Apr
Getting Started with Chunky Yarn
So you wanna work with thick yarn, okay here’s what I learned after making like a dozen projects with the chunky stuff. First time I really got into it was spring 2022 when I made this giant blanket because my apartment was freezing and I was too cheap to turn up the heat. Used Bernat Blanket yarn in that cream color and honestly it worked up so fast I couldn’t believe it.
The main thing with thick yarn is you need bigger hooks than you think. Like I started with a 9mm hook and it was way too small, the fabric came out stiff and weird. Ended up using a 12mm hook which felt gigantic in my hand but that’s what chunky yarn needs. Some people use 15mm or even bigger for super bulky stuff. Your hand is gonna get tired faster than with regular yarn though, that’s just how it is.
Hook Sizes and Tension
When you’re working with thick yarn the tension thing is kinda different because the yarn is so much heavier. I kept pulling too tight at first because that’s what I was used to with regular weight yarn, but chunky yarn needs to be looser or it gets all bunched up and stiff. Let the yarn do its thing, don’t strangle it. The weight of the project helps too as it gets bigger, like it pulls down naturally and evens out your stitches.
One thing that really annoyed me was how the yarn splits constantly. Like with Bernat Blanket especially, it’s this chenille texture and your hook just catches on the fibers all the time. You’ll be going along fine and then suddenly your hook goes through the middle of the yarn instead of under the whole strand and you gotta pull it out and redo it. Happens less with twisted chunky yarns but those aren’t as soft usually.
Good Projects for Chunky Yarn
Blankets are the obvious choice and they’re actually pretty forgiving for beginners. You can literally just do single crochet rows back and forth and end up with something usable. I made one in summer 2024 using Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in like a dusty blue color, took maybe 8 hours total? It’s not fancy but it’s warm and people always think it took way longer than it did.
Baskets work really well too because the thick yarn holds its shape. I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool for a basket that sits next to my couch now, it’s holding blankets which is kinda funny when you think about it. The trick with baskets is you want your stitches tight so they don’t slouch, which goes against what I just said about keeping it loose but… different projects need different approaches I guess.
Cowls and infinity scarves are super quick. Like you can make one in an hour if you’re just doing basic stitches. They eat up yarn though, don’t underestimate how many skeins you’ll need. I thought two skeins would be enough for a cowl and ended up needing three and a half.
Pillows and Home Stuff
Chunky yarn pillows look really good in photos but honestly they’re not that comfortable? The yarn is too textured to lean against comfortably. Better for decoration than actual use. But they’re fast to make so if you need a gift in a hurry they work. Just do two squares or rectangles, crochet them together on three sides, stuff with a pillow form, close the fourth side.
I tried making a pouf ottoman thing once and it was a disaster. Took forever, used SO much yarn, and then it just kinda collapsed in on itself after a few weeks. Maybe I needed to stuff it firmer or use a different stitch pattern but I gave up on that idea.
Yarn Brands That Actually Work
Bernat Blanket is everywhere and it’s cheap which is nice. Comes in a ton of colors. The chenille texture is soft but like I said it splits a lot. Also it sheds these little fibers everywhere while you’re working with it, my dog kept sneezing when I was making that first blanket.
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick is more of a traditional yarn texture, doesn’t split as much. It’s acrylic and wool blend so it’s warmer than pure acrylic. Costs a bit more but I think it’s worth it for things you’ll actually use a lot. The colors are kinda basic though, lots of neutrals and not many bright options.
Loops & Threads Cozy Wool from Michaels is good if you want actual wool. It’s scratchy at first but softens up after you wash it. I made a basket with it and the stiffness actually helped it hold shape better. Wouldn’t use it for a blanket though unless you like that scratchy feeling.
There’s also this brand called We Are Knitters that makes really thick merino wool yarn but it’s expensive as hell. Like $30+ per skein. I’ve never actually bought it because I can’t justify spending that much but I’ve seen projects made with it and they look really nice, all drapey and soft.
Stitch Patterns That Work Well
Single crochet is your friend with chunky yarn. It’s basic but it works and you can actually see the texture of the stitches because everything’s so big. Half double crochet is good too, works up even faster and has a nice drape to it. Double crochet gets too loose and holey usually unless that’s the look you’re going for.
I tried doing granny squares with chunky yarn once and they turned out huge and kinda floppy. Like each square was almost a foot across. Could work for a blanket if you only wanted to make like 12 squares total but it felt weird to me.
Moss stitch looks really good with thick yarn because you can see the texture clearly. It’s just alternating single crochet and chain stitches. Simple but looks more complicated than it is. Takes longer than plain single crochet though because you’re doing more stitches per row technically.
Ribbing and Texture
If you want ribbing like on the edge of a blanket or hat, working in the back loop only with chunky yarn creates really pronounced ridges. Front loop only works too but looks slightly different. I usually do back loop because it’s easier to see which loop is which when the yarn is thick.
Bobbles and popcorn stitches are fun with chunky yarn because they get REALLY chunky. Like almost comically big. Made a baby blanket once with scattered bobbles and they looked like little clouds. The baby probably couldn’t have cared less but the mom liked it.
How Much Yarn You’ll Need
This is where I always mess up. Chunky yarn goes faster stitch-wise but you need way more yardage than you think. A throw blanket that’s like 40×50 inches will take 6-8 skeins of Bernat Blanket easily. Maybe more depending on your tension and stitch pattern.
The skein labels usually have yardage estimates for different projects but I’ve found they’re pretty optimistic. Add at least one extra skein to whatever they recommend, maybe two if you can afford it. Running out of yarn partway through is the worst and sometimes you can’t find the same dye lot when you go back to the store.
I keep a kitchen scale now and weigh my project as I go, then weigh the remaining yarn to see if I’ll have enough. Sounds nerdy but it’s saved me from running out multiple times. You can find dye lot info and do math based on that too but I’m terrible at math so the scale works better for me.
Actual Technique Stuff
Your foundation chain needs to be loose with chunky yarn or you’ll never get your hook into those stitches for the first row. I usually go up a hook size just for the chain, then switch back to my regular size for the actual work. Or you can do a foundation single crochet which I finally learned last year and it’s so much better, no tight chain to fight with.
Weaving in ends is annoying because the yarn is so thick. You can’t really thread it through a normal yarn needle, you need one of those plastic ones with the big eye. And even then it’s a pain to pull through. I’ve started just tying knots and trimming the ends short for things that won’t get washed much, which I know isn’t proper technique but whatever, it works.
Joining new yarn is easier with chunky yarn actually because the knot doesn’t show as much in all that bulk. I just tie the new skein onto the old one with a basic knot, leave longish tails, and keep going. Work over the tails for a few stitches if you want extra security.
Counting Stitches
With thick yarn you can actually see your stitches clearly which makes counting easier. But also the projects have fewer stitches total so losing count is more noticeable. Like if you’re supposed to have 50 stitches and you accidentally do 48, that’s a bigger percentage difference than on a project with 200 stitches.
I use stitch markers every 10 or 20 stitches on big projects. Just the cheap plastic ones from the dollar store work fine. Some people use safety pins or even just tie a different color yarn as a marker but I always forget which color means what so the actual markers work better for me.
Washing Chunky Projects
Most chunky yarn is acrylic so you can throw it in the washing machine but I wouldn’t recommend the dryer. The heat makes acrylic yarn get all stiff and weird. I wash on gentle cycle with cold water and then lay flat to dry. Takes forever to dry because there’s so much yarn holding water but it’s worth it to not ruin the texture.
If you used actual wool you gotta be more careful. Hand wash in cool water, don’t agitate it too much or it’ll felt. I made that mistake with a wool cowl, washed it in warm water and it shrunk down to like half the size. Couldn’t even get it over my head anymore.
The chenille type yarns shed in the wash sometimes. Not a ton but you’ll see fibers floating in the water. They also can stretch out if you wring them or hang them wet. Definitely lay flat for those ones.
Working While Watching TV
One nice thing about chunky yarn is you don’t have to look at your work as much because the stitches are so big and visible. I made an entire blanket while binge watching some show about baking… Great British Bake Off maybe? The episodes were long and I could just zone out and crochet without thinking about it too hard.
But your hands will get tired faster because of the hook size and yarn weight. I usually work in shorter sessions with chunky yarn, like an hour at a time instead of the 3-4 hour sessions I can do with regular yarn. My wrist starts hurting if I push it too long.
Cost Breakdown Reality
Chunky yarn seems expensive per skein but you finish projects so fast that it kinda evens out time-wise. Like yeah you might spend $40 on yarn for a blanket but you’ll finish it in a weekend instead of spending weeks on a regular weight yarn blanket. Depends on whether you value time or money more I guess.
Sales are your friend. Michaels and Joann always have coupons and sales on Bernat and Lion Brand. I never buy chunky yarn at full price anymore, just wait for a 40% off coupon or a sale. You can also find it cheaper online sometimes but then you’re paying shipping unless you hit a minimum order amount.
The fancy chunky yarns like merino wool are harder to find on sale. Sometimes around Black Friday you’ll see deals but mostly they stay expensive. Probably not worth it unless you’re making something as a gift for someone you really like or want to treat yourself.
Common Problems and Fixes
If your project is curling at the edges you’re probably crocheting too tight. Go up a hook size or consciously loosen your tension. With blankets the weight usually pulls it flat eventually but smaller items might need blocking.
If it’s getting wider as you go you’re adding stitches somewhere. Count more carefully at the end of each row. Easy to accidentally work two stitches into one stitch when the yarn is bulky and you can’t see as clearly.
If the yarn keeps splitting try a hook with a more rounded tip instead of a pointy one. The pointy ones catch on the fibers more. Also slow down a little, I know it’s tempting to speed through because chunky projects work up fast but going slower helps avoid splits.
Running out of yarn before finishing happens to everyone. If you can’t find the same dye lot just use the new color for edging or make it a design choice. Or unravel a few rows and redo them with less height, like use single crochet instead of half double. Not ideal but better than having an unfinished project sitting around forever.
