My number one absolute favourite yarn for crocheting is Stylecraft Special DK. It's probably no surprise as I talk about it quite a bit on my blog! I know that many other crocheters and knitters like this yarn too. As I make lots of blankets, I find this yarn to be perfect...it has a fantastic range of colours, washes really well, is fairly soft and best of all is really economical! I just love it.
Above are some things that I've made using Stylecraft Special DK. It's just perfect for blankets and cushions especially.
I've heard that there are going to be some new colours in this range this year and I'm really looking forward to that.
Another favourite of mine is Sirdar Snuggly DK. Again it has a great range of colours and it's very soft. It's a wee bit more expensive than Stylecraft but I think it's a really nice yarn to work with. It's especially good for making baby things and my mum, who knits a lot of baby clothes, uses this a lot.
Another little collage above showing things I've made with Sirdar Snuggly DK. They release new colours of this yarn quite a lot which is good, but unfortunately they have discontinued a really gorgeous yellow colour which I loved and used a lot in my projects. The shade was 'duckling' and I haven't been able to find another yellow as perfect as it was yet. So the search for the perfect yellow begins again!
Lastly is another Stylecraft yarn which is again a firm favourite. This is Weekender which is super chunky. It's really soft and has some nice colours too...I like the soft sort of vintage colours best...duck egg, dawn, petal and cream.
I made lots of hot water bottle cosies with this yarn last year, it's the perfect yarn for those as its thick and cosy. (The pattern for the hot water bottle cosy is by Cocorose Diaries, the link is in my side bar). I also made a cowl and a tea cosy.
So those are my 3 favourite yarns! They are all fairly inexpensive as its rare for me to buy pricey yarn...I do really like Debbie Bliss yarns, especially the cashmerino range, but I'm afraid the price puts me off and I'm more than happy with my Stylecraft and Sirdar really!
So what about you? Do you like the yarns above or do you prefer more luxurious yarns? Are there other good budget yarns you can recommend?
X
Im a stylecraft girl too, I rarely buy "proper" wool because when I do I'm too scared to use it lol
ReplyDeleteYou've made so many beautiful things Marianne,
ReplyDeleteKate x
love Stylecraft too for the same reasons. your crochet is lovely xx
ReplyDeleteYep love Stylecraft yarn, so many pretty colours, your photos are greatxx
ReplyDeleteI like cotton best, either patons or annell cotton 8. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to look back at all your beautiful makes. Whilst I am a great fan of Stylecraft due to budget, I am also a great fan of Wendy Arran wool it makes such beautiful throws/blankets and has a really wide range of colours.
ReplyDeleteerr, dare I say I've never tried Stylecraft - I like Patons cotton, it gives great stitch definition, current favourites are Rowan felted tweed and Sirdar freya.It's lovely to see so many of your finished items together, makes you realise how productive you have been.
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
I use Sidar cotton and I love it! Color you chose for all your project are simply adorable!
ReplyDeleteI like merino wool most. I am trying to get used to Stylecraft because the colour range is amazing, and the prize too, but I don't like the feel of it and I also like my yarn to have a hint of lanolin smell to it. I know, fussy. I do love what you create, you have such a good eye for colour!
ReplyDeleteI've used Stylecraft Weekender before but I haven't tried Special DK yet. Most of the yarns I use are cotton--Drops and Sugar n Cream. I also prefer inexpensive yarns and these two brands aren't too bad price-wise and they're also soft and nice to work with. X
ReplyDeleteI like cottons as well and I went through a little phase of using cottons all the time. I had tried Drops Cotton Light and didn't get on with it all - I found it to be really splitty. But, I have just received an order of Drops Muskat which looks beautiful so hopefully I will like it better.
DeleteMarianne x
I love Special DK and use it a lot. I wish I could buy it in a store here to better match colors but I don't know of any who sell it so i order it online. It's usually fine. I also like I Love This Yarn worsted-weight acrylic, which is sold in Hobby Lobby stores in the US. Those would be my two favorites, I think. I use them more than anything else. :)
ReplyDeleteYes you are sooooo right,I LOVE Stylecraft dk,gorgeous colours,as I am another blanket lover am addicted to making blankets and cushions.I do love their chunky too and the colour combo's.I must try that Sirdar one looks soooo snugly.Love your pics of your beautiful creations.Happy Week and weekend.xx
ReplyDeleteYellow is always a really difficult colour in yarn, for some reason - it's too mustardy, or too lemony, or too goldy - just never quite right! Having said that I've fallen a bit in love with Sunshine in the Stylecraft Special DK range (also my favourite yarn to work with!!) :)
ReplyDeleteYour blog and photos and work are just beautiful, I'm looking forward to visiting more often!
Michelle
(crochetbetweentwoworlds.blogspot.com.au)
Thanks for your lovely words Michelle :-). I will have to try the colour of Stylcraft you've recommended and I agree that yellow is such a tricky colour for yarn companies to get right!
DeleteMarianne x
Ive discovered Robin yarns in a local shop, it's similar to Stylecraft DK. In the Bonny Babe range there's a yellow I really like called Buttercup. I've used it for the centre of my crochet flowers for Miss L's blanket. You can get from Deramores.
ReplyDeleteI love your tea cosy, it's on my 'to make' list! xx
I should've added that buttercup looks way nicer in the flesh than on the Deramores website! It's a soft yellow and not too acidic & bright, if you know what I mean.
DeleteThanks Alison, I will check this out as I love to use yellow in my crochet and it would be great to get a nice yellow again!
DeleteMarianne x
Great yarn advice, I am a lover of Berroco and Cascade yarns.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Gorgeous yarn and gorgeous makes! I agree that Stylecraft special dk is a wonderful yarn for crochet, good quality, doesn't split, lots of gorgeous colours, easy to wash, and a good price too! For small projects I sometimes like to use Rooster dk too.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend, Marianne!
Helen xox
I haven't tried Rooster DK Helen, but Nicki Trench uses it a lot in her books and I love her crochet books! So, I will have to give it a try I think.
DeleteMarianne x
Mmmm you've given me yarn longings! I have yet to try stylecraft special DK, it's on my list for this year. My local yarn shop has the Robin range, which I do really like. I'm also making a blanket in Hayfield Bonus Chunky, which I like a lot too. x
ReplyDeleteI really like Stylecraft Special DK too but my favorite yarn is Drops Cotton Merino. So soft and nice to work with!
ReplyDeleteTake care
Anne (Crochet Between Worlds)
I enjoyed seeing your beautiful projects among the colourful yarn! Thank you for sharing your choices with us.
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
Madelief x
I love to use Stylecraft as well, because of the lots of colours and the price ;-).
ReplyDeleteAnnell Rapido is also very nice and a wee bit softer I think....
I loved all your pretty yarn pictures!! Love from Mirjam.
You've made so many lovely things! I've only recently discovered stylecraft after buying one of Lucy's packs. I've just bought some more to make another blanket as it crochets well and comes in so many lovely colours. The other yarn I use a lot is King Cole Bamboo Cotton which has a lovely sheen - I started using it because it was the only one in my local shop which came in a good colour range (though nowhere near as many as Stylecraft). x
ReplyDeleteOh I will have a look for this yarn Julie, it sounds really nice.
DeleteMarianne x
Just found your blog. This is a lovely, inspiring post. Thank you for the recs. I use a lot of Stylecraft too but need to venture out. x
ReplyDelete