I was taking stock of my yarn inventory a couple of days ago and was thinking back to when I first started crocheting. I often wondered, what would be the best type of yarn to use for amigurumi style?
The best type of yarn to use for amigurumi style crochet is totally subjective. There is no right or wrong answer. There are definitely some types of yarn that make more sense than others for reasons we’ll dive into below. Especially if you are a beginner.
Worsted Weight Yarn
This is, in my opinion, the best type of yarn to use for amigurumi style crochet. Worsted weight yarn falls in the middle of the yarn weight scale system. If buying a brand new roll of yarn you would be looking for a number four symbol on the packaging. Worsted weight is considered a medium weight yarn which is ideal for crocheting small animals or dolls.
The reason I believe this is the most appropriate yarn for beginners is because it does fall right in the middle. Meaning it’s not too big and clumsy feeling or worse, too small which is difficult to work with when you are first starting out.
How Many Different Weights Are There
According to the Craft Yarn Council there are seven different weights on the scale. The weights range from zero, the smallest all the way to seven, the largest.
Worsted…What Does That Mean?
Another thing that had me confused when I first started crocheting amigurumi was the word itself, worsted…what did it mean? Did it refer to a special type of yarn or was it the name of a company that was manufacturing it?
Well, curiosity got the better of me and this is what I found out. The word worsted was named after the village Worstead which is in Norfolk, England. Woven cloth was produced here between the 1200s and 1800s. The woven cloth became known as worsted.
Who Makes Worsted Weight Yarn
There are several different companies that make worsted weight yarn.
- Red Heart
- Cascade Yarns
- Lion Brand
- I Love This Yarn!
- Bernat
- Caron
My two favourite stores to purchase yarn from are Michaels in Canada and Hobby Lobby in the USA. As you will see when visiting these two craft stores, there are many more brands of yarn for you to experiment with and choose from. Be careful though. It’s so easy to get addicted to purchasing yarn. With the vast array of colours and numerous brands to choose from it’s pretty easy for your inventory to grow out of control!
As with all things made today, the prices vary. This is a good thing as it means there is typically a price for every budget. A quick look online shows prices ranging from $2.99 – $9.99 for a 3.5oz ball of yarn at Michaels Canada. You will also notice that yarn goes on sale quite often.
Read All of the Label
After you’ve browsed around your favourite craft store it’s time to head over to the yarn section. If you’re anything like me you can spend an awful long time here. So many gorgeous colours and textures to check out!
Once you’ve settled on a colour for your next project and you’re about to put that ball of yarn into your cart do yourself a favour and read the label. You now know to look for the number four symbol but there are some other items you’ll need to be sure of.
Besides the weight of the yarn, the label will have recommended hook size. This is important as it determines the size of your stitches. Most importantly though is to use the hook size in the pattern you are about to work on.
Depending on if you plan on putting your finished product into the washer and dryer you can also find the instructions for this on the label as well.
You’ve decided you are going to crochet amigurumi style. After reading this, you realize worsted weight yarn is the best option to get started with. You’ve gone out and picked up your favourite ball of yarn. Now it’s time to get started!
Thanks for reading
