Which yarn is best for crochet? There is no single answer, because the yarn decides a lot about how your project looks, feels and wears, and what's perfect for a summer top is wrong for a winter hat. This guide covers the main types of yarn for crochet, what each one is good and bad at, how yarn weights and hook sizes fit together, and a checklist to help you choose.
Why the right yarn matters
Every fiber feels different on the hook and behaves differently in the finished piece. A baby blanket needs soft, easy-care yarn. A summer top wants something breathable. A potholder needs a fiber that won't melt. Pick the fiber first, then the thickness, and most of your project is already decided.
Checklist: how to choose your yarn
- What are you making? A blanket, a garment, a bag, amigurumi?
- Who is it for? A baby, an adult, someone sensitive to wool?
- How experienced are you? Smooth, light-colored yarn in a medium weight is easiest to learn on.
- What look and feel do you want: shiny or matte, stiff or drapey?
- Season: is it for summer or winter?
- How will it be washed? Machine-washable yarn saves trouble on things that get dirty.
Types of crochet yarn at a glance
| Fiber | Characteristics | Best projects | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Firm, breathable, smooth, crisp stitch definition, little stretch | Bags, summer tops, amigurumi, potholders | All levels |
| Acrylic | Affordable, soft, machine washable, wide color range | Blankets, toys, hats, practice pieces | All levels |
| Wool | Warm, elastic, forgiving | Hats, scarves, sweaters, winter accessories | All levels |
| Bamboo (usually viscose) | Soft, drapey, slight sheen, slippery | Shawls, tops, lightweight scarves | Intermediate |
| Linen | Cool, strong, stiff at first, softens with washing | Summer garments, market bags, home textiles | Intermediate |
| Blends | Combine the strengths of two or more fibers | Almost anything | All levels |
| Recycled and organic yarns | Lower environmental impact, often fewer colors | Bags, home decor, baby items | All levels |
Yarn weights and hook sizes
Fiber is half the story; thickness is the other half. In the US, yarn weight is shown as a number from 0 to 7 on the label (the Craft Yarn Council system). The UK and Europe often use names like 4 ply, DK and aran instead. The hook ranges below are the standard recommendations; the label of your yarn always has the final say.
| US weight | Also called (UK) | Hook size (mm) | Hook size (US) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 Lace | 1-2 ply | 1.5-2.25 | steel to B/1 |
| 1 Super fine (fingering, sock) | 4 ply | 2.25-3.5 | B/1 to E/4 |
| 2 Fine (sport) | 5 ply / light DK | 3.5-4.5 | E/4 to 7 |
| 3 Light (DK, light worsted) | DK | 4.5-5.5 | 7 to I/9 |
| 4 Medium (worsted, aran) | aran | 5.5-6.5 | I/9 to K/10.5 |
| 5 Bulky | chunky | 6.5-9 | K/10.5 to M/13 |
| 6 Super bulky | super chunky | 9-15 | M/13 to Q |
| 7 Jumbo | jumbo | 15 and up | Q and up |
Real yarns don't always fit one box. Cotton in particular is often worked on a smaller hook than its weight suggests, because a tighter fabric looks neater. Durable Coral, for example, is a fine cotton (125 m per 50 g) that works best on a 2.5 to 3.5 mm hook.
Cotton
Cotton comes from the cotton plant. It has a smooth, matte look (mercerized cotton has a soft sheen) and shows every stitch clearly. It breathes, washes well and doesn't melt, so it's the go-to fiber for anything that touches a hot pan, such as a crochet potholder. The downside: it has almost no stretch, can feel stiff, and is harder on your hands during long sessions. It also gets heavy when wet, so big cotton pieces can stretch if you hang them.
Best for amigurumi, bags, summer tops, dishcloths and potholders. A 2.5 to 4 mm hook (US B/1 to G/6) covers most cotton yarns. Our Durable Coral is 100% cotton and a good example.
Acrylic
Acrylic is a synthetic fiber: light, soft, affordable and machine washable, in nearly every color you can think of. It contains no lanolin, so it's a good option for people who find wool itchy. On the downside, it can pill over time (our guide to anti-pill yarn explains why and what helps), breathes less than natural fibers and doesn't like high heat (keep it away from the dryer and the iron).
Best for blankets, toys, hats and practice swatches. Durable Comfy, for instance, is 100% microfiber acrylic, very soft, and works on a 3 to 4 mm hook. Acrylic is a great choice when you're learning and don't want to worry about cost.
Wool
Wool comes from sheep (merino is a fine, soft variety). It's warm, breathes, holds its shape and has natural elasticity, which makes it forgiving: uneven tension evens out after washing. Some people find coarser wool itchy, and regular wool felts in a warm, agitated wash. Superwash wool is treated so it can go in the machine. Read our guide on how to wash wool before the first wash. Mohair, from the Angora goat, is a separate, fluffy fiber with its own quirks; our mohair yarn guide covers it.
Best for hats, scarves, sweaters and socks. Hook size depends on the weight; 4 to 6.5 mm (US G/6 to K/10.5) covers most DK to aran wool.
Bamboo
Most "bamboo" yarn is viscose (rayon) made from bamboo pulp. It's silky soft, drapes beautifully and has a gentle sheen. You'll often read that it's antibacterial, but the chemical process that turns bamboo into viscose doesn't keep those plant properties, so take that claim with a grain of salt. It's also slippery and can split, which makes it fiddly for beginners.
Best for shawls, drapey tops and light scarves. A 3.5 to 4.5 mm hook (US E/4 to 7) suits most bamboo yarns.
Linen
Linen is made from flax. It's strong, cool to wear and gets softer with every wash. It feels stiff and rough on the hook at first, and it doesn't stretch at all, so you need a steady tension.
Best for summer garments, market bags and home textiles. A 3.5 to 5 mm hook (US E/4 to H/8) is typical. More tips are in our guide to linen yarn.
Blends
A blend combines two or more fibers to get the best of each: cotton with acrylic for softness and easy care, wool with nylon for stronger socks. Durable Cosy Fine is a good example: 58% cotton and 42% acrylic, softer than pure cotton and lighter than pure acrylic. Blends suit almost any project. For washing, follow the most delicate fiber in the mix. Hook size: check the label.
Sustainable alternatives
Organic cotton, recycled cotton or polyester, hemp and lyocell (Tencel) all have a lower environmental footprint than conventional yarns. They're often a bit pricier and come in fewer colors. Recycled cotton cord, like Durable Braided Fine (100% recycled cotton, 6 to 8 mm hook), is great for baskets and bags that need to stand up on their own.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best yarn for crochet beginners?
A smooth, light-colored yarn in a medium weight (DK or worsted) in cotton, acrylic or a cotton/acrylic blend. You can see your stitches clearly and it doesn't split much. New to crochet altogether? Start with our crochet for beginners guide.
What's the difference between cotton, acrylic and wool?
Cotton is natural, firm and breathable with little stretch. Acrylic is synthetic, soft, cheap and easy to wash. Wool is warm and elastic but needs gentler washing unless it's superwash.
Is cotton or acrylic better for crochet?
It depends on the project. Cotton is better for anything that needs structure or heat resistance, like bags and potholders. Acrylic is better for soft, cuddly things that get washed a lot, like blankets and toys.
What is eco-friendly crochet yarn?
Yarn made from organic or recycled materials, such as organic cotton, recycled cotton, hemp or lyocell.
Which hook goes with which yarn?
Check the label first. In general, the thicker the yarn, the bigger the hook. The weight table above gives the standard ranges.
Choosing gets easier with practice
The right yarn makes a project look better and makes it more fun to crochet. Keep the checklist and the tables handy next time you buy yarn, and if you're torn between two, buy one ball of each and crochet a small swatch. Ten minutes of swatching tells you more than any label. Looking for a first project to try a new yarn on? A blanket in acrylic or a cotton potholder are both good places to start.
