Yarn & knitting supplies

Yarn and knitting supplies: how to buy well

Updated 21 October 2026

Yarn: composition and length matter more than the name

The same yarn can knit up very differently depending on its composition and thickness. Merino wool is warm and soft, acrylic is cheaper and does not itch, and cotton breathes well and suits summer clothes and toys. Mohair and alpaca give fluffiness but need care when washing.

Thickness is shown as metres per 100 g: the more metres, the thinner the thread. For example, 250 m per 100 g is thin yarn for light items, and 100 m per 100 g is thick, for caps and blankets. It is the length, not the weight of the ball, that helps you compare.

What to put in your request

• What exactly — yarn, needles, hooks, a knitting machine, accessories, patterns;
• Composition — merino, wool, cotton, acrylic, alpaca, mohair, blends;
• Thickness — metres per 100 g;
• Colour or shade;
• Quantity — in grams or balls;
• Brand, for example Drops or Rowan, if you have a preference;
• Needle or hook size — in millimetres, circular or straight;
• What it is for — a sweater, blanket, toys, socks;
• Budget and city for delivery.

Example: “I need 600 g of grey merino yarn, about 250 m per 100 g, for a sweater. Also 4 mm circular needles. Montreal, courier delivery, budget up to CA$42.”

How to work out the quantity and avoid dye-lot problems

An adult sweater usually takes several hundred grams, depending on size and pattern, so check the pattern for your model. Take extra, because ordering more yarn in the same shade from another batch is hard: the colour may differ slightly. So ask whether all the balls are from one batch (the dye-lot number is on the label).

For yarn with complex patterns or colour changes, find out whether it bleeds when washed.

How to compare offers

Compare the price not per ball but per 100 g and per length. A 50 g ball and a 100 g ball with different lengths only look alike in price. Ask for the composition in percentages, the country of manufacture and whether the amount you need is available in one batch. For needles and hooks, ask about the material: metal, bamboo, wood.

How BlaBlaPrice works

You describe what you need, and sellers of yarn and craft supplies answer in the chat with prices and photos of the shades. They see where they stand among competitors and can improve their terms, so the price is often better. Your phone is hidden. Everything is described on How it works.

For other hobbies look at embroidery supplies or art supplies. You can create a request right away.