The Quality-Value Sweet Spot

Mid-range yarns offer the best balance of quality and affordability. At this price point, you get access to superwash merino, quality natural fibers, hand-dyed colorways, and yarns from respected indie dyers. These are workhorse yarns for garments, gifts, and projects where quality matters.

What You Get in This Range

  • Superwash Wool: Machine washable merino at reasonable prices.
  • Quality Blends: Thoughtful fiber combinations for specific purposes.
  • Better Dye Quality: Richer, more colorfast dyes than budget yarns.
  • Longer Wear: These yarns hold up better over time with less pilling.

Superwash Merino Picks

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Cascade

220 Superwash

Worsted 100% Merino

The gold standard mid-range yarn. 220 yards of soft, machine-washable merino in hundreds of colors.

Malabrigo

Rios

Worsted Hand-Dyed

Gorgeous kettle-dyed merino. Buttery soft with stunning color variations. A crafter favorite.

Berroco

Vintage

Worsted Wool/Acrylic

Wool-acrylic-nylon blend with great stitch definition. Machine washable, affordable, reliable.

Knit Picks

Swish Worsted

Worsted Budget Merino

Affordable 100% superwash merino. Incredible value for the quality. Wide color range.

Cascade

Heritage Sock

Fingering Nylon Reinforced

75% merino, 25% nylon for durability. Perfect sock yarn at a great price point.

Lion Brand

Fishermen's Wool

Worsted Traditional

100% virgin wool with natural lanolin. Traditional feel, excellent for colorwork and felting.

Quality Blends & Specialty Yarns

Berroco

Ultra Alpaca

Worsted Alpaca/Wool

50% alpaca, 50% wool for warmth and drape. Gorgeous heathered colors.

Lion Brand

24/7 Cotton

Worsted Mercerized

Mercerized cotton with subtle sheen. Excellent stitch definition. Machine washable.

Rowan

Felted Tweed

DK Tweed

50% merino, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose. Classic British tweed with beautiful depth.

Cascade

Eco+ Wool

Bulky Undyed

100% Peruvian highland wool in natural, undyed colors. Great for colorwork and felting.

Plymouth

Encore Worsted

Worsted Wool/Acrylic

75% acrylic, 25% wool. Huge color range, machine washable, excellent value.

Scheepjes

Catona

Fingering 100% Cotton

High-quality mercerized cotton in 100+ colors. Perfect for amigurumi and detailed work.

When to Choose Mid-Range

Perfect For

  • Sweaters and cardigans you'll wear regularly
  • Gifts for people who appreciate quality
  • Accessories like hats and scarves
  • Projects where you want machine washability

Worth the Upgrade From Budget

  • Softer hand feel against skin
  • Better stitch definition
  • More colorfast dyes
  • Less pilling over time