Acrylic Yarn: The Pros

Conventional wisdom dictates that acrylic yarn is stiff, scratchy, and generally inferior to wool. Yet today’s acrylic yarns can be surprisingly soft, and their affordability and easy-care qualities have made them a popular choice for crocheters. Why does acrylic continue to hold its own against wool? One reason is that modern acrylic fibers are available in a wide range of textures and qualities.

Let’s explore three additional factors behind acrylic yarn’s continued popularity:

Durability and Ease of Care

As the mother of four children and a dog, I know kids and pets are hard on handmade items. There is no telling what they are liable to smear all over a hand-made sweater, and I have little time for hand washing. Acrylic yarn’s durability, color retention, and easy-care qualities can make it a practical choice for busy families like mine, especially when a project needs to withstand frequent washing.

Avoiding Allergies and Sensitivities

Crochet for people who cannot wear wool? You probably have acrylic yarn in your stash. If you aren’t sure whether the recipient of your project has a wool sensitivity or prefers to avoid animal fibers, acrylic can be an excellent option. This is particularly useful when crocheting gifts, children’s items, or charity projects where easy care and broad appeal are important.

Of course, it’s worth checking with the recipient whenever possible. A fiber sensitivity is not always the same thing as a diagnosed allergy, and people can react differently to different fibers.

It Costs Less

Crocheting can be an expensive hobby, and there are times when we need to keep costs down. This is especially true when you’re learning a new skill or teaching others. There is no sense in wasting expensive yarn on the learning curve. Cost is also a consideration when crocheting for kids and pets since these items are at greater risk of being lost, stained, or damaged.

To every fiber there is a season. Sometimes acrylic yarn is the ideal choice for a project. After all, not everyone lives a hand-washing sort of life.

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Acrylic Yarn: The Cons

I’ve heard all the arguments in favor of using acrylic yarns: allergies or sensitivities to wool, easy maintenance of garments, and low cost. But a good argument against acrylic yarn in the acrylic vs. wool debate is that acrylic is a synthetic fiber made from plastic-based polymers. If you have ever done a fiber burn test, you may have noticed that acrylic melts rather than behaving like a natural animal or plant fiber.

That said, a fiber’s synthetic origin does not automatically make it a poor choice. Acrylic has plenty of practical uses. Still, to address the three pros above, I give you three acrylic cons to sway you towards wool and other natural fibers:

Ways Around the Allergies

I would not choose 100 percent acrylic for every project simply because it is easy to care for. If somebody is sensitive to a particular natural fiber, there are many alternative fibers to consider instead. For example, I am allergic to alpaca yarns, so I use wool. Many natural yarns are also available in machine-washable or easy-care varieties, so choosing a natural fiber does not always mean committing to complicated maintenance.

And remember that the best yarn depends on the person and the project. If you’re making something for a baby, child, pet, or someone with a known fiber sensitivity, check the care requirements and fiber preferences before you begin.

Cost vs. Quality

Cost is a consideration for many crafters, but acrylic isn’t the only affordable yarn option. Depending on the brand, weight, fiber content, and sales available, you may find wool, cotton, or other natural-fiber yarns at prices that are surprisingly competitive.

Also, if I invest my precious time to crochet an item, I want it to be made of the best quality yarn possible. Thanks to online yarn databases, retailer websites, and pattern communities, I can compare yarns, fiber content, reviews, and retail costs before I commit to a project.

For me, quality isn’t just about price. It is also about how the yarn feels, how it behaves while I’m crocheting, how the finished fabric looks, and how well it suits the project.

Durability and Ease of Care

Here’s where things get interesting. Acrylic yarn may be wonderfully easy to wash, but natural fibers can also be remarkably durable when you choose the right yarn and care for the finished piece properly.

My personal favorite yarns are 100 percent superwash merino for cold-weather items and 100 percent cotton yarns for warm-weather garments. Either one can be suitable for children’s garments, accessories, or other everyday projects, depending on the pattern and care instructions.

Mercerized cotton is one of my favorite yarns because it holds up so well. In fact, a cotton T-shirt I knitted over five years ago still looks like new even though I wash it in the machine. Other long-wearing summer fiber options include hemp and linen. These yarns tend to be pricey, but there are cheaper buying options online if you look around.

When I want to treat myself to some luxury, though, I use 50 percent merino/50 percent silk yarn. I don’t mind washing such a garment by hand; after all, I have invested a lot of time into it.

So call me a “yarn snob.” I will gladly wear that title along with my non-plastic garments and accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acrylic Yarn

Is acrylic yarn good for crochet?

Yes. Acrylic yarn can be an excellent choice for crochet projects that need to be affordable, durable, easy to care for, and available in a wide range of colors and textures. The best yarn depends on the project and the finished fabric you want.

What are the advantages of acrylic yarn?

The main advantages of acrylic yarn are its affordability, wide color selection, durability, and easy-care qualities. Many acrylic yarns can also be machine washed, making them practical for everyday garments, blankets, children’s projects, and other frequently used items.

What are the disadvantages of acrylic yarn?

Acrylic is a synthetic fiber, so it does not have the same properties as natural fibers such as wool, cotton, linen, or hemp. It can also behave differently when exposed to high heat. For projects where breathability, natural-fiber feel, or specific temperature-regulating qualities are important, another fiber may be a better choice.

Is acrylic yarn better than wool?

Neither fiber is automatically better. Acrylic can be better for projects that need affordability and easy care, while wool can be a better choice when warmth, natural fiber, and specific fabric qualities are the priority. Consider the project, recipient, budget, and care requirements before choosing.

Can you wash acrylic yarn?

Many acrylic yarns are machine washable, but always check the yarn label and the pattern’s care instructions before washing a finished project. Washing and drying recommendations can vary by yarn and by the other fibers used in a blend.

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