Yarn Price Comparison 2026
Compare 126 yarns from Creativ Company, DMC, Rico Design and more — find the best price from 18 £ across multiple UK retailers.
Yarn is one of those categories where the gap between a good purchase and a frustrating one comes down to details most beginners overlook: fibre composition, dye lot consistency, yardage per skein. We've tracked 126 products across this market, and a few things stand out immediately. Creativ Company dominates the catalogue with over half the listings, while DMC sits at the premium end — their average price runs noticeably higher, and for good reason: the colour fastness and consistency on their ranges is hard to fault.
The price spread here is wider than you might expect. Entry-level skeins start from 18 £, but the median sits closer to 19 £, which is where the bulk of reliable, project-ready yarns live. Rico Design punches well above its weight at the lower end of the range — their average hovers around the quarter-mark, making them a genuine contender for crafters who want decent fibre quality without committing to premium pricing. Hoooked, meanwhile, has carved out a niche with chunky, textured options that photograph beautifully for social media projects.
One thing worth flagging: the difference between a 100% acrylic yarn and a wool blend isn't just about feel — it affects everything from how you block a finished garment to whether it can go in the washing machine. For everyday items like children's jumpers or dishcloths, machine-washable acrylics or superwash-treated wool are far more practical. For heirloom pieces or anything worn next to the skin, natural fibres with a low micron count are worth the extra spend. Our knitting needles comparison and crochet hooks guide can help you match your tools to whichever yarn weight you settle on.
Prices across retailers vary more than you'd think for what is essentially a commodity product. We've seen the same skein listed at meaningfully different prices depending on whether you're buying from a specialist craft retailer or a general marketplace. That's precisely where comparing before you buy pays off — especially when you're purchasing multiple skeins for a large project and dye lot matching becomes critical.
How to Choose the Right Yarn for Your Project
With prices ranging from 18 £ to 19 £, the yarn market looks deceptively simple — it isn't. The wrong fibre composition or weight can derail a project entirely, and no amount of skill compensates for yarn that pills after three washes. Here's what actually matters when you're choosing.
Fibre composition and care requirements
This is the single most important decision, and it's one most beginners get wrong. Acrylic yarns are cheap, machine-washable and colourfast — ideal for children's items, toys and anything that needs frequent laundering. Pure wool has natural elasticity and warmth, but unless it carries a superwash treatment, it will felt in a hot wash and is hand-wash only. Cotton is breathable and great for summer garments or dishcloths, but has no stretch, which makes it unforgiving for beginners. Blends try to split the difference — a wool/acrylic blend gives you warmth and some washability, but check the care label carefully. If you're making something that will be worn next to the skin, look for merino or yarns with a low micron count (under 20 microns) to avoid scratchiness.
Yarn weight and recommended needle size
Yarn weight determines everything: how quickly a project knits up, how warm the finished item will be, and which needles you need. The standard scale runs from lace (0) through to super bulky (6+). DK and Aran weights (categories 3–4) are the most versatile and beginner-friendly — they work up quickly enough to stay motivating but still show stitch detail. Lace and fingering weights are beautiful but slow and unforgiving of tension inconsistencies. Always check the recommended needle size on the label and swatch before starting a garment — a single millimetre difference in needle size can change your finished dimensions significantly.
Yardage per skein and cost per metre
The price on the label is almost meaningless without knowing the yardage. A skein priced at 19 £ with 400 yards is considerably better value than one at 19 £ with 100 yards. Always calculate cost per 100g or cost per metre when comparing across brands. This is especially important for larger projects like blankets or adult jumpers, where you might need 10–15 skeins. Rico Design tends to offer strong yardage-to-price ratios at the lower end of the market; DMC's higher price point is partly justified by consistent quality and generous metreage on their specialist ranges.
Dye lot consistency
If your project requires more than one skein — and most garments do — dye lot matching is non-negotiable. Yarn from different dye lots can look identical in the shop but produce a visible stripe in your finished piece. Always buy all the skeins you need in one go, from the same dye lot number printed on the label. If you're buying online, check whether the retailer can guarantee same-lot fulfilment. This is one area where buying from a specialist craft retailer often beats a general marketplace, even if the unit price is slightly higher.
Pilling resistance and long-term durability
Pilling — those small balls of fibre that form on the surface of garments — is the most common complaint about budget yarns. It's caused by short staple fibres working loose with friction and washing. Longer staple fibres, tighter twist, and higher ply counts all improve resistance. Yarns marketed as 'anti-pilling' have usually been treated or use longer-staple fibres. For high-wear items like socks or elbows of jumpers, look for yarns with nylon reinforcement (typically 20–25% nylon content) — it makes a dramatic difference to longevity.
Sustainability and fibre origin
Increasingly, UK crafters are asking where their yarn comes from. Certifications to look for include GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) for organic fibres, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 for chemical safety, and RWS (Responsible Wool Standard) for ethically sourced wool. Bamboo viscose and recycled content yarns are growing in availability and offer a lower environmental footprint. Hoooked, for instance, has built part of its brand identity around recycled cotton and zpagetti-style materials. These options tend to sit in the mid-to-upper price range — from around 19 £ upwards — but the quality and ethical credentials are often worth it for conscious crafters.
- Starter skeins (From 18 £ to 19 £) : Mostly acrylic or basic cotton yarns from brands like Rico Design and Artemio. Perfectly serviceable for practice projects, toys and items that won't see heavy wear. Don't expect impressive yardage or sophisticated fibre blends at this price — but for learning tension and technique, they do the job.
- The sweet spot (From 19 £ to 19 £) : Where the majority of reliable, project-ready yarns sit. Rico Design and Madeira offer solid options here, with decent yardage and reasonable fibre quality. Good for blankets, scarves and beginner garments. This is the range we'd recommend for most crafters most of the time.
- Mid-range quality (From 19 £ to 19 £) : Creativ Company's core range and some of Hoooked's textured offerings live here. You start to see better fibre blends, more interesting textures, and improved colour consistency. Worth the step up for garments you intend to wear regularly or gift.
- Premium and specialist (Over 19 £) : DMC's specialist ranges dominate this tier. The price reflects genuine quality: superior colour fastness, consistent dye lots, and often more complex fibre compositions. Justified for heirloom projects, competition pieces, or when you've invested significant time and don't want the yarn to let you down.
Top products
- Creativ Company 42162 yarn (Creativ Company) : The most-compared yarn in this category and a solid all-rounder — good for everyday projects, though nothing about it stands out as exceptional. The two competing offers make it worth checking for the best current price.
- Creativ Company 977565 yarn (Creativ Company) : Sits at the upper end of the Creativ Company range price-wise. Two offers available means you can compare — worth doing, as the gap between retailers can be meaningful on a multi-skein purchase.
- DMC MC101K yarn (DMC) : DMC's premium positioning is evident here. Excellent colour fastness and consistency make it the right choice for detailed colourwork or embroidery — but only one offer available, so there's no price competition to exploit.
- DMC TR110K yarn (DMC) : The most expensive product in the top 15 — and it earns it for specialist applications. Overkill for casual projects, but if you're working on something that demands consistent, high-quality thread, this is the benchmark.
- Artemio 13001051 yarn (Artemio) : The most affordable option in the top 15 and a decent entry point for beginners or practice projects. Don't expect premium fibre quality at this price, but for learning the basics it represents good value.
Related categories
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between DK and Aran yarn?
DK (double knitting) is thinner than Aran and typically uses 3.5–4.5mm needles, while Aran weight uses 4.5–5.5mm needles and knits up faster. DK produces a finer, more detailed fabric — better for fitted garments and colourwork. Aran is warmer, quicker to complete, and more forgiving for beginners. If your pattern specifies one, don't substitute the other without recalculating your tension gauge, as the finished dimensions will be significantly different.
Can I machine wash wool yarn?
Only if it carries a superwash treatment — look for the machine-wash symbol on the label or the word 'superwash' in the product description. Untreated wool will felt irreversibly in a warm wash, shrinking and matting into a solid fabric. Most budget wool blends are not superwash-treated. If machine washability matters to you (for children's items, for instance), an acrylic blend or a specifically labelled superwash merino is the safer choice.
How do I avoid dye lot problems when buying multiple skeins?
Buy all the skeins you need in one purchase, checking that every ball shares the same dye lot number printed on the label. Different lots are dyed in separate batches and can vary subtly in shade — enough to create a visible stripe across a finished garment. If you run short mid-project and can't find a matching lot, alternate rows between the old and new skeins to blend the transition gradually rather than switching abruptly.
Is expensive yarn actually worth it?
It depends entirely on the project. For a practice swatch or a child's toy, a budget acrylic from Rico Design at the lower end of the price range is perfectly adequate. For a garment you'll wear for years — especially one requiring significant time investment — the quality difference in premium yarns from DMC or similar is real: better colour fastness, less pilling, more consistent twist. The maths changes when you factor in the hours of labour involved; spending a bit more on yarn for a 40-hour project is rarely the wrong call.
What yarn weight should a beginner start with?
Aran or chunky weight (categories 4–5) is the standard recommendation for beginners, and it's good advice. Thicker yarn shows your stitches clearly, works up quickly enough to stay motivating, and is forgiving of minor tension inconsistencies. Pair it with 5–6mm needles or a 5–6mm crochet hook. Avoid lace or fingering weight until you're comfortable with tension — the fine yarn is difficult to see, easy to split, and slow to progress.
What are the pitfalls of buying yarn online without seeing it in person?
Colour accuracy is the biggest issue — monitor calibration varies wildly, and what looks dusty rose on screen can arrive as hot pink. Always read reviews specifically mentioning colour accuracy, and where possible buy from retailers with free returns (John Lewis and many specialist craft sites offer this). The second pitfall is not checking yardage: two skeins at the same price can have dramatically different metreage, making one genuinely poor value. Always calculate cost per 100g or per metre before committing.
Does yarn from Creativ Company compare well to DMC?
They serve slightly different ends of the market. Creativ Company offers a broad, accessible range with consistent quality — good value across their catalogue, which accounts for the majority of listings in this category. DMC positions itself as a premium brand with tighter quality control, particularly on colour consistency and dye fastness, which matters for embroidery and detailed colourwork. For general knitting and crochet projects, Creativ Company is more than adequate. For projects where colour precision is critical, DMC's higher price point is justified.