When Sunshine first started crocheting, we pretty much shopped the dollar store for the cheapest yarn we could find. Honestly, that made sense at the time — she was learning a new hobby and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on new supplies for her. While she was learning to crochet from her babysitter and Youtube videos, those cheap yarns were fine. As she began progressing to bigger projects and more complicated patterns in books and crochet websites, however, she quickly noticed that not all yarn is created equal.
Some of the cheaper yarns felt rough or stiff, and a few would split apart while she was crocheting. Even when the finished project looked cute, it didn’t always feel soft or hold its shape very well after being used or washed. The adorable little stuffies she made for her siblings became pilled and threadbare as they were well-loved. Over time, she started reaching for higher-quality yarn because the entire experience was just better.
Cheap Yarn Can Make Crocheting Frustrating
As Sunshine found, one thing many crocheters notice pretty quickly is that low-quality yarn can actually make crocheting harder. Some yarns fray easily, have inconsistent thickness, or contain random knots right in the middle of a skein. That may not sound like a big deal until you’re halfway through a blanket or sweater and constantly stopping to fix tension problems or untangle fibers. Sunshine has also pointed out that cutting yarn in the middle of a crochet project is a huge problem, so if she encounters at knot that doesn’t easily loosen, it’s a big problem.
Crochet is supposed to be relaxing. A lot of people use it as a creative outlet or a way to unwind at the end of the day. For Sunshine, it’s a way to help manage her ADHD because she can crochet while listening to webinars, watching movies, or sitting in class(if the teacher allows). When the yarn fights her the entire time, the hobby becomes a lot less enjoyable. Better-quality yarn tends to glide more smoothly across the hook, making stitches cleaner and more consistent. It’s especially noticeable on larger projects that take weeks to finish (like the calendar blanket she made a few years ago).
Handmade Projects Deserve Better Materials
Crocheting takes time. Whether someone is making a baby blanket, a cardigan, or a stuffed animal, there are usually many hours invested in every project. She recently made a cute set of three possums for her music teacher (it’s an inside joke about a song they use for warm-ups), and each possum took her an hour to crochet. Even though she barely has to look as she’s crocheting and works very fast.
That’s why experienced crocheters often decide it’s worth spending a little more on yarn that will actually last. Cheap yarn can pill, stretch out, lose softness, or fade after repeated washing. That’s frustrating when you’ve poured so much effort into creating something by hand. Higher-quality yarn usually holds its shape better, feels softer, and keeps projects looking nice much longer. For many crocheters, the goal isn’t just to finish a project — it’s to create something beautiful and durable that people will genuinely enjoy using.
Another problem with buying yarn at dollar stores is that often, it’s not available in suitable quantities for larger projects. Cheaper yarn is often only available in smaller balls, limited colors, and weird textures, and stores may only stock half a dozen balls of each color (or less). Shopping at dedicated yarn stores such as The Wandering Flock not only gives crocheters a larger selection of colors and textures, but also the ability to buy in larger quantities for bigger projects.
Sunshine is currently crocheting parts of her grad dress. She started with yarn she found at a local craft store, until she realized it was too thick for her project. However, the craft store didn’t have any thinner yarn. Next, we went to a specialty yarn store, where she was able to find some fine, soft felted tweed in a dark lavender shade that complimented her grad dress. She bought 9 balls of 175 meters each and used eight on just the skirt alone.
Better Yarn Makes the Hobby More Enjoyable
At the end of the day, this is probably the biggest reason serious crocheters stop buying cheap yarn: quality materials simply make crochet more fun. Soft textures, rich colours, and smoother fibers can completely change the experience. Many crocheters also find that nicer yarn inspires them to try more advanced patterns and creative designs because the finished projects look and feel so much better.
My daughter still buys budget yarn occasionally for practice projects or experimenting with new stitches, but for gifts or larger projects, she’s become much pickier about the yarn she uses. After spending so much time making something by hand, she wants the finished piece to actually feel special.
And honestly, I can understand why.
If you’re looking for inspiration, creative ideas, and helpful crafting resources, browse the reviews on The Wandering Flock to see what other shoppers are making with the yarn they find there. Follow Sunshine on Instagram to see what she creates next (when she remembers to update her account!).
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