How to Choose Crochet Yarn: A Complete Guide

Start with the yarn weight

Yarn weight (thickness) is graded on a standard 0–7 scale: lace, super fine, fine, light, medium (worsted), bulky, super bulky, and jumbo. A pattern written for worsted (#4) will look and behave differently in bulky (#5), even at the "same" stitch count, so matching the weight the pattern calls for matters more than matching the exact brand.

Choosing fiber by project type

Cotton is sturdy, holds its shape and is machine washable — ideal for bags, dishcloths and summer garments, though it has less stretch than wool or acrylic. Acrylic is affordable, widely available in bright colors, and machine washable, making it a solid all-purpose choice, especially for amigurumi and gifts for children.

Wool and wool blends are warm and elastic, great for hats, sweaters and mittens, but usually need hand-washing unless labeled "superwash." Blends (like a cotton-acrylic or wool-acrylic mix) often balance the strengths of both fibers.

Reading a yarn label

Every label lists weight category, yardage, recommended hook size, and gauge (stitches per 4 inches) — check yardage first, since running short mid-project is the most common yarn-shopping mistake. Buy an extra skein for garments in case of dye-lot differences; skeins from different dye lots can vary slightly in color.