Choosing a Material: How to Select the Right Yarn for Your Project

One example that covers it all: a blanket

A knitted or crocheted blanket can genuinely be made from almost anything. That is precisely why it is such a good example for illustrating the entire decision-making process.

First, we need to imagine what kind of blanket we actually want:

• summer or winter,
• light or thick,
• soft against bare skin or durable enough for everyday use,
• easy-care or luxurious,
• affordable or exceptional,
• quick to make or fine and intricately worked.

We can use the same approach when choosing yarn for a jumper, scarf, gloves, hat or toy.

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If we want a light or summer blanket

For a summer blanket, we probably do not want a material that is too warm. Cotton, linen, bamboo viscose, silk and blends of these fibres are therefore among the most common choices.

Cotton

Cotton is practical, strong, affordable and easy to care for.

The finished blanket will tend to be more compact than fluffy. Cotton is not very elastic and can become quite heavy in a larger project, but it withstands regular use and frequent washing well.

It is particularly suitable when we want a practical item that does not require complicated care.

Linen

Linen creates an airy, strong fabric with a natural appearance.

It may feel stiff at first, but gradually softens with use and washing. Even after softening, however, it will not be as smooth and drapey as bamboo viscose. It retains its characteristic texture and slightly rustic nature.

Bamboo viscose

Yarns described as bamboo are usually made from bamboo cellulose processed into viscose fibre.

The resulting item will be smooth, soft, cool and highly drapey. However, bamboo viscose does not hold its shape as well and may stretch or lose its structure under its own weight.

It is a good choice when we want a soft, smooth and flowing result.

Silk

Silk is smooth, strong, soft and elegant. Even a fine silk yarn can create a beautiful, luxurious-looking item.

However, we need to allow for a higher price and more delicate care. An entire blanket made from silk will be considerably more expensive than a cotton one, although silk can also be used in a blend with another material.

For a summer blanket, our decision might therefore look like this:

Do I want an affordable, practical blanket? I will choose cotton.
Do I want a natural, slightly rustic appearance? I will choose linen.
Do I want a soft blanket with plenty of drape? I will choose bamboo viscose.
Do I want a luxurious piece and do not mind the higher price? I will choose silk.

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If we want a warm or winter blanket

For a winter blanket, we most often choose sheep's wool, alpaca, mohair, cashmere or blends of these fibres.

Again, we can narrow down the options. Price, softness, durability, warmth and the way we want to care for the finished item will all influence the decision.

Sheep's wool

Sheep's wool is elastic, warm and holds its shape well. The finished item will be warm yet breathable.

It does not have to be merino. Shops also carry Bluefaced Leicester, Corriedale and Shetland yarns, as well as yarns for which no specific breed is stated. That does not automatically mean the yarn is poor quality. It may, however, be more robust and less soft than merino.

There is an exceptionally wide range of wool yarns today, from extra-fine varieties to firmer, coarser ones. It is therefore important to consider whether the item will touch bare skin and how sensitive we are.

Very fine yarn is usually more comfortable, but often less resistant to friction. More robust wool can feel itchier, but may last longer in blankets, outer jumpers or garments intended for outdoor use.

Alpaca

Alpaca is soft, exceptionally warm and drapey.

It often has a soft halo that one person may find pleasant while another may find it ticklish or mildly irritating. Alpaca items are beautiful and often have a naturally heathered appearance, but they are less elastic and may stretch more under greater weight.

Mohair

Mohair creates a light, airy fabric with a fluffy halo.

It is most commonly sold as a fine yarn in which a strong core thread provides structure while the mohair fibres surrounding it create a delicate cloud.

We can knit with it on its own, hold two strands together or add it to another yarn. Holding mohair together with another yarn adds volume without making the fabric significantly heavier. The fibres fill the spaces between stitches, allowing us to use larger needles while the fabric still looks full.

Mohair can be combined tone on tone or in a completely contrasting colour. The resulting shade is often more surprising than we might expect from looking at the separate balls.

However, mohair is relatively difficult to unravel because its fibres catch on one another.

Cashmere

Cashmere is exceptionally soft, light and warm.

It is obtained from the fine undercoat of cashmere goats. The amount of usable fibre is limited and processing it is demanding, which is why it is one of the more expensive materials.

We can knit a blanket from cashmere, but it will be a highly luxurious and costly project. Cashmere is more commonly used for smaller items or in blends with wool or silk.

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How do we want to care for the item?

Care requirements are very important when choosing yarn.

Some wool yarns have a superwash treatment. This alters the surface of the fibres so that they are less likely to catch on one another during washing and the yarn is less prone to felting.

These yarns are often suitable for machine washing, but the care instructions on the label should always be followed.

Modern washing machines often have a very gentle wool programme, and many delicate items can be washed in them without damage. However, we cannot automatically assume that every wool yarn will tolerate the same washing method.

The best solution is to wash a swatch in the same way we intend to wash the finished item.

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Yarn weight is just as important as the material

Even before choosing a particular fibre, we can ask ourselves:

How thick should the finished item be?

A project grows quickly when made with thick yarn. A blanket or jumper can be completed relatively soon, but the result will be heavier, bulkier and often very warm.

Fine yarn takes longer to work with, and a large project may seem almost endless. However, the result is usually lighter, more delicate and more practical for layering.

With clothing, we also need to consider where it will be worn. A thick jumper may look beautiful, but we may get little use from it in an overheated office. A fine wool jumper can be more practical because it can be worn on its own or under a jacket.

When choosing a yarn weight, we therefore consider:

• the desired warmth,
• the weight of the finished item,
• the time required to make it,
• its suitability for layering,
• the recommended needle or hook size,
• the amount of yarn required for the project.

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Sock yarn is not only for socks

Sock yarns deserve special attention.

They are most commonly a blend of wool and a smaller amount of polyamide. Polyamide increases the yarn's durability, helping prevent socks from wearing through too quickly as they are worn and rubbed.

We can take advantage of the same property in other projects, including:

• blankets,
• gloves,
• hats,
• jumpers,
• children's clothing,
• items intended for everyday wear.

There is no need to be automatically concerned about a small proportion of polyamide. If most of the yarn is wool, the finished item will retain many of wool's properties: it will be warm, elastic and comfortable to wear. The polyamide will also make it more durable.

Sock yarns tend to be affordable, often have a superwash treatment, and are available in a wide range of solid, variegated and self-patterning colourways.

For a blanket, we can use a single colour, combine several shades or make use of leftovers from other projects.

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A swatch can tell us a great deal

It is advisable to make a swatch before starting a larger project.

A swatch is not only for checking stitch count. It shows us:

• whether we like the density of the fabric,
• how well the material holds its shape,
• whether it is soft enough,
• how transparent the fabric is,
• whether the yarn stretches,
• how it changes after washing,
• whether the material feels comfortable against our skin.

The swatch should be washed and dried in the same way we intend to care for the finished item.

Some yarns soften after washing, while others bloom, expand or change in density. A difference of a few centimetres may not matter in a large blanket, but in a jumper it can determine whether the finished garment fits.

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Practical examples

🧤 Gloves for walking the dog

I need medium-weight gloves that can withstand daily wear. They will get dirty and need washing, and I want them to serve me well.

I will choose a heavier sock yarn or hold two strands of a finer sock yarn together.

I can choose a variegated colourway that will not show every mark so quickly.

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🧣 A luxurious, delicate scarf

I want a light, fine and soft scarf that I will wear directly against my neck.

I will choose fine cashmere, a blend of cashmere and silk or fine wool, or perhaps mohair blended with silk.

A scarf requires less yarn than a blanket or jumper, so I can afford to invest in a more luxurious material.

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👶 A blanket for a baby's pushchair

I want a medium-weight blanket that is neither too warm nor too thin. I also want it to be easy to care for.

I can choose a cotton-and-wool blend, fine superwash wool or a practical cotton yarn.

A yarn designed for approximately 4 mm needles may be suitable. For a baby blanket, it is also advisable to avoid very large holes in the stitch pattern where little fingers could become caught.

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🥾 A jumper for hiking and the outdoors

I want a jumper that will keep me warm without being unnecessarily bulky. It must withstand a rucksack, friction and frequent wear.

I will choose a fine to medium-weight wool yarn, ideally one intended for needles up to approximately 4 mm.

If I do not mind a slight itch, I can choose a more robust wool. The jumper will be more durable, hold its shape better and may serve me for many years.

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🎭 An elegant jumper for the office or theatre

I want a very light, delicate and elegant jumper. I do not mind working with fine yarn, and I do not expect to unravel the finished item often.

I can use mohair on its own, hold two strands of mohair together, or hold mohair together with fine merino.

The finished jumper will be airy, light and elegant. However, I need to remember that mohair is more difficult to unravel.

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🧸 A crocheted toy for a child

I want the toy to be easy to wash and to hold its shape well.

Cotton will be the most practical choice.

For a smaller or more detailed toy, I will use finer cotton and a smaller hook. If I want a larger toy, I will choose a thicker yarn.

If I want a rustic or fluffy appearance, I can use alpaca or another yarn with a halo. However, for a toy intended for a young child, it is important to check that the yarn does not shed fibres and that the finished item can be cared for safely.

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So how should we choose yarn?

In principle, we can knit or crochet almost anything from almost any yarn.

The aim is not to find the one correct yarn. It is to choose a material that will produce the result we have in mind.

Before buying, we should therefore answer a few questions:

• What am I going to make?
• During which season will the item be used?
• Should it be warm, cool, light or bulky?
• Should it hold its shape or drape?
• Will it be in contact with bare skin?
• How often will I wash it?
• Does it need to be highly durable?
• How much time do I want to spend on the project?
• What is my budget?
• How much yarn will I need?

Once we know what we expect from the finished item, choosing yarn is no longer a guessing game. It becomes a conscious decision—and that is where creativity begins.