Weaving yarn determines the finished look, strength and feel of your spun articles and should be selected skillfully. Such a decision may be a walkover for the experienced weaver who knows what’s best for warping and filling.
Unfortunately, for those just starting, it is a mind-boggling exercise. With a myriad of thread weights and material options; You’ll likely find yourself at a crossroad. We can help with that by answering a critical question.
What is the best yarn for weaving? Cotton yarn is ideally the most favourable weaving thread for all skill levels. However, as you advance your finesse, you will realize that the best is relative to what you intend to weave.
In this article, we explore the best weaving yarn. Read on to learn more and familiarize yourself with the great products available in the market.
Selection of yarn material for weaving
Part of finding the best yarn for weaving is choosing suitable fabric for yarn. Cotton would be the best yarn material for beginner weaving. Linen or hemp is too stiff. In contrast, the slick fibres tend to be slippery and best left to experts.
Cotton has just the right texture making picking a lot easier. It is also the best yarn for warping as it can take the abrasion and tension of the loom.
Wool is excellent too. It is a bit stretchy, which is a good thing. A little elasticity allows room for making mistakes which you are bound to make as a beginner.
As you gain confidence and expand your creativity, you can try silk, Tencel, rayon, soy, and bamboo. If you do not mind synthetic material, you can also experiment with acrylic, polyester and nylon.
Here’s a material guide chart of the best yarn for weaving.
Yarn material
Source
Characteristics
Suitable projects
Cotton
Plant cellulose fibre
- Natural softness
- Absorbent and breathable
- Easy to use
- Strong
- Affordable
Cotton is the best yarn for weaving a wide range of towels, light blankets, throws, summer wraps and scarves. It is also suitable for dishcloths and the best yarn for warping.
Linen
Plant cellulose fibre
- Tensile
- Absorbent
- Organic smell and colour
- Strong
- Difficult for beginners
- High-end price
Linen is too rigid on its own and is best for blends. A cotton and linen blend, for example, is a perfect combo better than plain cotton.
Hemp
Plant cellulose fibre
- Very strong
- Kind of stiff
- No lustre
- Organic smell and look but takes dye well
Hemp is the best yarn for weaving runners, upholstery, wall hangings, placemats and baskets.
Rayon
Plant cellulose fibre
- Natural-ish (it contains polymers)
- Vibrant colours
- Nice sheen
- Drapes well
Rayon is a silk look-alike and is suited for stylish scarves and wraps.
Plant cellulose fibre
- High sheen fibre
- Silky smooth
- Lightweight
- Excellent drape
- Not beginner-friendly
They are ideal for lightweight and stylish apparel.
Wool
Animal protein fibre
- Slightly elastic
- Warm and cosy
- Can be soft or scratchy
- Affordable if you buy knitting wool
- Easy to use and more forgiving for a beginner
- Finished products need special care
Wool is the best yarn for weaving blankets, rugs, winter scarves and other warm apparel.
Silk
Animal protein fibre
- Brilliant lustre
- Amazing drape
- Very strong
- Slips a lot thus not beginner-friendly
- Luxury fabric and therefore pricey (raw silk is cheaper)
Silk yarn is a premium material best reserved for severe weaving. It works for anything stylish, and exclusive -scarves, throws.
Acrylic
Synthetic fibre
- Strong and durable
- Very soft and drapey
- Affordable
- Easily available
- Many colour variants
- Static
- Consistent after washing and drying
Acrylic is versatile and fit for a wide variety of projects.
Polyester and Nylon
Synthetic fibre
- Strong and durable
- Lightweight and soft
- Easily available
- Cheap
- An assortment of fancy attractive colours, shimmer, glitter, and all the frills of novelty yarn
Since it is among the cheapest you can get, it is economical for teaching kids how to weave and personal practice.
Now that you have a material guide, you probably already have an idea of the yarn likely to fit your project, skill level and budget. It also helps to have a few right products in mind. Next is a round-up of the best yarn brands for weaving.
Top 3 yarn for weaving
- Lily sugar n cream cotton yarn
For a taut warping yarn that doesn’t stretch, look no further. This 14oz worsted weight weaving yarn ensures you do not need to keep adding thread and comes in a cone to lighten your work. You will take pride in knowing that the yarn is 100% USA grown cotton. There are also several colour options. It’s an excellent choice for an ample supply of quality yarn.
- Lion brand ease wool thick yarn
Lamb wool and acrylic is a super blend you can find in this US brand yarn. The 6oz two-ply super bulky weight thread is one of the most comfortable yarn a beginner can get. The incredibly soft texture is easy on fingers. It is more robust than 100% wool but sheds less than 100% acrylic. You simply get the best of both worlds.
- Caron naturally soft yarn.
The luxurious feel of this yarn is not what you would expect from a synthetic thread. It is silky and soft with incredible strength. The 100% acrylic four-ply four-gauge 6oz yarn is dense, making it great for heavy drapes, blankets and scarves.
With its array of vibrant, neutral and pastel hues and shades, you’ll be spoilt for choice.