Have you ever been in the yarn aisle at Michaels (looking for the best crochet yarn, as one does…) wondering if the more expensive skein is worth the extra money over a similar one for a cheaper price? (Oh ok, you too?? Good, to hear because I’ve been wondering the same exact thing!) So to find out once and for all, I went to Michaels and grabbed the cheapest AND most expensive yarn in three different categories to put them to the test.
And we’re being scientific about this, y’all. We are not basing these reviews on vibes. We are testing these yarns based on a set of criteria so that everything is fair. However, these opinions are all solely my own (yours may be different, and that’s ok!). Oh and this blog post (and accompanying YouTube video are not sponsored).
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How I Tested the Yarns
All of the yarns in this review are synthetic fibers. Specifically acrylic and polyester. I did not include wool or natural fibers in this comparison because that’s a whole different price category and a whole different post! (I’m going to do that too, so stay tuned!)
I tested yarns in three categories:
- Classic worsted weight acrylic (solid color, #4 medium weight)
- Multicolor/variegated worsted weight acrylic (#4 medium weight)
- Bulky chenille yarn (#6 weight, polyester)
Each yarn was rated on six categories, each worth up to 5 points, for a maximum score of 30:
- Ease of use from the skein: how easy is it to get started (do we get a yarn barf)?
- How the yarn looks: is it neat, tidy, and visually appealing in skein form?
- How the yarn feels: softness vs. scratchiness right out of the skein
- How it looks worked up: stitch definition, drape, and finish after crocheting a granny square
- Color variety in the line: how many colors are available and does it cover the full color wheel?
- Price per 100 yards: cost comparison
I used the same crochet hook sizes respectively within each category so the comparisons are truly fair.
Cheapest Yarns
Here’s the yarns I grabbed from each yarn type. They were the cheapest I could find in each of the three categories
Most Expensive Yarns
Here’s the most expensive yarns I found in each of the three categories.
Category 1: Best Worsted Weight Acrylic Yarn
Loops & Threads Soft Classic ($3.99)
Fiber: 100% acrylic | Weight: #4 medium | Yardage: 354 yards | Price per 100 yards: $1.13
To be honest, this is one of my favorite yarns for granny square blankets, so I tried really hard not to let my bias show here!
The Loops & Threads Soft Classic is a workhorse yarn. It’s easy to find both the outer and center pull strands right away. The skein was wound neatly with no visible imperfections or knots. It’s not the softest yarn I’ve ever touched, but it’s definitely not scratchy either, so very middle of the road middle of the road. Worked up into a granny square, it’s a little stiff right off the bat, but a quick steam block makes a huge difference and softens it up significantly.
Where this yarn really shines is color variety! 46 colors on their website, covering pretty much the entire color wheel. And at $1.13 per 100 yards, the value is genuinely hard to beat.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 4/5
- How it looks: 5/5
- How it feels: 3/5
- How it looks worked up: 3/5
- Color variety: 5/5
- Price per 100 yards: 4/5
Total: 24/30
Caron Simply Soft ($6.99)
Fiber: 100% acrylic | Weight: #4 medium | Yardage: 315 yards | Price per 100 yards: $2.22
Caron Simply Soft has been around forever and for good reason. It has a beautiful sheen that while I wasn’t sure if I cared for it at first, I’ve grown to love over the years. It looks very pretty worked up. This is the yarn I used in my original Dainty Daisy Granny Square tutorial, which has over 1 million views, so it holds a special place for me!
Right out of the skein, both the outer and inner pull strands were incredibly easy to find! (No yarn barf at all.) The yarn felt noticeably softer than the Loops & Threads in skein form, and worked up even softer. It does have a tendency to split a little more easily while crocheting, which is worth noting for absolute beginners, but for anyone who’s crocheted a bit it won’t be an issue. The drape on the finished granny square was noticeably better than the Soft Classic without needing to block it.
At $2.22 per 100 yards it’s nearly double the price of Loops & Threads, but the quality difference is real.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 4/5
- How it looks: 5/5
- How it feels: 5/5
- How it looks worked up: 4/5
- Color variety: 4/5
- Price per 100 yards: 3/5
Total: 25/30
Worsted Weight Winner: Caron Simply Soft 🏆
Caron Simply Soft won by just one point, 25 to 24! It was softer, had better drape, and just looked more beautiful worked up. For beginners though, I’d still lean toward recommending Loops & Threads Soft Classic simply because it’s more forgiving to work with and significantly cheaper. But if you want that next level softness and drape, Simply Soft is worth the upgrade!
Category 2: Best Variegated/Multicolor Acrylic Yarn
Loops & Threads Soft Classic Ombre ($3.99)
Fiber: 100% acrylic | Weight: #4 medium | Yardage: 214 yards | Price per 100 yards: $1.86
This is the ombre version of the Soft Classic line, and it’s a very pretty skein. The colors are beautiful and the ply is nice and tight which is great for beginners because a tighter ply yarn is less likely to split while you’re working with it.
However, I ran into a significant yarn barf when trying to pull from the center strand. That’s always frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get started on a project. Visually the skein was beautiful with no imperfections. The finished granny square had great stitch definition, and the tight ply really showed up nicely in the fabric. That said, this yarn felt noticeably scratchier than its solid color sister, both in the skein and worked up. It’s not a deal breaker since steam blocking will soften it up a lot, but it’s worth noting.
The ombre line only comes in 6 colorways, which is on the lower end. It’s missing greens and teals entirely, which I found disappointing.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 2/5
- How it looks: 5/5
- How it feels: 2/5
- How it looks worked up: 3/5
- Color variety: 3/5
- Price per 100 yards: 4/5
Total: 19/30
Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes ($14.99)
Fiber: 100% acrylic | Weight: #4 medium | Yardage: 407 yards | Price per 100 yards: $3.68
Note: The label on this yarn says $12.99 USD / $14.99 CAD, but the shelf price at my Michaels was $14.99, definitely something to double check at your store (I’m in the US).
The Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes comes in a cake format, which I absolutely love. You can pull from the outer strand, set it beside you, and crochet away without ever worrying about a yarn barf. That’s a huge win right off the bat for ease of use.
I did notice a knot visible in the cake, which is a bit annoying. Knots in yarn are a part of the yarn, and they are common so it’s not a deal breaker. However, it’s important to always cut out these knots rather than crochet through them since they will unravel. Like I said, not a deal breaker but it does dock points.
The yarn itself is noticeably softer than the Loops & Threads Ombre, and worked up with significantly better drape. The stitch definition is beautiful and the color variety in the full line is impressive with 22 colorways that go completely around the color wheel, including greens and blues that the ombre line was missing.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 5/5
- How it looks: 3/5 (knot visible in the cake)
- How it feels: 4/5
- How it looks worked up: 4/5 (better drape, softer)
- Color variety: 5/5
- Price per 100 yards: 3/5
Total: 23/30
Variegated Winner: Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes 🏆
Caron Swirl Cakes won this round 23 to 19. The cake format, better softness, better drape, and much wider color variety made the difference. The Loops & Threads Ombre had better stitch definition and a lower price per yard, but the scratchiness and that giant yarn barf hurt its score.
Category 3: Best Chenille Yarn for Crochet
Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite ($9.99)
Fiber: 100% polyester | Weight: #6 bulky | Yardage: 218 yards | Price per 100 yards: $4.58
I want to be upfront, I had a small yarn barf with this when pulling from the center, but it wasn’t terrible. By the time I finished my granny square I had pretty much crocheted my way through it, which is my gauge for how severe it is. The skein does tend to have a slightly messy appearance on the shelf as there are always a few loops hanging from it, but the yarn itself is gorgeous.
This might be the softest yarn I have ever felt in my life. It has more of a velvet feel than a fleece feel, which I personally love (and prefer in a chenille). It feels posh and polished, and worked up it’s somehow even softer than in the skein. The granny square had beautiful drape right off the bat and barely needs blocking at all. I would genuinely love to make a scarf or sweater out of this yarn.
The color variety has 19 colors covering the full color wheel, leaning toward brights and pastels. I do long for a few more shade variations, but the full color wheel coverage saves it.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 3/5
- How it looks: 4/5
- How it feels: 5/5
- How it looks worked up: 5/5 (incredible drape and softness)
- Color variety: 4/5
- Price per 100 yards: 3/5
Total: 24/30
Bernat Blanket ($13.99)
Fiber: 100% polyester | Weight: #6 bulky | Yardage: 220 yards | Price per 100 yards: $6.36
Bernat Blanket is one of the most popular chenille yarns out there and it has over 100 colorways, which is amazing! However, this one had the worst yarn barf of any yarn I tested. I pulled out nearly half the entire skein trying to find the center strand. Yikes.
The yarn has more of a fleece feel than velvet and it’s very soft. Worked up, it was noticeably stiffer and had very little drape compared to the Sweet Snuggles. For a granny square it struggled to lay flat. It would likely shine more in projects that benefit from structure, like baskets or other home goods.
The 100+ color options is one of my favorite parts of this line, and they skew toward muted, tones which is great if you’re not into brights. But that massive yarn barf and the stiffness worked up really impacted the overall score.
Scores:
- Ease of use: 1/5 (massive yarn barf)
- How it looks: 3/5
- How it feels: 4/5
- How it looks worked up: 3/5 (stiff, little drape)
- Color variety: 5/5
- Price per 100 yards: 3/5 (most expensive at $6.36/100 yds)
Total: 19/30
Chenille Winner: Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite 🏆
This is where the cheaper yarn won, and by a landslide! Sweet Snuggles Lite scored 24 to Bernat Blanket’s 19. The softness, the drape, and the velvety feel just couldn’t be beaten. If you’re looking for the best chenille yarn for crochet blankets or wearables, Sweet Snuggles Lite is my pick.
Overall Leaderboard
| Yarn | Category | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 Caron Simply Soft | Worsted solid | 25/30 |
| 🥈 Loops & Threads Soft Classic | Worsted solid | 24/30 |
| 🥈 Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite | Chenille | 24/30 |
| 🥉 Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes | Variegated | 23/30 |
| Loops & Threads Soft Classic Ombre | Variegated | 19/30 |
| Bernat Blanket | Chenille | 19/30 |
Overall winner: Caron Simply Soft!
So Is The Expensive Yarn Worth It?
It really depends on the category, and ultimately what matters most to you.
In the worsted weight solid category, yes. Caron Simply Soft is much softer, has better drape, and looks more beautiful worked up. The extra $3 per skein is noticeable in quality.
In the variegated category, yes again. Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes won on ease of use and softness, even with that knot.
But in the chenille category, the cheaper yarn won. The Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite at $9.99 outperformed Bernat Blanket at $13.99 in almost every category. More expensive does not always mean better!
My overall recommendation for someone just starting out: Loops & Threads Soft Classic is still one of the best yarns for beginners at Michaels. It’s affordable, forgiving, comes in a huge variety of colors, and makes beautiful granny squares. Once you’re comfortable with crocheting, upgrading to Caron Simply Soft for special projects is absolutely worth it!
Shop These Yarns
- Loops & Threads Soft Classic (Michaels)
- Caron Simply Soft (Michaels)
- Loops & Threads Soft Classic Ombre (Michaels)
- Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes (Michaels)
- Loops & Threads Sweet Snuggles Lite (Michaels)
- Bernat Blanket (Michaels)
More Yarn & Crochet Content You’ll Love
- How to Crochet a Dainty Daisy Granny Square
- Easy Granny Square Blanket Pattern — Free!
- Crochet Hooks — My Favorites and the Ones to Avoid
Happy crocheting! If you found this helpful, I’d love it if you shared it with a fellow crafter. And if you pick up any of these yarns, let me know in the comments what you think! 🧶
