yarn that’s still holding strong after years.
I don’t have a specific suggestion, but I would recommend checking out KnitPicks or JoAnns for options. Last time I visited both, they had a lot of options. I was actually quite impressed with how nice the ‘cheap’ yarn at JoAnns has gotten.
On YouTube there is a channel called Bag O day Crochet, she knows where all the yarn is, and she has mentioned several from Turkey and from south eastern Europe that are soft and wonderful, if you ask her she will help. Very Nice Person sorta like a VIP but Better!
(humor arg arg) Has great patterns for free on her channel too, love the cat stitch.
My friend who knots a lot recommends Eat Sleep Knit – I often use their online shop. Look up Cascade yarn.
Hope you find some great yarn!
https://spunannarbor.com/collections/acrylic/products/comfort
I like this one – berroco comfort. it’s worsted, so not quite dk. but lots of colors. I have made baby blankets out of it while pregnant. I have eczema. I didn’t feel like ripping off my hands. it is woven strands, so chuck it in a laundry bag when you wash it so it doesn’t get roughened. not so difficult to do.
I had that same problem, until I started using Lionbrand Homespun, I’ve made like 25 pieces for family, and for selling over the years, and this stuff is fantastic, it actually feels like silk, and most of the products are duel, or tri colored, like grey to black to tan to blue in the same skein. Used to buy on the ‘zon until they started charging 10.00 a skein, now I hit Joanne’s site and ship in
The last fairly soft dk acrylic with a large palette of colors I used was Paintbox. I got it through yarn.com. This site has a wide range of options. You most likely find something there.
Any Scheepjes yarn, but I’m over the moon for Softfun. It’s a cotton/acrylic mix, used it a lot for baby toys
Hi! Fellow yarnsnob here. 🙋🏼♀️
I like Knitpicks yarn
Quality Yarns & Knitting Supplies | Knit Picks https://search.app/QPB1yH7crBCVJXhV9
I looked at the Hobbii website and that yarn looks amazing. I have no recommendations but wanted to tell you that I love that blanket! Very retro and so pretty.