I’ll be honest right up front: for a long time, I've been fairly skeptical about buying yarn from Amazon. Yarn is such a tactile thing. The texture, drape, softness, structure, those are hard to judge from a product listing and a handful of photos. And let’s not even get started on listings that don’t clearly state the yarn weight.
But yesterday, during a full-on Iowa blizzard, I found myself in pajamas, under the glow of the Christmas tree, finally ready to take a closer look at some Amazon yarns I received for Christmas. All of these yarns were gifted to me from an Amazon wish list I shared with my mother-in-law, making this a perfect opportunity to give true first impressions - no hype, no pressure, just honest yarn talk.
If you’ve ever wondered whether Amazon yarn is worth it, especially if you’re used to brands like YarnArt, Hobbii, or Lindehobby, let’s dig in.
Why Amazon Yarn Makes Me Hesitant
One of my biggest frustrations with Amazon yarn listings is how inconsistent the information can be. Some listings don’t clearly state yarn weight, and sometimes fiber content, yardage, or care instructions are vague or buried. That means you often have to make an educated guess based on:
Recommended hook or needle size
Total yardage
Ball or cake weight
Photos and reviews
That said, Amazon does have its place, especially for gift-giving, convenience, and access to brands that aren’t always available elsewhere. Read about my favorites in THIS BLOG POST.
Yarn #1: Lotus Yarns Cotton Cashmere Blend (Five-Pack)
The first yarn I opened was a five-pack from Lotus Yarns, described as an Autumn Wind Cotton Cashmere Blend. This set included five 50g balls in a rich coffee brown colorway. GET IT HERE.
Fiber Content: 90% cotton, 10% cashmere
Total Weight: 250g
Total Yardage: Approximately 870 yards
Right away, I noticed the packaging. The yarn arrived secure, clean, and undamaged. The balls are wound more like mini cakes than traditional donuts. (so much food talk, lol!)
In terms of feel, this yarn is definitely softer than standard cotton, though I’m not sure I would immediately identify the cashmere if I didn’t know it was there. Compared to some cotton-merino blends I’ve tried, this isn’t the softest yarn I’ve ever touched. But it does have structure while still feeling like it could drape beautifully.
Because the weight isn’t clearly stated, I’d estimate this yarn falls somewhere around a 2 weight. For me, this yarn is screaming shawl project, and I’m especially curious to see how it behaves once worked up.
At roughly $25 for five balls (about $5 per ball), the price feels reasonable for a cotton & cashmere blend, especially with free shipping.
Yarn #2: Jubilee “Zoned Out” Cotton Yarn (Two Skeins)
Next up was a two-pack of Jubilee Yarn, labeled as a DK-weight, 100% cotton yarn in the colorway Astral. GET IT HERE.
Fiber Content: 100% cotton
Weight: DK / 3 weight
Yardage: 229 yards per skein (458 yards total)
This yarn immediately felt soft...surprisingly soft for 100% cotton. So soft, in fact, that it almost made me double-check the label to be sure there wasn’t any acrylic blended in.
The color palette is very “me”: muted blues, indigo, mauve, peach, and toffee tones. It reminds me a bit of cotton yarns like Hipster Cotton, both in feel and aesthetic. In fact, I may have found it's twin in the colorway Canyon Walls! I'll LINK IT HERE, for $3 less!!!
One thing I really appreciated here was the clear labeling. This yarn includes fiber content, washing instructions, drying instructions, and yardage, something I wish all Amazon yarns did.
At around $15 for two skeins (about $7.50 per skein), it’s not the cheapest cotton yarn out there, but depending on how it works up, it could absolutely be worth it. I’m envisioning loose shawls or bandanas, depending on how the striping plays out.
Yarn #3: Art of Yarn “Floria Blumera” Gradient Cake
This next yarn was from Art of Yarn, and it’s a gradient cake called Floria Blumera. GET IT HERE.
Fiber Content: 55% cotton, 45% acrylic
Weight: Fine / #1
Yardage: 1,000 meters
Weight: 250g
This yarn is plied, making it more similar to YarnArt Flowers than unplied gradient cakes. If you’re newer to gradient yarns, plied versions tend to be much easier to work with. Read more about non-plied yarn in THIS BLOG POST.
The texture and feel are very comparable to YarnArt Flowers, and I’d feel totally comfortable subbing this in for shawl patterns that call for that style of yarn. It would work beautifully for projects in the round and anything where you want smooth, predictable color transitions.
Price-wise, this yarn sits comfortably in the $15–$20 range, which is right in line with similar gradient cakes from other retailers.
Yarn #4: Wool-Cotton Gradient Cake From Scheepjees
The final yarn is one I had never tried before—and honestly, one I was most curious about. This gradient cake is a wool and cotton blend, with a tighter wind than some other cakes I’ve used. GET IT HERE.
Fiber Content: 70% cotton, 30% wool
Weight: Fine / #1
Yardage: 1,000 meters
Weight: 8.82 oz
This yarn is extremely soft and features a gorgeous colorway with turquoise and mustard tones, perfect for the western inspired palettes I’ve been drawn to lately.
Like the previous gradient yarn, this one is plied, which makes it easier to manage than unplied options. If you’re curious about unplied gradient yarns, I love them but they do come with a learning curve.
At around $14 this particular yarn feels very reasonably priced, especially considering the fiber content. But I have noticed many of the cakes in this line have a slightly higher price tag.
In case you are wondering, I looked it up and it's pronounced: SKAY-PEES
A Quick Note on Hooks & Tools
The only non-yarn item on my list was a Clover Soft Touch crochet hook in 3mm. This is my go-to hook style. GET IT HERE. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and perfect for the finer weight yarns I’ve been using more often. I like having multiples because… well, you know how many WIPs I usually have going at once.
Final Thoughts: Is Amazon Yarn Worth It?
Even as someone who’s been skeptical of Amazon yarn in the past, I have to say, there may be some real contenders here. While Amazon isn’t my first choice for yarn shopping, especially when it comes to browsing and discovery, it can be a useful option when:
You’re building a wish list for gifts
You need convenience and quick shipping
You’re looking for specific brands or colorways that are hard to find elsewhere
My hands-down favorite is still YarnArt Flowers Moonlight, but a few of these yarns may be close competitors once I actually work them up.
If you’ve found Amazon yarns you love, I’d genuinely love to hear about them. And if you’d like to see a full haul from the Katia Yarn PR box I received, let me know. I’d be happy to share that next!
Until then, stay warm, stitch something comforting, and I’ll talk yarn with you again soon!
Watch the YouTube video Here 👇
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