Blanket yarn needs three things: softness against skin, washability, and durability. A blanket is one of the most satisfying knitting projects — and the most exposed to wear and tear, pet hair, and accidental spills.
Blanket Yarn Qualities
Washability: Acrylic and cotton blends are machine washable and dryable. 100% wool is beautiful but needs hand washing — fine for decorative throws, terrible for baby blankets and everyday use.
Weight: Bulky or super bulky weight knits up fast. Sport and DK weight are softer but take 2–3x longer. Aran/worsted weight is the sweet spot for most blanket projects.
Softness: Acrylic yarn quality varies wildly. Cheap acrylic feels scratchy and pills badly. Mid-range acrylic has improved dramatically — today’s premium acrylic is soft enough against bare skin.
Pilling resistance: Look for yarns labeled “anti-pilling” or “low pill”. These blend longer fibers into the yarn structure that resist pilling far better than standard acrylic.
Top Picks
Lion Brand Pound of Love ($12): The best budget blanket yarn. 100% acrylic, machine washable, low pill, 1020 yards per skein. At under $1 per 100 yards, it’s impossible to beat value-wise. Available in every color you can imagine.
Bernat Blanket Yarn ($10): Super bulky weight, ultra-soft chenille-style acrylic. This yarn knits up so fast you can finish a full-size throw in a weekend. It’s fuzzy, cozy, and feels like a cloud. Perfect for beginners who want instant gratification. Pilling can be an issue with heavy use.
Caron One Pound ($11): Worsted weight, 812 yards. The workhorse blanket yarn. More durable than the Lion Brand Pound of Love, slightly less soft. Good for everyday throws that will get used hard.
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick ($9): 80% acrylic, 20% wool blend. Super bulky weight, warm, and has the beautiful drape of wool with the washability of acrylic. Best for cold climate blankets.
Stylecraft Special DK ($6): Soft, durable, machine washable DK weight. The standard for baby blankets. 100% acrylic but surprisingly soft. Available in over 100 colors.
Best By Use Case
- Baby blankets: Stylecraft Special DK, Lion Brand Pound of Love
- Fast project: Bernat Blanket Yarn
- Everyday throw: Caron One Pound
- Cold climate: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
- Decorative throw: 100% merino or wool blend
How Much Yarn Do You Need?
- Baby blanket: 1000–1500 yards
- Lap throw: 1500–2500 yards
- Full-size throw: 2500–3500 yards
- Queen blanket: 5000–7000 yards