Go big with super chunky yarn for chunky garments and super-fast knitting.
What is super chunky yarn good for?
Super chunky yarns are great for chunky knitted accessories such as scarves, cowls and bags, oversized jumpers or snuggly all-seasons blankets.
Because of its thickness, fabric knits up quickly. You can knit a whole jumper in an afternoon! You get an oversized, blocky look with big loops which is always in fashion. This makes it a good choice for beginners.
Use super chunky wool to make the most of natural fibres for breathable garments. Choose an acrylic mix super-chunky yarn for items you want to wash in the machine.
What is super chunky yarn bad for?
Super chunky yarn does not work for form-fitting, clinging garments and it won’t give you much drape.
Despite its chunky look, garments knitted in super chunky yarn are not very warm. Chunky yarn requires large needles which means you’ll have large holes. These knits can be drafty! But they look fashionably oversized and are very comfy to wear.
Our favourite super chunky yarns
1. Sirdar Bohemia Ultra super chunky yarn
Best for psychedelic statement festival knits
Available in eight tie-dye-style colour combos, Bohemia will appeal to lovers of colour. This ultra super chunky yarn is an interesting one to work with, it feels a bit like knitting with wool roving.
It is actually just 51% wool, so not a super chunky wool at all. The 49% acrylic blend makes it more stable, giving you the confidence that it will hold its shape. Bohemia has a very minimal twist, but the fibres are blended so well that it won’t split easily.
PROS: Cool colour change yarn gives a tie-die effect
CONS: Hand wash only
- Buy Bohemia Ultra super chunky yarn from Amazon
2. Wool Couture Cheeky Chunky
Best for pure wool luxury knits
Wool Couture’s super chunky offering is very soft, and made from 100% merino wool.
It has a slight halo and a loose spin, which gives this yarn a lightweight heft. It measures about a centimetre in width.
Despite its furry nature, it creates stitches with a nice level of definition and a lively bounciness.
Cheeky Chunky is available in 50g, 100g and 200g skeins, so you can size your purchase to your garment.
PROS: 30 different colours to choose from
CONS: Expensive to buy enough for large garments
- Buy Wool Couture Cheeky chunky yarn from Amazon
3. Bernat Blanket Brights super chunky yarn
Best for blanket knitting
An extremely soft chenille yarn, Blanket Brights knits into super-chunky fabric with good and even stitch definition.
It’s ideal for bulky blankets, throws and other large home décor pieces, but it’s also great for plush toys and anything that will touch babies’ skin.
It is 100% acrylic so it can be machine washed and dried.
You’ll find this yarn in sixteen vibrant shades, and eight are variegated for a cool self-striping finish.
Besides the 150g balls, Blanket Brights is also available in bumper 300g/201m balls
PROS: Bumper balls available for blanket knitting CONS: Machine washable and tumble dry, Small range of plain colours
4. King Cole Funny Yummy super chunky yarn
Best for tactile and soft knits for babies
With its chenille-like feel, the whirls and swirls of Funny Yummy will feel interesting to touch and be gentle on delicate skin.
It is 100% polyester so easy to machine wash.
You can buy it in four pretty pastel shades – cream, white, pink and blue.
Simple stitches are a must in this yarn, as its chenille-like texture gives no stitch definition. But don’t be afraid to go for fun stripes or blocks of colour to add some fun.
PROS: Machine washable, super soft to the touch, knits up with interesting texture
CONS: Only four colours available
Super chunky yarn vs super chunky wool
We are all in the habit of referring to balls of yarn as balls of wool. It’s the same as the way we call all vacuum cleaners hoovers when only Hoover-brand vacuum cleaners are Hoovers
Yarn is the generic term. We should only call them balls of wool if they have any wool fibres in them.
Many super chunky yarns are acrylic or polyester or use other natural fibres like alpaca or bamboo.
Only super chunky yarns with wool in them should be referred to as super chunky wools.
5. Sirdar Temptation super chunky yarn
Best for fluffy vintage-style jumpers and cardigans
This mohair and acrylic super chunky yarn is fantastically fluffy. The mohair fibres (30%) in this yarn give it that oomph when knitted and the hard-wearing acrylic (70%) in the blend means this delicate yarn is made to last.
It’s available in five fashionable shades – light pink, magenta, black, cream and white.
The high-acrylic mix means it is machine washable, but it will stay fluffier for longer if you stick to handwashing.
PROS: Mohair look in a hard-wearing yarn, can be machine washed
CONS: Only five colours to choose from
6. We are Knitters The Wool super chunky yarn
Best for cool weather accessories
Available in stylish solids and beautiful variegated shades, We Are Knitters The Wool is made from 100% Peruvian Highland wool.
Buy individual 500g balls or get a five-pack in your choice of colours.
A great option for cool-weather accessories.
Wash carefully to avoid felting.
PROS: 100% super chunky wool, wide choice of colours
CONS: Shade range changes frequently, hand wash only
Super chunky knitting pattern
Check out our how to make a chunky knit blanket tutorial for a brilliant free knitting pattern that makes the most of super chunky yarn.
7. Schachenmayr Cotton Jersey
Best for hard wearing summer accessories
Crafting in the summer and don't fancy sweltering under heavy wool? Go for a lightweight yarn such as this 100% Cotton Jersey from Schachenmayr.
This super chunky yarn is a blend of 70% cotton and 30% nylon. Its tubular tape construction gives it a bit of stretch so it's great when you want fabric to stretch a little, like in tight cowls or beanie hats.
Being 100% cotton, it makes garments that are breathable and hard-wearing. But you need to keep tension loose to stop knitted fabric from being hard and solid.
Make something similar by upcycling old clothing in our with our how to make t shirt yarn tutorial!
PROS: Hardwearing, gives a stretch
CONS: Not soft to the touch
- Buy Schachenmayr Cotton Jersey from LoveCrafts.
8.Bernat Mega Bulky super chunky yarn
Best for everyday knits
Here’s a big super chunky yarn with gorgeous sheen and softness.
Bernat Mega Bulky is made from 100% acrylic and comes in a wide range of solid shades. Why not mix them up with bold arm-knitted stripes or colour blocking?
Hand wash this yarn and dry it flat to keep your finished knits in perfect shape.
It’s a good-value acrylic yarn that’s perfect for knits you wear every day.
PROS: Good value price, wide range of colours
CONS: Handwash only
9.Wool and the Gang Crazy Sexy Wool
Best for Cosy yet breathable accessories
What can you make with Crazy Sexy Wool? "Anything that's chunky," say Wool and the Gang.
It’s available in a massive selection of shades - at least 25 at last count – with a mix of plain colours and blended shades.
Check out their patterns for chunky hats you can make in under an hour, and more.
The yarn is produced from 100% wool, so it's ideal for cosy but breathable accessories.
PROS: 100% super chunky wool, epic choice of colours
CONS: Colour range changes frequently
- Buy Crazy Sexy Wool from Wool and the Gang.
Make the most of super chunky yarn
Whatever type of yarn you are looking for, there will be a fibre and blend for you. Use this guide to get your hands on the best one for you.
Super chunky yarn knits up quickly, and it is easy to see what you are doing with the big knitting loops. It’s great when you are learning the basics!
Get knitting with our beginners guide
To help you get to grips with the techniques you need, we have all the information in our guide to knitting for beginners
Learn the basics with Gathered’s knitting for beginners
