Yarn fibre
Wool yarn for crochet
Wool yarn is an animal fiber from sheep that is warm, elastic and naturally moisture-wicking. Wool has memory, so crocheted wool blocks well and recovers its shape. Untreated wool felts in hot water with agitation, so crocheters hand wash it or choose superwash wool for machine-washable hats, sweaters and blankets.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy
What are the pros and cons of wool yarn for crochet?
Wool yarn's main strengths are very warm; elastic with good shape recovery; blocks beautifully; breathable and moisture-wicking. The trade-offs are non-superwash wool felts in the wash; can feel itchy to some people; higher cost than acrylic.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Very warm | Non-superwash wool felts in the wash |
| Elastic with good shape recovery | Can feel itchy to some people |
| Blocks beautifully | Higher cost than acrylic |
| Breathable and moisture-wicking |
What should you crochet with wool yarn?
Wool works best for sweaters, hats, mittens, felted bags, blocked shawls.
How does wool compare with other yarn fibres?
Each fibre suits different projects. The table below lists what each is best for so you can pick a substitute.
| Fibre | Best for |
|---|---|
| Wool | Sweaters, Hats, Mittens |
| Cotton | Dishcloths, Coasters, Market bags |
| Acrylic | Blankets, Beginner practice, Toys |
| Merino | Garments, Baby items, Cowls |
| Bamboo | Summer tops, Drapey shawls, Lightweight garments |
| Chenille | Plush amigurumi, Baby blankets, Chunky throws |
| Velvet | Blankets, Pillows, Soft toys |
| Blends | Everyday garments, Blankets, Baby items |
Which yarns can be felted?
Yarn felts when animal fibres with scales on their surface lock together under heat, moisture and agitation. Wool that has not been treated as superwash felts well, and so do most other animal fibres. Superwash wool has been treated so it doesn't felt, and plant or synthetic fibres such as cotton and acrylic never felt. Blends with a large share of superwash or synthetic fibre may barely felt, so always felt a test swatch first.
| Fibre | Felts? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wool (not superwash) | Yes | The classic felting yarn; light colours sometimes felt more slowly |
| Merino (not superwash) | Yes | Felts readily into a soft fabric |
| Alpaca | Yes | Felts, often with a fuzzy halo |
| Mohair | Yes | Felts, usually blended with wool |
| Superwash wool or merino | No | Treated so it can be machine washed |
| Cotton, linen, bamboo | No | Plant fibres don't felt |
| Acrylic, nylon, polyester | No | Synthetic fibres don't felt |
How do you felt a crochet project?
Crochet the piece larger than the finished size you want, in a non-superwash wool, because felting shrinks it, often more in length than width. Wash it in hot water with a little soap and plenty of agitation, such as a top-loading washing machine with a pair of jeans, checking every few minutes. Stop when the stitches have disappeared and the size is right, then pull it into shape and let it dry.