What Makes Great Scarf Yarn?

Scarves touch sensitive skin on your neck and face, so softness is paramount. The best scarf yarns are cozy without being scratchy, warm without being heavy, and beautiful to show off your stitchwork.

Key Considerations

  • Softness First: This yarn touches your neck and face. Avoid anything scratchy.
  • Warmth: Wool, alpaca, and cashmere provide excellent warmth without bulk.
  • Weight: DK to bulky works well. Lighter for drape, heavier for cozy.
  • Show Off Stitches: Light colors and smooth yarns display texture best.

Our Top Scarf Yarn Picks

Affiliate Disclosure: We earn from qualifying Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
Malabrigo

Rios

Worsted Superwash Merino

Buttery soft superwash merino in gorgeous hand-dyed colors. Perfect next-to-skin softness.

Drops

Alpaca

DK 100% Alpaca

Pure alpaca at an incredible price. Warm, soft, and hypoallergenic. Beautiful drape.

Cascade

220 Superwash

Worsted Superwash Wool

Reliable worsted wool in tons of colors. Soft, warm, and machine washable.

Berroco

Ultra Alpaca

Worsted Alpaca/Wool

50/50 alpaca and wool blend. Warm with beautiful drape. Perfect for winter scarves.

Malabrigo

Silkpaca

Fingering Alpaca/Silk

70% baby alpaca, 30% silk. Incredible softness with subtle sheen. Lightweight luxury.

Caron

Simply Soft

Worsted Budget Pick

Ultra-soft acrylic at budget price. Machine washable and great color selection.

Scarf Yarn by Season

Winter Scarves

Wool, alpaca, and cashmere provide the best warmth. Bulkier weights create cozy, statement pieces. Consider superwash for easy care.

Transitional Scarves

Lighter weight wool or silk blends work for spring and fall. Choose DK or fingering weight for scarves that aren't too warm.