Cotton or acrylic? What to know about choosing yarn

Yarn choice is the decision that is easiest to rush and most expensive to fix: crochet a whole piece in the wrong yarn and nothing will save it afterwards.

Cotton

It holds its shape, does not pill, and comes out of the wash the same as it went in. For amigurumi those three properties are exactly what you want: a dragon’s head reads as a dragon’s head only if the eyes stay where you put them.

In exchange it is less forgiving. Every uneven stitch shows, and your hands tire faster because there is no give in it.

Acrylic

Cheap, soft, available in every colour, and forgiving of uneven stitches. A good choice for a scarf, a blanket, a quick gift.

Not for amigurumi, though: it stretches, the stuffing shows through, and after a few washes it loses its shape. What you crochet as a sphere today will be an egg a year from now.

Merino and blends

Merino sits between the two: soft, elastic, and it holds its shape if you do not work it too loosely. Best for hats and mittens — the beanie in the shop is made from it.

One caveat: merino felts if you wash it warm and rub it. Cold water, dried flat, and it stays good for years.

The first wash

This is the real test. If you are unsure about a yarn, crochet a ten by ten centimetre swatch, measure it, wash it the way you would wash the finished piece, and measure again. Ten minutes of work, and it tells you what the label does not.