The Best Yarn for an Arm Knitting Blanket
Arm knitting is taking the world by storm!
If you are like me, you have probably seen on Pinterest and Youtube these wonderful masterpiece creations!
I enjoy traditional knitting with needles and have made the odd cozy blanket, baby blanket, and a chunky throw for the cool winter months. However, Arm Knitting is the new adventure I am starting on, and throughout this, I have had to determine what the best yarn is to get this project underway!
What exactly is arm knitting? – It sounds like so much fun!
Arm knitting is basically what it is, your arms act as giant needles, and you use them to create each row and stitch. You may also see people refer to it as arm weaving or arm crochet.
How to arm knit?
Learning the technique of Arm Knitting can be quite easy, and there are plenty of video tutorials on Youtube.
Basically, arm knitters use thick yarn, and they cast the first row onto their arm with a slipknot and a tail (much like traditional kitting). Once you have got the correct amount of stitches on your arm, the first stitch can occur. From this point, we have linked to some wonderful beginner video tutorials.
Wool Couture offers a great, easy-to-follow tutorial, including how to cast on and off.
If you prefer an imaging procedure, then Martha Stewart has a wonderful guide; click here to see that.
What are some great arm knitting projects to start with?
While researching on Pinterest and Youtube video tutorials, it appears the following are great ones to start with:
- Chunky scarf
- Chunky knit blanket
- A cozy night wrap
- An arm knit pillow
Since our findings have shown that the best project to start with is a blanket, that’s where we are focusing our blog post today!
How to determine what the best arm knitting yarn is for a blanket
Everyone loves a soft, cuddly, and warm blanket (especially during those colder months), but how do we find out what the best type of yarn is. Thinner yarn isn’t going to provide a chunky throw. Most of us want a cozy blanket that we can snuggle under.
Therefore, the types of yarn we need to look for will include the following phrases on its packaging:
- Thick yarn
- Jumbo yarn
- Chunky yarn or Chunky wool yarn
- Big yarn
- It may include the phrase ‘arm knit yarn.’
Yarn also comes in a range of fibers which includes:
- Acrylic
- Pure wool
- Chenille yarn
- Synthetic fiber
- Vegan yarn
- Merino wool yarn
The high-quality yarn you choose will determine how long you expect your blanket to last.
How much yarn for an arm knitted blanket?
For a 50 x 30-inch blanket, it is approximately using 5 to 6 pounds of yarn and for a 40 x 60-inch blanket uses approximately 8 to 9 pounds of yarn. See more size guides below.
The best yarn for an Arm Knitting Blanket
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HomeModa Studio Non-Mulesed Chunky Wool Yarn
A ball of soft chunky wool that comes in a range of cool colors. This wool is used for blankets and throws as it provides great temperature regulation and does not irritate the skin. The homemoda studio chunky woolhttps://amzn.to/3uyfrYo can only be dry cleaned as it is a soft yarn.
Lion Brand Yarn 532-152 Wanna Make a Blankie Yarn
This giant ball of chenille yarn is enough to make a 42” x 42” knitted arm blanket. The 100% polyester fiber content makes this yarn all-ages friendly as well as washing machine friendly. Available in a range of lovely colors to suit your blanket project.
Super Chunky Yarn
Chunky vegan yarn is so super-chunky that you will be feeling warm and snuggled in no time. It is a great yarn for chunky knit throw blankets and pet beds, and it is very kid-friendly. It is a great alternative to Merino wool and can be placed in the washing machine for ease of cleaning.
Chunky Merino soft bulky wool
A ball of super-soft bulky wool perfect for making an arm-knitted blanket. It has a beautifully soft and bouncy texture that is perfect for beginner knitters to use. The high-quality fibre will assist in making your knitted projects look professional and beautiful. It is also machine washable, making it easy to clean if it becomes dirty.
Dirunen Merino Wool Yarn Big Chunky Yarn
Dirunen Merino Wool has the perfect option for making a beautiful and puffy blanket. A ball of high-quality wool that suits various projects and is easy to use. This is available in a range of different colors; this is definitely one to check out for your arm-knitted blanket project.
Darn Good Yarn
Has a variety of fibers, including recycled silk, wool, cotton, banana fiber, hemp, nettle, vegan yarn & more. Click through here to find the perfect yarn for your blanket creation.
Chunky Merino Arm Knitting Wool
A large ball of super-soft Merino Wool that will make any blanket the snuggliest place to be. Available in a range of colors to suit your decor style. This chunky wool yarn is fun to work with and a perfect option for beginners. You will need approx 8lbs for a large blanket (120 x 180cm)
Chunky Chenille Yarn for DIY Arm Hand Knitting
Super soft, warm, and cozy Chenille yarn is ideal for your custom blanket project. Machine washable and shrinkage-resistant with the added bonus of being able to tumble dry as well. Comes in a range of stunning colors to choose from. Ideal use for beginners and a great option if you are making many blankets, hats, or scarves as gifts.
Super Vegan Velvet Chunky Yarn
A super bulky yarn perfect for home decor projects. No giant knitting needles are required here! The chunky cotton tubu blanket yarn is easy to use, durable and thick, and machine washable. For a Medium Plus Size blanket 40 x 60 in, you will need 6 lbs of Chunky Velvet Yarn.
Giant Wool Yarn
A ball of soft bulky wool is ideal for beginners to use. It is 70% wool, 30% synthetic fiber, and fine to use in a range of knitting projects, including blankets, hats, scarves, and rugs. You will need approximately 12lbs for a 150 x 200 cm blanket. Check it out today!
Loopy Mango Knitting
If you have mastered the arm-knitted blanket and want to take on some other projects, then the Loopy Mango Knitting Book has 34 fashionable ideas that you can make in a day! This is a highly rated book that is definitely worth a look at.
Common Questions/FAQ About Arm Knitted Blankets
How much yarn do I need to arm-knit a blanket?
Check the weight of the yarn you are using, as you will find the thicker the yarn, the less you may need to use. On average, though and as a rough guide:
- 100 x 100cm blanket – 4lbs of wool
- 120 x 180cm blanket – 8lbs of wool
- 150 x 200cm blanket – 12lbs of wool
- 254 x 254cm blanket – 23lbs of wool
These are all estimate blanket size guides, so please check the backing of your wool products for further advice.
How do you arm knit a blanket for beginners?
Simple Maggie has a wonderful youtube video for beginners on how to arm knit a blanket check it out here!
How long does it take to arm-knit a blanket?
It all depends on your skills and the size of the blanket you are creating. Beginners could range from 4 to 6 hours to create their first masterpiece, whereas experienced arm knitters may only take 1-3 hours.
Do you have an arm knitting pattern?
Allfreeknitting.com has a great article on 15 simple arm knitting patterns – you can find that here.
Where could I use my arm-knitting blanket?
You can place your beautiful blanket in your living room, your home office, or your bedroom. Use it to give your guest bedroom a spruce-up. We have some ideas for that here.
Perhaps it will make a lovely gift idea for Mother’s Day or Christmas.
Roll it up and place it in your home decor baskets for a cozy, dressed look.
The last thing you need to know about your Arm Knit Blanket
This will be the perfect homemade project to start your arm knitting journey with. Keep trying even if your first attempt goes wrong, seek help if need be, and don’t give up. You will be so proud of your amazing creation it will make you want to give other arm knitting projects a try.
What’s your favorite Arm Knitted Item? let us know in the comments 🙂
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