We love Chunky Yarns

Chunky yarn comes in a range of types, from Acrylic, Wool, Wool blended with other fibres, Alpaca, Mohair and Merino Wool.

It is created by twisting the individual fibres to produce a single strand.

A tightly twisted yarn with produce a harder and stronger the yarn, a looser twist will produce a softer yarn.

It will depend on what your knitting as to the type of yarn you decide to use for your project.

Wool fibres have more pronounced scales on each hair, which makes it bulkier than other fibres such as Alpaca or Mohair.

Air is also trapped when spun which helps with insulation and making it warmer.

One of the best points of chunky yarn is its quickness to knit up, because it is thicker than a standard DK or 4 ply, you use a larger needle, therefore you will see your work grow at a faster rate than a thinner yarn.

Great winter knits using a chunky weight are Cardigans and Jumpers, for smaller projects try a hat and if you are new to knitting a scarf is a great way to get started.

You can use more than one colour, knit a few rows in one colour then change to another colour and create a lovely bright colourful scarf, ideal for yourself, or as a gift.

We have a range of chunky yarns on our website, 2 of the big favourites are; Cygnet Chunky https://www.thecraftyyarnshop.co.uk/cygnet-chunky-2678 and Hayfield Bonus Chunky https://www.thecraftyyarnshop.co.uk/hayfield-bonus-chunky both are 100% acrylic, wash and wear well and are a budget yarn, so great prices.

Blankets are another great knitted project using chunky wool, whether knitted in one piece or done as patchwork squares in different colours and stitches then sewn together.

Lovely to keep you warm during the winter months or to knit for someone who may appreciate a hand knitted blanket to keep warm and the beauty of blankets are, they can use up lots of bits from your wool stash and if knitting squares, it is a fantastic way to practice different stitches, then put them all together for a truly unique blanket design.

I have just finished a scarf using odds and ends of chunky yarn from my wool stash.

The colours are completely random, but that makes it unique and individual, I’ve added some tassles to the ends and now the weather is getting colder, it is definitely keeping me warmer when I’m out and about in the cold.

Best thing about scarves is they are so easy to knit.

I used 6mm needles and cast on 20 stitches and just knit each row, known a garter stitch, very basic.

2 rows of one colour, then changed to another colour and di either 2 rows, 4 rows or 6 rows in different colours to make it random. Looks great.