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A NOTICE ABT HOMETOWN YARN!! once you start to wear or use whatever you make with it, it will start to pill somewhat heavily. I experienced this with the bulkier yarns they have but they also can pill a lot more if you have warmer/sweatier hands. thanks friends
It’s a very loose twist, so that’s to be expected. I mean, once you know, you will learn to look for that. I think every gets sucked n by a soft yarn (whether it’s a acrylic or wool or cotton) and then learns.
Tip: if i wanna know if a yarn gonna be scratchy on skintouch…couse hands aint so sensitiv as other parts of the body…i hold the skein against my neck and check if its scratching or not (never failed me)
Caron Simply Soft is good for shawls with the recommended hook size. It gives amazing drape. Our prayer shawl ministry uses it often and it’s well received.
funny! our Prayer Shawl Ministry doesn't like it, so I took it to make granny stripe scarves (using size 9/I hook) and love them so much. I'm going to sell them this Fall to raise money for more yarn :) It's the same as Bernat Satin!
I have noticed that people who use inline hooks tend to not like this yarn as much as those who use tapered. I do not like this yarn at all and use inline hooks. I did try with tapered once. It worked better
@@EliseRoseCrochetI love your video tests too, great information! Maybe you could do a test on Hobbii yarns? They look amazing! And so much variety of styles and colors, with mostly decent prices. I’m very curious about them 🥰🥰
Super saver is what my mom always used, but she washed the blankets she made before we used them. I’ve noticed that it also depends on the color choice as to how rough it is. The simply soft can split often, again depending on the color. Of your choices I like hometown the best but I am also someone who uses budget friendly yarns since most of my projects are given away.
I actually use Caron Simply Soft for my amigurumi, because I have a tighter tension than most crocheters do, so there's not a lot of big holes in my work, even though I use a 5mm hook to make them. But, the best use for it that I have found is for hats, because the band sits on your forehead, and lots of crochet and knit hats can be itchy (I'm a nurse, so I'm always thinking about comfort lol). I made elf hats for my entire family for Christmas day, and they were a big hit with my toddlers and my 18-year-old daughter's boyfriend (he wore his for the rest of this past winter lol). It really is a great yarn for anything that is going to rest on your skin - especially the sensitive places, like a person's face. ❤
i use Caron Simply Soft strictly for baby blankets and anything for cancer survivors. Being a survivor myself, I know how important softness is and CSS is my always go to for both groups of items.
Red heart softens well. I hate when people review and put it down for its “scratchy feel”. There are lots of ways to counter act that. If the yarn was so bad it wouldn’t be one of the top sellers year after year. I love my red heart.
I wonder if Redhart has changed the way they make it from back then. I still have some skeins that are about 30 years old and they are just as scratchy even after washing. I'll have to try again with a new skein to see if they make it differently now.
I don't remember where I heard it, but years ago, someone told me they make it stiff on purpose so that it's easier for beginners to work with, and that you're supposed to wash off whatever they use to make it that way. It makes sense to me, because in 2013, my husband (an absolute beginner at the time) made a blanket for his mom for Christmas, and I let him choose what he thought would be easiest for him to work with in order to set him up for success. He chose three colors of Red Heart, and the final product was amazing. His mom was sort of picky about textures too, but she used it every day when she sat in her spot in the living room up until she passed away in 2016. Our youngest sleeps with it now. Anyway, I put whole skeins in one leg of a set of panty hose, then wash it in detergent for babies (usually Dreft) and fabric softener and dry them on low heat with dryer sheets. It not only softens it for the final product itself but makes it more comfortable to work with. I only do that with big projects though, because I seem to be a faster crocheter when the project is bigger and I will get like...almost a rug burn from it. lol I slept under the crocheted blanket I made for my husband just last night, and it was not only comfortable, but heavy and warm. It saved me from the central air. lol But you're 100% correct; there are ways to make Red Heart soft.
Personally, I have sensory issues, and I can't work with redheart. It gives me mega ick, and can send me into a sensory overload. If you can make it past the texture to be able to finish a project and get it washed, more power to you, but some of us can't even make it that far. 😭 Bottom line, you should be able to enjoy your process and the yarn you use without criticism.
One tip I have about black yarn is to make sure you have direct light on your work. I ride along with my fiance who is an over the road truck driver and I crochet A LOT. Often times even crochet into the night. And I wear a head lamp when I'm crocheting at night that has a red light, bright light, and soft light setting on it. And I'll even use the head lamp during the day if I'm working with black just because I'm able to see the stitches with the direct light. It's been a life saver!
People love to hate on RHSS, but items made with RHSS Retro Stripes are always to first to go at the local blanket drive. LOL Toddlers and and kids gravitate towards the bright colors. I made myself a shawl out of it, and it cheers me up on dreary winter days.
The red heart super saver really does soften well when washed. It is what I was taught with, 40 some years ago, so I still use it. I also like to use the hobby lobby brand of I love this yarn as it starts soft.
Hobby Lobby brand 'I Love This Yarn' is my fave go to med weight acrylic yarn. What I really love about it is all the matching/pairing yarns to go with it. I have so much fun trying to come up with color combos for my throws.
I learned to crochet on Red Heart yarn. It does soften up and one thing I wish all brands would adopt is the easy to start skein. Just pull out the one end and find the center pull out. I don't know why they all can't figure this out to avoid the yarn barf!
@@kathytincler2446 Amen, sister! Haha. I loveee LB Pound of Love but finding the center pull is a nightmare. So then you give up trying and pull from the outside and that's a whole new nightmare bc the skein is so large, flopping all over the place as you try to pull more yarn. 😭😭 Like how hard is is people to have a nice little center pull nub hanging out for us? 🙄
A few years ago Red Heart started revamping their yarn softness so it gets even softer after washing. The thing I love about Red Heart are their ombre colorways which are beautiful and the color changes are gradual so you don't get that hard break in the colors. I ADORE Lion Brand Wool Ease and Hometown! Caron Simply Soft is the only brand that has my absolute favorite color of purple...Perfect Plum. Caron Simply Soft has always been a lightweight #4. I never use a 5mm for it. It WILL pill. Everything I've made with it pills but it's just so soft that I can't complain too much except that it can be slippery on metal hooks.
Buying the right yarn for the right project is important because you don't want to waste money, work hard on a project only to find out you're disappointed in the final outcome, and also because of concerns with hand issues. So, thanks for giving us this valuable, free information.!
Boy, are you right. I will “never” buy yarn for a large project (namely blankets) until I have bought a skein to be sure it is the right yarn. I’m just sorry I didn’t do this before buying the now discontinued Lion Brand Heartland. It is soft but the yarn is wound too loosely. I have tried to crochet a chevron (ripple) blanket and my experience it doesn’t have good stitch definition. Decided to knit the chevron stitch and just by casting on the large number of stitches needed the individual strands untwist. I apologize for my rant, but it is a yarn that might be perfect for another project, but not, in my opinion, a good choice for blankets. I shall now step down from my soap box and continue watching Elise Rose’s 10 best Amazon yarns.
I bought a cream Red Heart jumbo skein 7 years ago when I restarted crochet. I use it to practice new stitches, make up mini samples of sweaters etc. I love being able to test on yarn with good stitch definition that I can easily see before jumping in to the actual project! (And that skein is STILL going!)
I just want to say I'm happy to hear you say that black yarn is hard to work with because of being difficult to see it. I honestly thought I was the only one! I avoid using black yarn when possible, and I thought it was all just me.
Good morning! I learned to crochet when I was 5 (now 68) using Red Heart yarn. When I learned crochet hooks were : 00, 1, 2, 3, etc, so I get stumped with millimeter designations and have to look them up. My fav hook sizes are H, J, K. Thanks for another great, inspiring video!
Glad Lion Brand comes up a lot here!!! They have such a good variety of yarns of all sorts!!! 24/7 is one of my go-tos for cotton yarns for things I need heatproof, while I have one of their wool/acrylic blends here now. I'll have to give Wool-ease a try... I'm not a fan of 100% wool as I react badly to it, but I'm finding the blend I'm working with now ( Scarfie - it's gorgeous ombre yarn) more pleasant to use than expected
Red heart super saver, is probably the best selling yarn in the United States. Spite of it not being as soft as some other yarn. Those of us who use it know that we can turn it into a soft and squishy project that will be loved and cherished. The colors are great is practically in destructible, so will last forever. It’s almost everywhere. I have Afghan that I’ve made decades to go, that are still bright and beautiful. We love our red heart and we don’t like having it put down.
My favorite thing about RHSS is the frankly amazing number of color choices. I made a blanket for my daughter that was really meant to just be a bedspread type of thing, and she's very picky about what colors she wants to use to decorate. Red Heart was the only yarn that was precisely the colors she wanted. I didn't bother softening it up since it's a bedspread, though, lol
Love 24/7 for cotton tops. I prefer Bernat super value over red heart super saver. Much softer yarn to begin with and lots of colour choices. Great for Afghan and baby blankets.
I made my kids jellyfish with the retro stripe red heart yarn. It's not a color I would have ever picked either but my son wanted it and it turned out absolute amazing. I bought another skein and made a second one lol
I grew up in a small town where Walmart was our only store, and they had a very small yarn selection. The Walmart brand and Red Heart were pretty much the only two brands they carried, so I learned how to crochet with Red Heart. I still absolutely love it even after 10+ years. It gets softer after washing, it's so easy to work with, it's cheap, and there's a huge variety of colors. I recently finished a temperature blanket with it and it turned out gorgeous!
@@Agnes-sp9hj You assign a yarn color to blocks of temperatures (for me it was 0-9, 10-19, 20-29, etc) and record the temperature every day for a year. Then you crochet or knit a row for every day using the yarn color that corresponds with that day, and by the end of the year you've got a blanket 😁
You mentioned your grandma using Red Heart SS for her afghans & I’m so glad you did as it’s the same thing my husband’s grandma used. We inherited several absolutely beautiful afghans she made but they are so scratchy that we never use them. At least not without something in between the skin & the afghan. It’s so sad because when I started crocheting recently it made me think about how much time & love she put into those & how sadly, the scratchy texture of the yarn makes it so unpleasant to use. I’ve made so many baby blankets & throws & as much as I’d love to use Red Heart I don’t for the reasons I just mentioned & it’s a bummer because they have so many color options & it’s inexpensive. Great video! I love hearing what other crocheters enjoy using & why.
I made my first blanket in the late 70s early 80 and it was with Red Heart. I was 16 or 17. I dont remember it being rough. But it was used a lot and washed a lot with tide and downy. I remember it being soft. But who knows? Im older now. My grandma wound up taking charge of it later on and put it on the top of her bed as another layer😊. Makes me feel good that she did that. I miss her.
My favourites are in the top four, 24/7 because it’s mercerized it doesn’t hurt and bernat blanket. Here in Canada 24/7 is 7.99 and Bernat 14.99. I always enjoy your videos!
Can’t wait to try Lion Brand Hometown and the Yarn Arts Jeans. Thanks for the tips! Also, as a Spanish speaker, let me tell you your pronunciation is really great!! Keep at it!! 🫶
Caron Simply Soft was my 'intermediate' yarn. Red Heart was so unpleasant with the way I hold yarn to keep texture, so I moved to Caron pretty quick - it helped so much to learn! When using lighter colors, the stitches are pretty easy to see. I'd make clothing out of it but I've used it for amigurumi too!
Bernat Blanket yarn is one of my favorite yarns, especially for plush! It so unbelievably soft (I'm sure there's other brands of chenille yarn that are softer) & it's hard to not find this yarn at a local craft/yarn store. I've used this yarn for making s small blanket & a hat (designed like a bee) for a church member who was suffering from cancer. From my freshman to junior yr of college, I've crocheted plush like bees (small & medium) and many of my friends bought them to support me during midterms/finals seasons. I've made a handful of itty bitty bee plush for the children at my church with the scraps from the small & medium bees.
I wish I could use Bernat Blanket but sadly the bigger the yarn the more hand pain for me. I'm trying to learn plushies and even the smaller yarn using a hook 2 to 3 sizes smaller is causing problems. Really bummed as I love the plushies and want to make truckloads of them!
Love Bernat Blanket. Soft bulky feel, and washes super easy (seriously, washer, dryer, done!) I am going to look to some of these others for something thinner! Thanks!
Wow. Everyone i have seen on youtube has hand pain when using a 2 or smaller and a small hook. Isnt that odd? Im sorry you get pain from it. ❤ @kathytincler2446
Put that supersaver in the washer AND the dryer and it will soften and drape SO NICELY. People are so afraid of putting it in the dryer but the dryer "kills" the acrylic to just the right about and it makes it so so nice. Seriously. Test a swatch, if you need to!
Hi Elise!! Greetings from Spain!! I can't thank you enough for opening the world of amigurumi and knitted toys! Oh my God! I am over the moon! I love your videos and so much information that is available. I have been quilting, embroidering and knitting for many many years, and learned to crochet when I was a little girl. My Spanish grandmother taught me when I used to visit her from the US. She made sure we learned the yarn under tecnique! i think most Europeans were taught this way. I am now retired from teaching and have put aside all my other crafts...I am so hooked on making these beautiful toys! And I have YOU to thank! Please keep those videos coming! You have fans all over the globe! Love you!! Gloria (Spain)
Extremely professional, this video apprars to be well supported by a whole lot of research and preparation. The editing perfects all your preparation work. EXCELLENT JOB❗️ I’ve referenced a few of the patters you suggested and saved them for my future project list.
I absolutely love your channel!!! I’m binge watching all your videos while I’m working on a throw, maybe a shrug, haven’t decided yet. Loved this video!!! Now I HAVE TO MAKE the granny square flower throw with the Retro Stripes, it’s gorgeous!!!! Keep up the fantastic work, your videos are not only inspiring but you come across as an old friend. Thanks to you, I’m going to try amigurumi, fingers crossed I can do it!!!
Hey Elise, this is a great review of popular yarns, as you've included wonderful pattern options for each yarn tested!! Also, congrats on 200 thousand subs!! 🎉
My giant stash of Caron Dazzleaire convinced me to try Simply Soft, and I quite like it as a not shiny substitute for Dazzleaire. But oh, that Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton -- what a lovely, lovely yarn. One of the best parts of Dazzleaire was the arrow on the label pointing to the side with the center pull. I wish more yarn labels would do that.
I made a lap blanket for my sister from the Caron soft. It was thinner than what I would expect for a #4 too. She went through JoAnns feeling yarn and she is very happy with her blanket!
I like the sheen on the white. I may need more, I'm putting it in a project with an ice yarn. I haven't started. I.hope it doesn't split. I have not crocheted in 100 years.
omg i'm new to crochet and today i learned that my hand pain is because of the cotton yarn i'm using!! i keep watching beginner tip videos to see someone mention hand pain that isn't just duration related and this is the first i've heard something about the cotton lol. thank you for another great video (and all the great tips along the way)!!
Yes! I rarely use 100% cotton these days. If I do I have to limit my time with it. I've found that cotton blends work much better for me since they have more stretch and cause less pain! 🧶🧶🧶
I made a ripple afghan out of Red Heart Stripes Retro and it was so pretty! I've been making Barbie ripple afghans out of Stripes to sell on my Etsy shop and they sell really well. I love it!
Oh, and making some gummy bears with the retro stripe yarn and they hold themself well. I just use a smaller hook than recommended for the amigurumis, as you advised, Elise. The gummy bears came out really cute and bright. Will make a mobile for a baby with them.
Totally agree Caron SS is a thin 4. I've combined it with 3 weight yarns. Love the softness, don't love the slippery and splitting. There is a similar one from Michael's that feels the same but I didn't have the splitting issue.
I like to use the red heart super saver yarn because it is affordable and widely available. I like to put my finished projects through the dry for about 20ish minutes it soften them up.
I LOVE Caron Simply Soft and have several lying around. I made one shawl already and it was BEAUTIFUL. I did go down a hook size though. HIGHLY recommend this. And Red Heart has came a long way over the years.
I made a baby sweater with Red Heart. A washing and a soaking in fabric softener did the trick. Saw the tip about the vinegar...thanks! Your videos are great, Elise! it's like visiting a friend watching them!
Hi 👋Do you think 24/7 would be a good yarn for a baby blanket? I'm a beginner and was leaning towards ordering some 24/7 for a baby blanket, but then I've been reading people saying that 100% acrylic is the most durable for machine washing and drying, that cotton shrinks in the dryer, and that cotton can be rough and scratchy for blankets, Now i'm confused 😅. I guess my #1 priority would be easy machine washing and machine drying because babies/toddlers are a mess 🤔
I love the simply soft for blankets. I wish it didn’t have such a sheen to it. I also agree that it is a very light worsted. I want to try the hometown now!
Hi Elise and right now I am working on my cottage core mosaic blanket and granny squares blanket and butterfly mosaic blanket and I love your channel and your videos and if you keep making videos I will keep watching them and what is your favorite crochet project to work on right now and favorite types of yarn to used when crocheting and keep up the great work on your TH-cam channel and keep up the great work on your crochet projects
Hi Elise, love all the comparison videos you do, it helps me see and avoid yarns, items, and tools that would eventually be a mistake purchase for me. A "hard pass" is chenille, and boucle yarns, no matter the yarns weight! Although chenille is soft and poofy, it wears terribly and can only be knit or crocheted ONCE without it looking ragged if I need to frog back a piece. The boucle yarns just drive me crazy with the over abundance of texture, which is often combined with thick-and-thin spinning. GAH! Thanks again for your often entertaining and informative videos!
Hi Elise I have to say. Ive stayed away from buying Red Heart Super until recently. I have to say I was very happy with it. I truly didn’t expect that to happen. I will definitely be buying it again.
Caron Simply Soft is one of my favorites too. I make a lot of baby blankets and their many colors is why I use it and the softness is important for baby blankets. The Yarn Art Rose Garden is 100% Cotten and soft. Like you, I had to order a lot because of shipping costs! But I probably have 6 months of crocheting as that’s my job! I do sell my products that I make. Great video! I will be buying the Yarn Art Jeans in a few weeks. Am getting an order up now.
I use Red Heart Supersaver yarn for amigurumis and afghans. It's affordable and easily available, which is great since I cannot stand buying things like yarn and fabric online. I have two large skeins of the Retro Stripe colorway and I'm going to look up that afghan pattern. It's so pretty. Red Heart yarn was 100% wool up until maybe the mid 1970s, which might explain the former scratchy feel.
I actually use the hometown brand of yarn, I have it in the color red, and it's super soft, currently using it for a blanket right now, and with how thick it is, it'll help the blanket be warmer
I just finished a Mexican cardinal for my Granddaughter. She picked the Caron Simply Soft from JoAnn's. It was about $4 per skein but I had a 50% in-store discount for picking up my online order by going in the store! I got it for about $2 per skein in 7 different colors. She found the pattern on Etsy done in rainbow colors so she picked out her "rainbow colors"! It was made with a K hook so "slouchy and drapey" and she loved it. The yarn seemed easy to split when working with it but the medium hook and most of the colors were easy to see so taking my time worked pretty well. She was happy with it so I was too. I have some afghans I made years ago that are scratches so learning about washing with fabric softener is something I need to try. I just wanted to say for me the "kinda fuzzy" stitch definition in amigurumi is good for me! I'm still new at it so I don't mind the fuzzy stitches! My grandson also likes the softer feel of his toys that seems to come more with a fuzzier yarn, a tiny bit larger hook 3mm instead of 2.5mm and slightly under-stuffed! He is helping me stuff since I tend to stuff pretty full. (My last one he told me "Grandma, I think you and I need to compromise!") He stuffed it and I followed his lead. It was pretty squishy compared to the others I stuffed! But he gave me a list of ones he wants and I have a list of my own to made! Love you're videos. I do have a couple questions: 1. Is there a formula for increasing, decreasing and adjusting number of rows if you need to adjust a pattern? 2. Do you prefer a #4 weight yarn or a sport weight yarn (#2 or #3) for your amigurumi?
There are formulas for how many increases and decreases for each round. There's lots of information about it! Just do a google search and you'll find them! ❤️ And I love all sizes but right now I'm loving YarnArt Jeans which is a #2 weight! 🧶🧶🧶
I recently watched your video on how to straight line edges and I have to say I have NEVER been able to straight edge until I watched your video . Thank you for showing this.... I'm hooked
Also, there is an online company called Office Supply that sells yarn and all sorts of craft things for decent prices. I could no longer find Red Heart With Love anywhere...i shopped all over. They actually had it in many colors last time i checked. 👍
Hello I’m new to your channel. And I’m also quite new to crochet 🧶 and would love for you to make a video on which yarn you would recommend for different projects for example purses, baby blankets, etc . Thank you 😊
Love the video. I have used Lion Brand Wool Ease. I made Toni's hand basket you mentioned out of a maroon color. Love it and gave away many as gifts. thank you so much for doing this video!!!
Any blanket made of acrylic will become much softer after washed and dried, plus it blocks itself after washing and drying. Just take it out the dryer when it has a slight amount of moisture in it and lay flat to dry!
I actually used about 3 skeins of Red Heart yarn, as well as many others for my partner's gift! I'm still working on it, but I'm 265 of 380 tiles for his blanket! I hope he likes it!
3:58 WOW I’m using the RED HEART SUPER SAVER RETRO STRIPE right now!!😂 I’m crocheting a 5 point blanket with this and the blue, pink, yellow and purple skein that I don’t know the name of because I’ve misplaced the label😢 I was a beginner crocheter, working at Walmart. So my favorite brand was Red Heart. My daughter in law does not like the feel so I use Bernat yarn for her blankets
I haven't watched the full video yet (I will), but I wanted to put my two cents worth in for Red Heart Super Saver. It is wonderful for charity projects (like hats for shelters, etc.). But, I've also used it for blankets/afghans. I have always found that running it through the washer and a gentle dry will soften up the yarn considerably. I'm pretty sensitive to "scratchy" (always use hand lotion before I begin crocheting), but Super Saver does not bother me to work with (if I'm not happy with how the yarn feels in my hands, I won't finish with it - crocheting should be enjoyable!). And the thing I really like about it is that most of the time it does NOT tend to split (I love Caron Simply Soft, but that's one of my complaints about it - I split a lot more stitches with Simply Soft than I do with Super Saver). Super Saver gives excellent stitch definition, which is important for beginners, so I always recommend it for a new crocheter. And it is relatively inexpensive too, which is a plus.
I'm brand new to crochet. I've made a very lopsided lovely sized blanket for my baby out of acrylic yarn ( I don't remember the brand). The only other projects I've made are two identical potholders using the Lion Brand 24/7 cotton! I was so excited to see you use it! I've been binging your videos, and they've been so helpful!
Red heart is perfect for projects that need to be washed frequently because it doesn’t pill. Carton simply soft does and while your enthusiasm for Hometown Yarn was fun, it also pills terribly in my experience. I made several hats with Hometown and after just a few wears they looked ragged :(
I just finished 4 projects, 3 of which are going to a friend for Christmas, and used my "go-to" yarn of Red Heart yarn. After I finish my projects, I always wash them and use fabric softener and the projects, which these 3 were a: huge square blanket, a baby blanket, and a beenie, were ALL so soft after washing and drying them. I also wash and dry them on the "Delicate" cycles. I do the same thing on other yarns as well, unless it's a yarn that already seems "fragile" then I wash it on Delicate and then let it air dry. I've also heard of people getting yarns like the Red Heart and actually washing it BEFORE they use it. I have yet to try it That way.
Thank you for your video. Okay so red heart super saver is like sandpaper to Work with but washes up soft. Why not both, Red Heart??? 😢 All I could stand to do was the swatch I made to test it (try it again after eons). I did notice that their multis feel a tad softer but not soft enough for me. Working with a "terrible feel" yarn, for me, DEFEATS the purpose of why I love to crochet. I LOVE feeling soft lovely fibers flow through my fingers. It's what makes it so relaxing, zen. ❤❤ So Super Saver gets the big ZERO from this crochet fanatic. Thanks again!
@@EliseRoseCrochet Exactly bc the color selection is outstanding and very economical, obviously. But yeah, I'm not sacrificing the process for the product. There are plenty of other acrylic value yarns that feel wonderful.
@@wolflady58 I would try branching out. You don't know what you're missing. I could barely make it through the swatch I made because it was just sandpaper sliding through my fingers. I was just awful. Then I wash it and it feels like soft squishy love, lol. They need to figure out how to produce softer feeling yarn before the wash!
I am crocheting a shawl wrap around the shoulder, while listening/watching your wonderful/helpful yarn video. What do you think of bamboo yarn? How do I soften a baby blanket made from scratchy Red Heart yarn? Thanks, Elise!!! from a subscriber/fan.
Bernat Velvet yarn! I use that instead of Bernat blanket yarn for my chonkygurumi and it crochets beautifully! The stitch definition is pretty decent for a chenille and it is ridiculously soft and cuddly when done.
I 100% despise red heart super saver yarn… I get that a lot of people like it, and I’m glad they do because it is super affordable and I wish I could use it, but I can’t. It’s the yarn I learned to crochet with, and I really do think it’s the reason I quit crocheting. I didn’t find it enjoyable at all, & I didn’t know better (I was very young) that there were other options out there. Now that I crochet h many hours a day, I revisited it & I don’t even want to touch it with a ten foot pole. Idc if it softens up after washing, working with it is SO bothersome. It’s like I’m giving myself an itchy inflamed rug burn just by crocheting. I’ve tried it for so many projects, amigurumi, a sweater, a blanket, a bag, just granny squares… I can’t. I LOVE hobby lobby I love this yarn tho! It’s the best value acrylic (although a bit more expensive than others.) & if I have to pick a cheaper option, I sometimes enjoy premier basix, although some colorways in that yarn trigger me and remind me of red heart a little😅🥲
Call me crazy, but I love red heart yarn. I make graphgans with a lot of color changes and it would cost a small fortune to use a higher end yarn. And yes, when you wash it, it softens up quite a bit.
The Caron yarn I love and yes I use a 4 with it like she said she would use. Oddly enough I have 3 projects going with this yarn so I haven’t been able to wash it to see how it will look.
@@EliseRoseCrochetAnd they often have great deals for a limited time. If you find a great deal, you can use subscribe and save to lock in That deal price. I make hats for donation, and found a deal on Redheart SS Stripes by which I could get a pkg of three for less than the best sale at big box stores. So I picked a few, and set the super saver frequency to suit my needs, and will get that sale price long after the sale is over.
Hi there, the Caron simply soft is one of my favorites and I also recommend a 4mm hook. I have used it for several shawls as it has fantastic drape. I love this specific yarn as it washes and dries well in a standard washer/dryer combo.
As a yarn snob Red Heart is all I use for projects. There are times I defer to other brands bernat or Lion Brand. I get most of my yarn from Walmart, but I do shop Amazon as well. Yarnspirations is fav of mine.
I crochet for charity and my favorites for that are Red Heart (sorry Elise) and Caron Simply Soft. It is mainly because of price, and these 2 yarns do not have dye lot numbers, which is important when you're doing a lot of different projects. That way, if you run out of yarn before you're done with the project, you can buy more and be assured that it'll be the same shade. Otherwise, if I'm making a garment for me, for example, I would be willing to use other yarns.
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A NOTICE ABT HOMETOWN YARN!! once you start to wear or use whatever you make with it, it will start to pill somewhat heavily. I experienced this with the bulkier yarns they have but they also can pill a lot more if you have warmer/sweatier hands. thanks friends
Thanks for the info! 🧶🧶🧶
It’s a very loose twist, so that’s to be expected. I mean, once you know, you will learn to look for that. I think every gets sucked n by a soft yarn (whether it’s a acrylic or wool or cotton) and then learns.
What does it mean to pill?
@ little balls of fuzz that you will need to shave off. It’s almost like a dog shedding.
Tip: if i wanna know if a yarn gonna be scratchy on skintouch…couse hands aint so sensitiv as other parts of the body…i hold the skein against my neck and check if its scratching or not (never failed me)
That's a great tip!! 🧶🧶🧶
I thought I was the only one 😅
I check inside of elbow or back of hand. Tho I don't think the back of hand trick can work for everyone since I struggle with dry skin
I always wash my red heart projects in white vinegar the first time, it softens up very nicely.
That's very good to know! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Now I've heard of washing RH in either hair conditioner or fabric softener, I'll definitely add white vinegar as well. Thanks.
Wow cool, How much vinegar? I've never heard this one. Vinegar has so many cool uses.
@@themoodyonejb, I add about a cup to the regular wash cycle with just a little laundry detergent.
@@lauramorrow784 thank you . I'm going to ask my mother has she ever done this. I'm going to try this soon, when I'm finished my current project.
Caron Simply Soft is good for shawls with the recommended hook size. It gives amazing drape. Our prayer shawl ministry uses it often and it’s well received.
That's good to know!! That makes total sense! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
funny! our Prayer Shawl Ministry doesn't like it, so I took it to make granny stripe scarves (using size 9/I hook) and love them so much. I'm going to sell them this Fall to raise money for more yarn :) It's the same as Bernat Satin!
I have noticed that people who use inline hooks tend to not like this yarn as much as those who use tapered. I do not like this yarn at all and use inline hooks. I did try with tapered once. It worked better
Iu’ve heard that simply soft tends to pill on washing. ’ve used a lot of simply soft, but only projects I’ve given away
@@terrayfic really. That is shocking. I donate shawls and blankets with them and are very happy. That is sad, but now you get to sell them!
I love the videos where you test yarns and products. Thanks for the tips
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it! 🧶🧶🧶
@@EliseRoseCrochetI love your video tests too, great information! Maybe you could do a test on Hobbii yarns? They look amazing! And so much variety of styles and colors, with mostly decent prices. I’m very curious about them 🥰🥰
@@candyackley1255 you might want to keep an eye out in the next couple of months... 😉
@@EliseRoseCrochet 🥰🥰
Super saver is what my mom always used, but she washed the blankets she made before we used them. I’ve noticed that it also depends on the color choice as to how rough it is. The simply soft can split often, again depending on the color. Of your choices I like hometown the best but I am also someone who uses budget friendly yarns since most of my projects are given away.
The Hometown Yarn was such a surprise to me in how it felt in my hands! 🧶🧶🧶
I actually use Caron Simply Soft for my amigurumi, because I have a tighter tension than most crocheters do, so there's not a lot of big holes in my work, even though I use a 5mm hook to make them.
But, the best use for it that I have found is for hats, because the band sits on your forehead, and lots of crochet and knit hats can be itchy (I'm a nurse, so I'm always thinking about comfort lol). I made elf hats for my entire family for Christmas day, and they were a big hit with my toddlers and my 18-year-old daughter's boyfriend (he wore his for the rest of this past winter lol). It really is a great yarn for anything that is going to rest on your skin - especially the sensitive places, like a person's face. ❤
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Thanks for the info . I request you to share few AmiGurumi patterns
i use Caron Simply Soft strictly for baby blankets and anything for cancer survivors. Being a survivor myself, I know how important softness is and CSS is my always go to for both groups of items.
Red Heart Super Saver is about all I use. People love my amis I make with it. It is budget friendly for me. Love your videos!!
I'm so glad it works well for you!! 🧶🧶🧶
Red heart softens well. I hate when people review and put it down for its “scratchy feel”. There are lots of ways to counter act that. If the yarn was so bad it wouldn’t be one of the top sellers year after year. I love my red heart.
Thanks for sharing!! 🧶🧶🧶
I wonder if Redhart has changed the way they make it from back then. I still have some skeins that are about 30 years old and they are just as scratchy even after washing. I'll have to try again with a new skein to see if they make it differently now.
I do to
I don't remember where I heard it, but years ago, someone told me they make it stiff on purpose so that it's easier for beginners to work with, and that you're supposed to wash off whatever they use to make it that way. It makes sense to me, because in 2013, my husband (an absolute beginner at the time) made a blanket for his mom for Christmas, and I let him choose what he thought would be easiest for him to work with in order to set him up for success. He chose three colors of Red Heart, and the final product was amazing. His mom was sort of picky about textures too, but she used it every day when she sat in her spot in the living room up until she passed away in 2016. Our youngest sleeps with it now.
Anyway, I put whole skeins in one leg of a set of panty hose, then wash it in detergent for babies (usually Dreft) and fabric softener and dry them on low heat with dryer sheets. It not only softens it for the final product itself but makes it more comfortable to work with. I only do that with big projects though, because I seem to be a faster crocheter when the project is bigger and I will get like...almost a rug burn from it. lol
I slept under the crocheted blanket I made for my husband just last night, and it was not only comfortable, but heavy and warm. It saved me from the central air. lol But you're 100% correct; there are ways to make Red Heart soft.
Personally, I have sensory issues, and I can't work with redheart. It gives me mega ick, and can send me into a sensory overload. If you can make it past the texture to be able to finish a project and get it washed, more power to you, but some of us can't even make it that far. 😭 Bottom line, you should be able to enjoy your process and the yarn you use without criticism.
One tip I have about black yarn is to make sure you have direct light on your work. I ride along with my fiance who is an over the road truck driver and I crochet A LOT. Often times even crochet into the night. And I wear a head lamp when I'm crocheting at night that has a red light, bright light, and soft light setting on it. And I'll even use the head lamp during the day if I'm working with black just because I'm able to see the stitches with the direct light. It's been a life saver!
That’s such a great tip! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🧶✨
People love to hate on RHSS, but items made with RHSS Retro Stripes are always to first to go at the local blanket drive. LOL Toddlers and and kids gravitate towards the bright colors. I made myself a shawl out of it, and it cheers me up on dreary winter days.
The Retro Stripes are gorgeous!
The red heart super saver really does soften well when washed. It is what I was taught with, 40 some years ago, so I still use it. I also like to use the hobby lobby brand of I love this yarn as it starts soft.
It's a great option because you can get it in bulk for a reasonable price. Great option for those on a budget.
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Hobby Lobby brand 'I Love This Yarn' is my fave go to med weight acrylic yarn. What I really love about it is all the matching/pairing yarns to go with it. I have so much fun trying to come up with color combos for my throws.
I learned to crochet on Red Heart yarn. It does soften up and one thing I wish all brands would adopt is the easy to start skein. Just pull out the one end and find the center pull out. I don't know why they all can't figure this out to avoid the yarn barf!
@@kathytincler2446 Amen, sister! Haha. I loveee LB Pound of Love but finding the center pull is a nightmare. So then you give up trying and pull from the outside and that's a whole new nightmare bc the skein is so large, flopping all over the place as you try to pull more yarn. 😭😭 Like how hard is is people to have a nice little center pull nub hanging out for us? 🙄
A few years ago Red Heart started revamping their yarn softness so it gets even softer after washing. The thing I love about Red Heart are their ombre colorways which are beautiful and the color changes are gradual so you don't get that hard break in the colors. I ADORE Lion Brand Wool Ease and Hometown! Caron Simply Soft is the only brand that has my absolute favorite color of purple...Perfect Plum. Caron Simply Soft has always been a lightweight #4. I never use a 5mm for it. It WILL pill. Everything I've made with it pills but it's just so soft that I can't complain too much except that it can be slippery on metal hooks.
Thank you so much for sharing all your experience!! 🧶🧶🧶
@@EliseRoseCrochet You're so welcome!
Buying the right yarn for the right project is important because you don't want to waste money, work hard on a project only to find out you're disappointed in the final outcome, and also because of concerns with hand issues. So, thanks for giving us this valuable, free information.!
Exactly!! 🧶🧶🧶
Boy, are you right. I will “never” buy yarn for a large project (namely blankets) until I have bought a skein to be sure it is the right yarn. I’m just sorry I didn’t do this before buying the now discontinued Lion Brand Heartland. It is soft but the yarn is wound too loosely. I have tried to crochet a chevron (ripple) blanket and my experience it doesn’t have good stitch definition. Decided to knit the chevron stitch and just by casting on the large number of stitches needed the individual strands untwist. I apologize for my rant, but it is a yarn that might be perfect for another project, but not, in my opinion, a good choice for blankets. I shall now step down from my soap box and continue watching Elise Rose’s 10 best Amazon yarns.
I bought a cream Red Heart jumbo skein 7 years ago when I restarted crochet. I use it to practice new stitches, make up mini samples of sweaters etc. I love being able to test on yarn with good stitch definition that I can easily see before jumping in to the actual project! (And that skein is STILL going!)
Great idea! 🧶🧶🧶
I into crochet blanket can you please send me 2super heart in the colors pink
I just want to say I'm happy to hear you say that black yarn is hard to work with because of being difficult to see it. I honestly thought I was the only one! I avoid using black yarn when possible, and I thought it was all just me.
Oh no, it's not just you!!! I know so many crocheters that avoid it because we can't see our stitches!! 🧶🧶🧶
My fourth ever project I decided to make an Amigurumi cat in all black. It took me 6+ hours
This is unanimous. Black yarn is hard to work with and some variegated ones with black in them make me dizzy too 😂
Also a dark navy blue is hard to work with.
Good morning! I learned to crochet when I was 5 (now 68) using Red Heart yarn. When I learned crochet hooks were : 00, 1, 2, 3, etc, so I get stumped with millimeter designations and have to look them up. My fav hook sizes are H, J, K. Thanks for another great, inspiring video!
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
wow! thats a lot of crochet experience!!
Glad Lion Brand comes up a lot here!!! They have such a good variety of yarns of all sorts!!! 24/7 is one of my go-tos for cotton yarns for things I need heatproof, while I have one of their wool/acrylic blends here now. I'll have to give Wool-ease a try... I'm not a fan of 100% wool as I react badly to it, but I'm finding the blend I'm working with now ( Scarfie - it's gorgeous ombre yarn) more pleasant to use than expected
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Red heart super saver, is probably the best selling yarn in the United States. Spite of it not being as soft as some other yarn. Those of us who use it know that we can turn it into a soft and squishy project that will be loved and cherished. The colors are great is practically in destructible, so will last forever. It’s almost everywhere.
I have Afghan that I’ve made decades to go, that are still bright and beautiful. We love our red heart and we don’t like having it put down.
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
My favorite thing about RHSS is the frankly amazing number of color choices. I made a blanket for my daughter that was really meant to just be a bedspread type of thing, and she's very picky about what colors she wants to use to decorate. Red Heart was the only yarn that was precisely the colors she wanted. I didn't bother softening it up since it's a bedspread, though, lol
Sometimes it depends on the stitch as well. Doing double crochet (U.S. terms) is softer than singles.
Love 24/7 for cotton tops. I prefer Bernat super value over red heart super saver. Much softer yarn to begin with and lots of colour choices. Great for Afghan and baby blankets.
Thank you for sharing!! 🧶🧶🧶
I made my kids jellyfish with the retro stripe red heart yarn. It's not a color I would have ever picked either but my son wanted it and it turned out absolute amazing. I bought another skein and made a second one lol
I bet they look amazing! 🧶🧶🧶
I grew up in a small town where Walmart was our only store, and they had a very small yarn selection. The Walmart brand and Red Heart were pretty much the only two brands they carried, so I learned how to crochet with Red Heart. I still absolutely love it even after 10+ years. It gets softer after washing, it's so easy to work with, it's cheap, and there's a huge variety of colors. I recently finished a temperature blanket with it and it turned out gorgeous!
That's amazing! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
What is a temperature blanket??
@@Agnes-sp9hj You assign a yarn color to blocks of temperatures (for me it was 0-9, 10-19, 20-29, etc) and record the temperature every day for a year. Then you crochet or knit a row for every day using the yarn color that corresponds with that day, and by the end of the year you've got a blanket 😁
You mentioned your grandma using Red Heart SS for her afghans & I’m so glad you did as it’s the same thing my husband’s grandma used. We inherited several absolutely beautiful afghans she made but they are so scratchy that we never use them. At least not without something in between the skin & the afghan. It’s so sad because when I started crocheting recently it made me think about how much time & love she put into those & how sadly, the scratchy texture of the yarn makes it so unpleasant to use. I’ve made so many baby blankets & throws & as much as I’d love to use Red Heart I don’t for the reasons I just mentioned & it’s a bummer because they have so many color options & it’s inexpensive. Great video! I love hearing what other crocheters enjoy using & why.
Yes, it's so sad. They are just too scratchy to use! 🧶🧶🧶
I made my first blanket in the late 70s early 80 and it was with Red Heart. I was 16 or 17. I dont remember it being rough. But it was used a lot and washed a lot with tide and downy. I remember it being soft. But who knows? Im older now. My grandma wound up taking charge of it later on and put it on the top of her bed as another layer😊. Makes me feel good that she did that. I miss her.
Awww, that's wonderful! 🧶🧶🧶
Red heart super saver reels me in with their phenomenal color choices, then regrets!
Right???? 🤣🤣🤣
Red Heart super saver is my go to for all charity projects for the value and color choices as well.
Same!!
My favourites are in the top four, 24/7 because it’s mercerized it doesn’t hurt and bernat blanket. Here in Canada 24/7 is 7.99 and Bernat 14.99. I always enjoy your videos!
Oh wow! That's expensive! 🧶🧶🧶
Can’t wait to try Lion Brand Hometown and the Yarn Arts Jeans. Thanks for the tips! Also, as a Spanish speaker, let me tell you your pronunciation is really great!! Keep at it!! 🫶
Muchas gracias!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Caron Simply Soft was my 'intermediate' yarn. Red Heart was so unpleasant with the way I hold yarn to keep texture, so I moved to Caron pretty quick - it helped so much to learn! When using lighter colors, the stitches are pretty easy to see. I'd make clothing out of it but I've used it for amigurumi too!
Bernat Blanket yarn is one of my favorite yarns, especially for plush! It so unbelievably soft (I'm sure there's other brands of chenille yarn that are softer) & it's hard to not find this yarn at a local craft/yarn store. I've used this yarn for making s small blanket & a hat (designed like a bee) for a church member who was suffering from cancer. From my freshman to junior yr of college, I've crocheted plush like bees (small & medium) and many of my friends bought them to support me during midterms/finals seasons. I've made a handful of itty bitty bee plush for the children at my church with the scraps from the small & medium bees.
That's wonderful!! Thank you so much for sharing! 🐝🐝🐝
I wish I could use Bernat Blanket but sadly the bigger the yarn the more hand pain for me. I'm trying to learn plushies and even the smaller yarn using a hook 2 to 3 sizes smaller is causing problems. Really bummed as I love the plushies and want to make truckloads of them!
Love Bernat Blanket. Soft bulky feel, and washes super easy (seriously, washer, dryer, done!)
I am going to look to some of these others for something thinner! Thanks!
Wow. Everyone i have seen on youtube has hand pain when using a 2 or smaller and a small hook. Isnt that odd? Im sorry you get pain from it. ❤
@kathytincler2446
@@RepentfollowJesus Thank you :D
Put that supersaver in the washer AND the dryer and it will soften and drape SO NICELY. People are so afraid of putting it in the dryer but the dryer "kills" the acrylic to just the right about and it makes it so so nice. Seriously. Test a swatch, if you need to!
Good to know! 🧺
Hi Elise!! Greetings from Spain!! I can't thank you enough for opening the world of amigurumi and knitted toys! Oh my God! I am over the moon! I love your videos and so much information that is available. I have been quilting, embroidering and knitting for many many years, and learned to crochet when I was a little girl. My Spanish grandmother taught me when I used to visit her from the US. She made sure we learned the yarn under tecnique! i think most Europeans were taught this way. I am now retired from teaching and have put aside all my other crafts...I am so hooked on making these beautiful toys! And I have YOU to thank! Please keep those videos coming! You have fans all over the globe! Love you!! Gloria (Spain)
Hello Gloria!! I'm so glad you're enjoying crocheting toys and the channel!! I will definitely be making more videos! I can't help myself! 🤣🤣🤣
That red heart super saver blanket is GORGEOUS.
It really is!! 🧶🧶🧶
Extremely professional, this video apprars to be well supported by a whole lot of research and preparation. The editing perfects all your preparation work. EXCELLENT JOB❗️ I’ve referenced a few of the patters you suggested and saved them for my future project list.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🧶🧶🧶
I absolutely love your channel!!! I’m binge watching all your videos while I’m working on a throw, maybe a shrug, haven’t decided yet. Loved this video!!! Now I HAVE TO MAKE the granny square flower throw with the Retro Stripes, it’s gorgeous!!!! Keep up the fantastic work, your videos are not only inspiring but you come across as an old friend. Thanks to you, I’m going to try amigurumi, fingers crossed I can do it!!!
Thank you soooo much! And that Retro Stripe Sunburt blanket is incredible!! 🧶🧶🧶
Hey Elise, this is a great review of popular yarns, as you've included wonderful pattern options for each yarn tested!!
Also, congrats on 200 thousand subs!! 🎉
Thank you so much! 🧶🧶🧶
Lion brand is one of my favorite brands of yarn.
It's a great yarn company! 🧶🧶🧶
For darker yarns I use them with much brighter colors and it really helps my eyes stay more rested and for me to see the stiches better.
That's a great tip! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
My giant stash of Caron Dazzleaire convinced me to try Simply Soft, and I quite like it as a not shiny substitute for Dazzleaire. But oh, that Hobby Lobby I Love This Cotton -- what a lovely, lovely yarn. One of the best parts of Dazzleaire was the arrow on the label pointing to the side with the center pull. I wish more yarn labels would do that.
Oh wow!! I love that idea of the arrow! Brilliant! ➡️
Thanks for trying out the yarns.
You're welcome! ❤️
I made a lap blanket for my sister from the Caron soft. It was thinner than what I would expect for a #4 too. She went through JoAnns feeling yarn and she is very happy with her blanket!
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
I like the sheen on the white. I may need more, I'm putting it in a project with an ice yarn. I haven't started. I.hope it doesn't split. I have not crocheted in 100 years.
Red hearts has sooo many color choices 🥰 I'm a beginner i just started hookin a few months ago. This video is super helpful!
I'm so glad! 🧶🧶🧶
omg i'm new to crochet and today i learned that my hand pain is because of the cotton yarn i'm using!! i keep watching beginner tip videos to see someone mention hand pain that isn't just duration related and this is the first i've heard something about the cotton lol. thank you for another great video (and all the great tips along the way)!!
Yes! I rarely use 100% cotton these days. If I do I have to limit my time with it. I've found that cotton blends work much better for me since they have more stretch and cause less pain! 🧶🧶🧶
I made a ripple afghan out of Red Heart Stripes Retro and it was so pretty! I've been making Barbie ripple afghans out of Stripes to sell on my Etsy shop and they sell really well. I love it!
Oh how fun!! 🩷🩷🩷
I LOVE Elises energy!!❤❤❤❤
Thank you so much! ❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for the review. Yes, it does pay to shop around.
BTW we all need a mousey snood!
Right???? That's the cutest little thing I've ever seen! 🐭
Love the bernat blanket yarn especially since u can feel the stitch and crochet w/o glasses if u have them
I was super impressed with that yarn! 🧶🧶🧶
Oh, and making some gummy bears with the retro stripe yarn and they hold themself well. I just use a smaller hook than recommended for the amigurumis, as you advised, Elise. The gummy bears came out really cute and bright. Will make a mobile for a baby with them.
Oh how adorable!!!! 🧸
Totally agree Caron SS is a thin 4. I've combined it with 3 weight yarns. Love the softness, don't love the slippery and splitting. There is a similar one from Michael's that feels the same but I didn't have the splitting issue.
I was very surprised it was labeled as a #4 weight! 🧶🧶🧶
I like to use the red heart super saver yarn because it is affordable and widely available. I like to put my finished projects through the dry for about 20ish minutes it soften them up.
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
I LOVE Caron Simply Soft and have several lying around. I made one shawl already and it was BEAUTIFUL. I did go down a hook size though. HIGHLY recommend this. And Red Heart has came a long way over the years.
Supersaver yarn does get softer when you wash it. Putting it in the dryer is the perfect finishing touch to softness.
That's good to know! Just wish it felt good using it! 🧶🧶🧶
I made a baby sweater with Red Heart. A washing and a soaking in fabric softener did the trick. Saw the tip about the vinegar...thanks! Your videos are great, Elise! it's like visiting a friend watching them!
You're a god send for a new crocheter 🙌
I'm so glad! 🧶🧶🧶
LB 24/7 cotton yarn is one of my favorite yarns. It wears really well and is so versatile. Love it!
Hi 👋Do you think 24/7 would be a good yarn for a baby blanket? I'm a beginner and was leaning towards ordering some 24/7 for a baby blanket, but then I've been reading people saying that 100% acrylic is the most durable for machine washing and drying, that cotton shrinks in the dryer, and that cotton can be rough and scratchy for blankets, Now i'm confused 😅. I guess my #1 priority would be easy machine washing and machine drying because babies/toddlers are a mess 🤔
I love the simply soft for blankets. I wish it didn’t have such a sheen to it. I also agree that it is a very light worsted. I want to try the hometown now!
Yes, I don't love the sheen but it felt so nice in my hands! 🧶🧶🧶
I love the 24/7 cotton yarn. I use a headlamp when working with black yarn.
Thanks for sharing! I love my neck light too! 💡
Hi Elise and right now I am working on my cottage core mosaic blanket and granny squares blanket and butterfly mosaic blanket and I love your channel and your videos and if you keep making videos I will keep watching them and what is your favorite crochet project to work on right now and favorite types of yarn to used when crocheting and keep up the great work on your TH-cam channel and keep up the great work on your crochet projects
That's awesome, Samantha! I'm working on a new amigurumi design and a granny rectangle blanket! 🧶🧶🧶
Hi Elise, love all the comparison videos you do, it helps me see and avoid yarns, items, and tools that would eventually be a mistake purchase for me. A "hard pass" is chenille, and boucle yarns, no matter the yarns weight! Although chenille is soft and poofy, it wears terribly and can only be knit or crocheted ONCE without it looking ragged if I need to frog back a piece. The boucle yarns just drive me crazy with the over abundance of texture, which is often combined with thick-and-thin spinning. GAH! Thanks again for your often entertaining and informative videos!
Thank you!! I'm glad they are helpful! 🧶🧶🧶
Hi Elise
I have to say. Ive stayed away from buying Red Heart Super until recently. I have to say I was very happy with it. I truly didn’t expect that to happen. I will definitely be buying it again.
Thanks for sharing!! 🧶🧶🧶
Caron Simply Soft is one of my favorites too. I make a lot of baby blankets and their many colors is why I use it and the softness is important for baby blankets. The Yarn Art Rose Garden is 100% Cotten and soft. Like you, I had to order a lot because of shipping costs! But I probably have 6 months of crocheting as that’s my job! I do sell my products that I make.
Great video! I will be buying the Yarn Art Jeans in a few weeks. Am getting an order up now.
Thank you so much for sharing!! I'll have to check out the Rose Garden! 🌹
I use Red Heart Supersaver yarn for amigurumis and afghans. It's affordable and easily available, which is great since I cannot stand buying things like yarn and fabric online. I have two large skeins of the Retro Stripe colorway and I'm going to look up that afghan pattern. It's so pretty. Red Heart yarn was 100% wool up until maybe the mid 1970s, which might explain the former scratchy feel.
Thanks so much for sharing! That blanket is gorgeous!!! 🧶🧶🧶
I actually use the hometown brand of yarn, I have it in the color red, and it's super soft, currently using it for a blanket right now, and with how thick it is, it'll help the blanket be warmer
I just finished a Mexican cardinal for my Granddaughter. She picked the Caron Simply Soft from JoAnn's. It was about $4 per skein but I had a 50% in-store discount for picking up my online order by going in the store! I got it for about $2 per skein in 7 different colors. She found the pattern on Etsy done in rainbow colors so she picked out her "rainbow colors"! It was made with a K hook so "slouchy and drapey" and she loved it. The yarn seemed easy to split when working with it but the medium hook and most of the colors were easy to see so taking my time worked pretty well. She was happy with it so I was too.
I have some afghans I made years ago that are scratches so learning about washing with fabric softener is something I need to try.
I just wanted to say for me the "kinda fuzzy" stitch definition in amigurumi is good for me! I'm still new at it so I don't mind the fuzzy stitches! My grandson also likes the softer feel of his toys that seems to come more with a fuzzier yarn, a tiny bit larger hook 3mm instead of 2.5mm and slightly under-stuffed! He is helping me stuff since I tend to stuff pretty full. (My last one he told me "Grandma, I think you and I need to compromise!") He stuffed it and I followed his lead. It was pretty squishy compared to the others I stuffed! But he gave me a list of ones he wants and I have a list of my own to made!
Love you're videos.
I do have a couple questions:
1. Is there a formula for increasing, decreasing and adjusting number of rows if you need to adjust a pattern?
2. Do you prefer a #4 weight yarn or a sport weight yarn (#2 or #3) for your amigurumi?
There are formulas for how many increases and decreases for each round. There's lots of information about it! Just do a google search and you'll find them! ❤️ And I love all sizes but right now I'm loving YarnArt Jeans which is a #2 weight! 🧶🧶🧶
I recently watched your video on how to straight line edges and I have to say I have NEVER been able to straight edge until I watched your video . Thank you for showing this.... I'm hooked
That's wonderful! ❤️
Also, there is an online company called Office Supply that sells yarn and all sorts of craft things for decent prices. I could no longer find Red Heart With Love anywhere...i shopped all over. They actually had it in many colors last time i checked. 👍
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Hello I’m new to your channel. And I’m also quite new to crochet 🧶 and would love for you to make a video on which yarn you would recommend for different projects for example purses, baby blankets, etc . Thank you 😊
I may have to give Yarn Arts a go. I have used rhss for toys and I really like the 24/7 too. Another informative video for Elise! ty
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! 🧶🧶🧶
Love the video. I have used Lion Brand Wool Ease. I made Toni's hand basket you mentioned out of a maroon color. Love it and gave away many as gifts. thank you so much for doing this video!!!
That is such a great pattern! That color sounds gorgeous!! ❤️❤️❤️
I love your content ❤ keep up the good work
Thanks so much! 🧶🧶🧶
Very informative video 👍🏻👍🏻 ( I love your blue top too!)
Thanks so much! 😊
Any blanket made of acrylic will become much softer after washed and dried, plus it blocks itself after washing and drying. Just take it out the dryer when it has a slight amount of moisture in it and lay flat to dry!
Thanks so much for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
I actually used about 3 skeins of Red Heart yarn, as well as many others for my partner's gift! I'm still working on it, but I'm 265 of 380 tiles for his blanket! I hope he likes it!
3:58 WOW I’m using the RED HEART SUPER SAVER RETRO STRIPE right now!!😂 I’m crocheting a 5 point blanket with this and the blue, pink, yellow and purple skein that I don’t know the name of because I’ve misplaced the label😢 I was a beginner crocheter, working at Walmart. So my favorite brand was Red Heart. My daughter in law does not like the feel so I use Bernat yarn for her blankets
They really are pretty colors!!! 🧶🧶🧶
I haven't watched the full video yet (I will), but I wanted to put my two cents worth in for Red Heart Super Saver. It is wonderful for charity projects (like hats for shelters, etc.). But, I've also used it for blankets/afghans. I have always found that running it through the washer and a gentle dry will soften up the yarn considerably. I'm pretty sensitive to "scratchy" (always use hand lotion before I begin crocheting), but Super Saver does not bother me to work with (if I'm not happy with how the yarn feels in my hands, I won't finish with it - crocheting should be enjoyable!). And the thing I really like about it is that most of the time it does NOT tend to split (I love Caron Simply Soft, but that's one of my complaints about it - I split a lot more stitches with Simply Soft than I do with Super Saver). Super Saver gives excellent stitch definition, which is important for beginners, so I always recommend it for a new crocheter. And it is relatively inexpensive too, which is a plus.
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Also the t-shirt yarn is great for making crossbody bags and purses
Great tip! 🧶🧶🧶
I'm brand new to crochet. I've made a very lopsided lovely sized blanket for my baby out of acrylic yarn ( I don't remember the brand). The only other projects I've made are two identical potholders using the Lion Brand 24/7 cotton! I was so excited to see you use it! I've been binging your videos, and they've been so helpful!
Thank you so much!!! Loved hearing about your favorites!❤️❤️❤️
Red heart is perfect for projects that need to be washed frequently because it doesn’t pill. Carton simply soft does and while your enthusiasm for Hometown Yarn was fun, it also pills terribly in my experience. I made several hats with Hometown and after just a few wears they looked ragged :(
Thanks for sharing!! Others have shared the same experience with Hometown! 🧶🧶🧶
I just finished 4 projects, 3 of which are going to a friend for Christmas, and used my "go-to" yarn of Red Heart yarn. After I finish my projects, I always wash them and use fabric softener and the projects, which these 3 were a: huge square blanket, a baby blanket, and a beenie, were ALL so soft after washing and drying them. I also wash and dry them on the "Delicate" cycles. I do the same thing on other yarns as well, unless it's a yarn that already seems "fragile" then I wash it on Delicate and then let it air dry.
I've also heard of people getting yarns like the Red Heart and actually washing it BEFORE they use it. I have yet to try it That way.
Thanks I needed this information. Love your videos.
You are so welcome! ❤️
The colors on the RHSS stripes would be great for a kid’s room.
Yes it would! 🧶🧶🧶
I always rinse my SuperSaver projects in water-with-a-little-vinegar and then with water. Texture softens a lot after this treatment.
Thank you for your video. Okay so red heart super saver is like sandpaper to Work with but washes up soft. Why not both, Red Heart??? 😢 All I could stand to do was the swatch I made to test it (try it again after eons). I did notice that their multis feel a tad softer but not soft enough for me. Working with a "terrible feel" yarn, for me, DEFEATS the purpose of why I love to crochet. I LOVE feeling soft lovely fibers flow through my fingers. It's what makes it so relaxing, zen. ❤❤ So Super Saver gets the big ZERO from this crochet fanatic. Thanks again!
Yes, it would be so much better if it was soft!! 🧶🧶🧶
Really? I love red heart but that's mostly what I've used.
@@EliseRoseCrochet Exactly bc the color selection is outstanding and very economical, obviously. But yeah, I'm not sacrificing the process for the product. There are plenty of other acrylic value yarns that feel wonderful.
@@wolflady58 I would try branching out. You don't know what you're missing. I could barely make it through the swatch I made because it was just sandpaper sliding through my fingers. I was just awful. Then I wash it and it feels like soft squishy love, lol. They need to figure out how to produce softer feeling yarn before the wash!
@@wolflady58 *it
I am crocheting a shawl wrap around the shoulder, while listening/watching your wonderful/helpful yarn video. What do you think of bamboo yarn? How do I soften a baby blanket made from scratchy Red Heart yarn? Thanks, Elise!!! from a subscriber/fan.
I actually haven't tried bamboo yarn before! And others have suggested washing it and adding fabric softener or even vinegar to soften it! 🧶🧶🧶
@@EliseRoseCrochet Thank you for your helpful hints. I heard that bamboo yarn keep one cool in the summer...
Congratulations on the 200k Elise!
And thank you for another amazing video 😊
Greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰
Thank you so much! ❤️
Bernat Velvet yarn! I use that instead of Bernat blanket yarn for my chonkygurumi and it crochets beautifully! The stitch definition is pretty decent for a chenille and it is ridiculously soft and cuddly when done.
Oooh! I'll have to try that one! 🧶🧶🧶
I 100% despise red heart super saver yarn… I get that a lot of people like it, and I’m glad they do because it is super affordable and I wish I could use it, but I can’t. It’s the yarn I learned to crochet with, and I really do think it’s the reason I quit crocheting. I didn’t find it enjoyable at all, & I didn’t know better (I was very young) that there were other options out there. Now that I crochet h many hours a day, I revisited it & I don’t even want to touch it with a ten foot pole. Idc if it softens up after washing, working with it is SO bothersome. It’s like I’m giving myself an itchy inflamed rug burn just by crocheting. I’ve tried it for so many projects, amigurumi, a sweater, a blanket, a bag, just granny squares… I can’t. I LOVE hobby lobby I love this yarn tho! It’s the best value acrylic (although a bit more expensive than others.) & if I have to pick a cheaper option, I sometimes enjoy premier basix, although some colorways in that yarn trigger me and remind me of red heart a little😅🥲
Thanks for sharing! ❤️ I also think Premier Basix is a better budget friendly alternative! 🧶🧶🧶
Call me crazy, but I love red heart yarn. I make graphgans with a lot of color changes and it would cost a small fortune to use a higher end yarn. And yes, when you wash it, it softens up quite a bit.
That's so smart! You're getting the most out of your budget with those graphgans! 🤩
@ I’m obsessed with graphgans lol 😆
Chenille yarn not good for babies
Why not?
@@veroniquecastel9582I think cuz it sheds a lot
The Bernat blanket yarn is made not to shed or pull
The Caron yarn I love and yes I use a 4 with it like she said she would use. Oddly enough I have 3 projects going with this yarn so I haven’t been able to wash it to see how it will look.
The yarn on Amazon is always more expensive!
I found that's not always the case. Sometimes the yarn was cheaper on Amazon. I learned my lesson to shop around! 🧶🧶🧶
@@EliseRoseCrochetAnd they often have great deals for a limited time. If you find a great deal, you can use subscribe and save to lock in That deal price. I make hats for donation, and found a deal on Redheart SS Stripes by which I could get a pkg of three for less than the best sale at big box stores. So I picked a few, and set the super saver frequency to suit my needs, and will get that sale price long after the sale is over.
Hi there, the Caron simply soft is one of my favorites and I also recommend a 4mm hook. I have used it for several shawls as it has fantastic drape. I love this specific yarn as it washes and dries well in a standard washer/dryer combo.
LB 24/7 cotton yarn is one of my favorites! Their Woolease is my go to for chunky yarns. It washes and wears pretty well..
Good to know! 🧶🧶🧶
My favorite yarn is the Caron simply soft. It doesn't have dye lots so I don't have to worry about getting enough yarn at the beginning of a project.
That's good to know! Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
Loved your analysis / yarn test! I am also all about texture and feel when I crochet. Thanks so much for posting this!
Very informative video! Thank you!
Thank you!! ❤️❤️❤️
I’ve been using Caron Simply Soft for at least 15 years and I love it. I use it for amigurumi and blankets.
Thanks for sharing! ❤️❤️❤️
As a yarn snob Red Heart is all I use for projects. There are times I defer to other brands bernat or Lion Brand. I get most of my yarn from Walmart, but I do shop Amazon as well. Yarnspirations is fav of mine.
Thanks for sharing! 🧶🧶🧶
I crochet for charity and my favorites for that are Red Heart (sorry Elise) and Caron Simply Soft. It is mainly because of price, and these 2 yarns do not have dye lot numbers, which is important when you're doing a lot of different projects. That way, if you run out of yarn before you're done with the project, you can buy more and be assured that it'll be the same shade. Otherwise, if I'm making a garment for me, for example, I would be willing to use other yarns.
I love that you crochet for charity! It's wonderful that you use your time to give back! 🧶🧶🧶