Chunky Yarn

Chunky yarn is knitting yarn with short yardage – 100 g gives you about 130 m at most, so you knit on thick needles and your work grows quickly. Here you'll find chunky, super chunky and jumbo balls, such as Alize Velluto, Superlana Maxi and Softy Plus, Yarn Art Dolce, Himalaya Dolphin Baby or the merino yarns Malabrigo Rasta, Mecha and Chunky. It's a good choice for hats, scarves, jumpers, blankets and crocheted toys when you want a project finished in just a few evenings. You can choose from polyester chenille, acrylic with wool and pure merino wool.

How do I recognise chunky yarn?

The yardage printed on the ball band gives it away: the fewer metres per 100 g, the thicker the strand. The second guide is the recommended needle size, which divides thick yarns into three groups.

• Chunky (bulky) – needles roughly 5.5 to 8 mm. For example Malabrigo Mecha (100 g ≈ 119 m, needles 5.5 to 8 mm) or Katia Big Merino (100 g ≈ 80 m, needles 6.5 to 7 mm).
• Super chunky – needles roughly 8 to 12 mm. This group includes Alize Velluto (100 g ≈ 68 m, needles 8 to 9 mm), Superlana Maxi (100 g ≈ 100 m, needles 8 to 10 mm) and Softy Mega (100 g ≈ 70 m, needles 10 to 12 mm).
• Jumbo – needles from 12 mm. For example Alize Superlana Megafil (100 g ≈ 55 m, needles 12 to 15 mm) or Yarn Art Dolce Maxi (200 g ≈ 70 m, needles 15 mm).

Chenille, acrylic with wool or merino – which should I choose?

Velvety and plush polyester chenille – Alize Velluto, Softy Plus, Yarn Art Dolce or Himalaya Dolphin Baby – is soft to the touch, which makes it a good fit for blankets, cushions and crocheted toys. Acrylic with wool, such as Alize Superlana Maxi or Yarn Art Alpine Maxi, is light and warm, so it works well for everyday hats and scarves. If you want a natural fibre, reach for Malabrigo Rasta, Mecha or Chunky merino wool.

Balls you knit straight with your hands, no needles required, are on the Alize Puffy page. Chunky yarn picked out for blankets is in the blanket yarn category, and you'll find every thickness in the knitting yarn category.