12 Affordable (100% Wool) Yarns for Knitters

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I love wool yarn but sometimes that indie-dyed, expensive yarn is just not financially feasible for a sweater or larger project. When I know I’m going to need a large quantity of yarn I always look at my choices for budget-friendly wool and save those really special skeins for accessories and small projects.

If you’re looking for affordable 100% wool yarn for your knitting projects, take a look at these options (all of them are around $10 or less per skein):

  • Patons
  • Chic Sheep by Marly Bird
  • Lion Brand Fishermen’s Wool
  • Cascade Yarns 220
  • Bergere de France Merinos 4
  • Debbie Bliss Rialto
  • Universal Yarn Deluxe
  • Drops Yarn
  • Knit Picks
  • Berroco Ultra Wool
  • Lana Grossa
  • Webs Valley Yarns

This list includes a variety of options – from specific yarns from a particular brand to brands that offer a few different 100% wool options within their various yarn lines. All of these yarns are available at a variety of locations – from big box stores to local yarn shops and online. With each of the yarns below, I’ve linked to an online source for convenient research and shopping.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. See the disclosure policy for more information.

Patons

Patons is a classic yarn brand with many great options that are often available locally at big-box stores. For those who are looking for wool yarn, their Classic Wool Worsted (one of my favorites) is a great choice. They also have DK Superwash, Classic Wool Bulky, and Classic Wool Roving in 100% wool yarn options (they also have a great sock yarn).

Get the yarn: Patons (available at LoveCrafts)

Chic Sheep by Marly Bird

Red Heart is entering the 100% wool yarn arena with its Chic Sheep by Marly Bird yarn line. It’s a worsted-weight 100% merino wool that’s available in a wide range of vibrant colors and can usually be found in many big-box stores. If your local store carries the Red Heart line but not this particular yarn, see if they’ll start stocking it – it’s a great affordable option for those who are looking for wool yarn at their local stores.

Get the yarn: Chic Sheep (available at LoveCrafts)

Fishermen’s Wool

Lion Brand’s Fishermen’s Wool is a classic yarn that’s available at many big-box stores. While it’s a little more than $10 per skein, it’s twice the amount of yardage so it’s still very, very affordable. It’s a worsted weight yarn made from undyed pure virgin wool with natural lanolin oil and available in a good variety of natural colors. It’s soft and warm (and naturally water-resistant) so would make great sweaters and hats. It’s also a great yarn for felting and, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to try hand-dyeing your own yarn, this is a great yarn to use for your dyeing adventures.

Get the yarn: Fishermen’s Wool (available at LoveCrafts)

Cascade Yarns

The Cascade 220 line is a popular 100% wool yarn that many knitters love with good reason – it’s a beautiful yarn that’s available in a variety of weights and many, many beautiful colorways (159 colors in the original, worsted-weight version) as well as in both regular and superwash wool versions. There are also merino wool versions of both lines available (at a little more than $10 per skein). For super-bulky yarn, take a look at Lana Grande.

Get the yarn: Cascade Yarns (available at LoveCrafts)

Bergere de France

While Bergere de France isn’t a hugely popular line (at least in North America), it deserves a look. There are plenty of nice yarns in this line, and for wool, their Merinos 4 or Pur Merinos (both DK-weight yarns) are great choices.

Get the yarn: Bergere de France (available at LoveCrafts)

Debbie Bliss

The Debbie Bliss line has so many beautiful options and fantastic colors. I especially love the sweater-quantity bundles at LoveCrafts which will save you a few dollars and ensure that your yarn is all from the same dye lot. For 100% wool, the Rialto line (a 100% merino wool) is available in lace, 4-ply, DK, and chunky weights all of which come in a wide-range of color options.

Get the yarn: Debbie Bliss (available at LoveCrafts)

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Universal Yarn

Universal Yarn has so many beautiful colors and lines available it’s definitely worth taking a look. For affordable wool yarn, consider their Deluxe Line which is available in a variety of weights and both non-superwash and superwash.

  • Deluxe Chunky
  • Deluxe Worsted
  • Deluxe DK Superwash
  • Deluxe Worsted Superwash
  • Deluxe Bulky Superwash

Get the yarn: Universal Yarn (available at LoveCrafts)

Drops Yarns

Drops yarns is a fabulous, low-priced European option with plenty of beautiful yarns in fabulous fibers. For 100% wool there are just a few of their options:

  • Alaska – an aran/worsted weight untreated wool in 26 beautiful colors
  • Baby Merino – a sport-weight yarn in a superwash fine merino yarn (very soft!)
  • Big Delight – an aran/worsted single-ply yarn (that would be a great choice for felted projects)
  • Big Merino – an aran/worsted superwash merino yarn
  • Eskimo – a super-bulky single-ply yarn available in 51 colors (another great choice for felting)
  • Karisma – a DK/worsted weight superwash yarn in 47 colors

There are plenty of wonderful yarns in this line that should definitely be explored further.

Get the yarn: Drops Yarns

Knit Picks

Knit Picks is a US-based company with lots of beautiful wool and various fiber blends at very affordable prices (they also have frequent sales and free shipping deals). For 100% wool, their Wool of the Andes line is a solid choice in a wide range of colors and weights (worsted, sport, and bulky). For superwash, take a look at Swish (worsted, DK, and bulky weights) or Wool of the Andes Superwash (worsted and bulky). If you’re looking for 100% wool in a fingering weight their Palette line is great and offers lots of different colors (it’s a great choice for stranded colorwork). There are more options available – I’ve just listed some of the more popular options.

Get the yarn: Knit Picks

Berroco

Berroco is a US-based company with a wide array of affordable lines and fiber choices. For 100% superwash wool yarns, their Ultra Wool line is great and it’s available in fingering, DK, worsted, and chunky weights in a wide variety of beautiful colors. For non-superwash wool, their Lanas (worsted-weight in 48 shades) and Mercado yarns (an aran-weight yarn that’s more lightly spun than the Lanas line) are good choices.

Get the yarn: Berroco (available at LoveCrafts)

Lana Grossa

Lana Grossa is an Italian-based yarn company with a wide range of beautiful yarns (some more expensive than others). But, if you look through the various yarns you’ll find some solid affordable options.

Their Cool Wool, Bingo, Regazza Lei and Feltro are good options and come in a nice range of colors.

  • Feltro is a loosely spun bulky-weight yarn that would be great for any felting projects.
  • Cool Wool is a 100% Merino sport-weight yarn that’s available in solid and in Cool Wool Print.
  • Bingo is a 100% Merino worsted-weight wool that comes in 37 different colors (and Superbingo – available in bulky).
  • Regazza Lei is your super bulky-weight option in their line (100% virgin wool).

Get the yarn: Lana Grossa (available at LoveCrafts)

Valley Yarns

Valley Yarns is an exclusive line only available at Webs, an online (and retail location) store located in Massachusetts. The Valley Yarns line offers plenty of affordable options in a variety of weights and fibers and lots of beautiful colors.

For 100% wool yarn, their Valley Superwash is 100% extra fine merino (which is so very soft!) in worsted, sport, bulky, and DK weights. Since it’s superwash wool it’s easier to care for than standard wool yarns (which is a bonus for many people).

For those who prefer non-superwash wool, take a look at Northampton (which is the same price as the superwash for twice the amount of yarn, but it’s not extra fine merino so it’s not quite as soft) or Amherst, which are both worsted-weight yarns.

Get the yarn: Valley Yarns from Webs

More Tips for Saving Money on Knitting

Here are a few questions (and answers!) that may help make your knitting hobby more affordable.

Where can I get yarn cheap?

Besides the twelve affordable 100% wool options I’ve listed above, there are always more ways to save money on yarn. Look for yarn at secondhand and thrift stores, estate sales, or garage sales. Big box stores (like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and others) also offer discounts and coupons that can be used for yarn purchases.

Why is yarn so expensive?

Turning animal fibers into yarn is a big process – from shearing to washing and carding, spinning the fiber, and dyeing. Even man-made fibers go through a rigorous process to become the final product. There are plenty of less-expensive options but expect to pay more money for hand-dyed yarns which take more time to create as yarns are dyed in small batches (by hand).

Is there a difference between yarn and wool?

While many people use the terms ‘yarn’ and ‘wool’ interchangeably, wool is one of many possible fibers that a particular yarn can have. There is a difference between the two – yarn is the final spun product, wool is one of the fibers that could be used when spinning the yarn.

What is the difference between wool and acrylic yarn?

Wool yarn is made from a natural animal fiber that is warm, breathable, and water-resistant with natural elasticity. Acrylic is a man-made, petroleum-based yarn that isn’t as breathable but is easier to care for as it’s usually machine-washable.

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