Chunky yarns have got to be one of our favourite yarn weights! Not only are they great for crochet and knitting beginners as the thicker yarn makes it easier to see your stitches, but they're also great for more experienced stitchers who want to make larger projects in super-quick time! Chunky yarns are a brilliant choice for quick accessory projects such as scarves and bags, as well as garments that you want to be thick and cosy. Chunky yarn is also perfect for creating knit or crochet fabrics that have that soft squishy feeling, as the chunky yarn weight not only means bigger stitches but also a thicker fabric.
It's worth noting that chunky yarns will also be called Bulky yarn, will commonly require needles or crochet hooks anywhere between 5.5mm and 8mm (if it's above this then it's likely to actually be a super-chunky or jumbo weight yarn), and will be classified under the Bulky 5 yarn council weight category (look out for the symbol below).
Below you'll find some of our favourite chunky yarns, but if you fancy taking things to the next level, then check out our pick of the best jumbo yarns.
Best Chunky Yarns
King Cole Big Value Chunky Yarn
When it comes to top quality yarns with an affordable price tag, King Cole are often our first port of call! Their Big Value range includes super-chunky, aran, Dk and 4ply weights (with the last two coming in Baby yarn options too), so of course there's also a fantastic Big Value Chunky range too! This fabulous 100% premium acrylic yarn really does take the word 'premium' seriously, meaning you get a lovely soft feeling bulky yarn that is also machine washable at 40° and can even be tumble dried on a cool setting. There's 36 brilliant shades to choose from, ranging from deep solid tones to a few marbled options.
Buy King Cole Big Value Chunky yarn from Amazon
Hayfield Bonus Chunky Yarn
Our second chunky yarn is another one that is perfect for those of you who are on a budget. The Hayfield bonus chunky yarn is a soft and squishy 100% acrylic yarn made up of 4 tightly twisted strands, giving you a consistent and even chunky weight yarn with plenty of bounce and superb stitch definition. It's available in 26 lovely shades, including soft natural tones and vibrant colours, plus a couple of interesting options which provide tweedy and marbled effects. It's another bulky yarn that is incredibly practical and easy to care for, being machine washable and safe to tumble dry on a low setting. You can also find plenty of other affordable and interesting yarns in the Hayfield Bonus range, from baby yarns to super chunky yarns, and interesting effects such as glitter yarns or spotty yarns!
Buy Hayfield Bonus Chunky yarn from Amazon
Paintbox Simply Chunky Yarn
If you're all about the colours when it comes to choosing your yarn, then the Paintbox Simply Chunky yarn has a huge range of shades for you to choose from! This fabulous 100% acrylic yarn is available in 63 colours, so is a brilliant yarn to use of you're planning a super-colourful project such as crochet blankets or stripy knitted rainbow scarves. There's also savings to be had by buying their 5 or 10 ball multipacks, which come in options of buying multiples of the same colour or mixed colour packs.
Buy Paintbox Simply Chunky yarn from Lovecrafts
What to knit with chunky yarn
If you like the look of these yarns but aren't sure what to knit with chunky yarn, then you could always try our How to knit a bobble hat tutorial for a quick chunky make. Or if you fancy something bigger, you could try our ladies chunky cardigan knitting pattern or check out our how to make a chunky knit blanket tutorial!
King Cole Riot Chunky Yarn
So far we've looked at consistent chunky yarns that are good all-rounders, but maybe you're after a yarn which has a bit more individual character - if this sounds like you then we'd definitely recommend the King Cole Riot Chunky yarn. This fabulous variegated yarn comes in some gorgeous colour combinations, from complimentary pastel shades to bright neons and rich deep tones. It's a roving-style yarn so has a minimal twist that helps to create a bouncy squidgy fabric, plus it's made of a blend of 70% acrylic and 30% wool fibres which helps to give you softness as well as a nice natural halo (the word used for when you can still see those individual fluffy fibres sticking out from the main strand). It has nice smooth transitions between the colour changes too, meaning you can achieve lovely colour gradients in your projects.
Buy King Cole Riot Chunky yarn from Amazon
West Yorkshire Spinners Re:Treat Chunky Yarn
For those of you who prefer using real wool fibres, then the Re:Treat yarn is going to be... well... a real treat! It's a 100% Wool yarn that is fully produced in Britain - in fact it bears the new British Wool logo that guarantees that it is British to the core; from sheep to showroom! It actually uses fleece from a specially selected crossbreed Bluefaced Kerry Hill - combining the softness of Bluefaced Leicester fleece with the clean white fleece of Kerry Hill sheep. The result is a beautifully soft roving style yarn with lovely rich and even colours. There's 20 fabulous shades to choose from including 2 special marled colourways, and because it's 100% wool it does need to be hand washed, however this does also mean that it is suitable for felting!
Buy West Yorkshire Spinners Re:Treat Chunky yarn from Lovecrafts
Here's one more 100% acrylic yarn for all you crocheters and knitters who are watching the purse-strings! The Emu brand was first established over 80 years ago and now is available exclusively from TheKnittingNetwork. It's another 100% acrylic yarn available in a range of bright, neutral and pastel colours (33 to be precise). But as well as the affordable price tag and range of colours, it's also available in lots of different colour packs and bundles - so whether you're wanting a pack of complimentary colours for a specific project or just want some chunky colour options in your stash, it's well worth stocking up on this fab Emu yarn!
Buy Emu Classic Chunky yarn from TheKnittingNetwork
What to crochet with chunky yarn?
If you're after some quick projects to crochet with chunky yarn, then you could always try our free crochet mittens pattern. or why not treat the little one in your life with our how to crochet baby booties tutorial!
Alpachino Merino Chunky Yarn
Fancy treating yourself to some super-luxurious yarn? Then check out the Alpachino Merino yarn from Wool and the Gang - made from a gorgeous blend of 60% merino and 40% Baby Alpaca fibres. This sustainably sourced chunky yarn features a really nice clear but gentle twist which will help to make your stitches look crisp and well defined while still maintaining that chunky squidgy feeling - great for cable stitches and other relief stitches. There's 16 bright and deep colours to choose from, including two 2-tone twist variations.
Buy Alpachino Merino Chunky Yarn from Wool and the Gang
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky Yarn
More fancy fibres for you now, and perhaps the most luxurious of them all - Cashmere! The gorgeous Cashmerino Chunky yarn from Debbie Bliss features 12% cashmere fibres, 55% Wool and 33% Acrylic, producing a bulky yarn that is incredibly soft and luxurious but also strong, stable and consistent. Available in 23 stylish signature Debbie Bliss shades, it can even be machine washed at 30° - we think it's the perfect yarn for adding that extra touch of luxury into your knitting and crochet projects!
Buy Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky yarn from Lovecrafts
Malabrigo Chunky Yarn
We're big fans of the stunning hand-dyed yarns from Malabrigo, and their chunky range is no exception! Malabrigo is a small family owned yarn company based in Uruguay and Peru, and their chunky yarn is a beautiful 100% wool yarn harvested from their own free-range flock. All of their yarns are hand-dyed, meaning you get fantastic colours that blend into each other with a whole heap of character, and even with 'solid' colours there will be slight variations between one skein and another, making it a truly unique yarn! There's 38 fabulously rich and deep shades to choose from, so you're bound to find the perfect colour for your next project!
Buy Malabrigo Chunky yarn from Lovecrafts
Lion Brand Homespun Chunky Yarn
This Homespun bulky yarn from Lion Brand is a bit of a wild card, but one that we were instantly intrigued by. It's a blend of 98% Acrylic fibres which make up the bulk of the strand in a loose roving style, but then there's also 2% of polyester which is the single fine strand wrapped around the other fibres which mimics a twist in the yarn. The result is a yarn that creates an interesting, almost bobbled/rippled texture. It also comes in some fun colourways, from solids and marled shades to self striping shades that have something of a painterly quality. Because of the nature of it's construction it might be a bit tricky for beginner knitters or crocheters as it will be easy to split or catch the yarn, however if you're looking for a bulky yarn that is a little bit different then you should definitely give it a try!
Buy Lion Brand Homespun Chunky yarn from Amazon
We hope you’ve enjoyed our pick of the best chunky yarns, don’t forget if you need any help with your crochet stitches you can always check out our crochet for beginners guide, and for knitters check out our knitting for beginners guide. And if you’re looking to treat yourself, check out our list of the best crochet hooks or the best knitting needles.
