As you probably know by now, we have a big Sweater Knitting Weekend event happening next week.
One question I often get about sweater is what is an affordable yarn for a sweater.
A sweater is not only a big investment in time, it can be a big investment of money.
But it doesn’t have to.
There are plenty of yarn options that will give you a nice sweater without taking out a second mortgage to do it.
What is the best yarn for sweaters?
The truth is there no ONE best yarn for a sweater.
Choosing a sweater yarn will depend on a few factors:
- How fast do you want to knit the sweater?
- How warm do you want the sweater to be?
- What kind of drape do you want the sweater to have?
- Do you have any fiber sensitivities?
- What is your budget?
If you want a fast sweater, then knit with a thicker yarn. The thicker the yarn, the fewer stitches you need to knit.
If you want a sweater that’s not so warm, a lighter weight yarn is the way to go. But you’ll also want to use a yarn with good temperature regulation like cotton or merino wool.
If you want nice drape, thinner weight yarns are your go to.
If you are allergic to animal fibers then stick to man made or plant fiber yarns.
And if you have a tight budget checkout the yarns below…
How much yarn do you need for a sweater?
This is another question I get A LOT.
The chart above gives a decent estimate, but ultimately you’re going to have to do some math to figure this out.
Many patterns will give you the specific number of skeins you need in a particular yarn.
But if you’re using something like the percentage sweater systems I’ll be teaching during the Sweater Knitting Weekend, then estimates are the way to go.
The amount is going to depend on your sweater size, what yarn weight you’re knitting with, and how much yardage is in each skein you plan to use.
I’ve included skein amounts in the yarn selections below.
Conclusion
So what do you think?
What is your favorite affordable yarn?