Online Yarn Shopping 101

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Have you ever wondered where the best places for online yarn shopping were? Or seen yarn online but were too nervous to buy what you couldn’t touch? Well, I’m here to help you out!

I’m definitely more the type of person who enjoys being able to feel yarn before buying it but I’m also the type of person who loves online shopping and finding new yarn. Obviously, that’s a huge dilemma for me so I took the leap last year and started ordering some of my yarn online. By some, I mean extremely large boxes started showing up on my porch and my office quickly filled with yarn orders.

Since I started ordering yarn online I’ve gotten to try some of my favorite yarns to date. Some of them are carried at craft stores but not in my local area. Others are online-only which is sad but still exciting to wait for new yarn arrivals. Below I list my go-to online order stores and even share some great tips on not breaking your yarn budget while shopping at these stores.

All of these stores are stores I have personally ordered from and had a good experience. I would never promote something I myself haven’t tried and loved.

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1. WeCrochet & Knit Picks

Okay, so this was my first ever dive into online yarn shopping. I kept hearing so many amazing things about the website and yarn, especially from even more seasoned crocheters and knitters. I decided it was time for me to take the leap and try some out for myself.

My first ever order was a little big (whoops). I tried out Brava Sport, Shine Sport, Comfy Worsted and a few more. I have to say I loved EVERYTHING. I don’t normally feel that way about all yarn I buy online but all of these yarns were amazing. They glided on my hooks, they held up well with everything I made and overall the feel was amazing.

I’ve since ordered a bunch more yarn from them. You can even find three patterns I designed using these yarns below!

2. Lion Brand

This was an easy choice to make for me. I adore Lion Brand yarns already but my local craft stores didn’t have all of their yarn available in-store. I ordered some Nuboo and Truboo for the summer because it’s such a summer staple.

I had never actually felt or worked with Nuboo before but I desperately wanted to. I had worked with Truboo before so I was pretty confident in my decision. I was not at all disappointed either. Both yarns are SO silky smooth and have the most amazing drape.

I’ve also ordered other popular yarn when I was too lazy to leave my house (we’ve all been there right?) I also love the deals Lion Brand runs. If you sign up for their email list, you get notifications whenever they run sales and lately they’ve been running some really great deals.

You can shop Lion Brand yarn here!

3. Joann

I’ll be honest, my biggest online orders have come from Joann. This goes back to the whole I’m too lazy to leave my house thing. Joann sells a lot of my favorite brands (hint, Lion Brand) and their Big Twist lineup is also amazing.

Joann also has lots of great deals they run almost weekly and I get them dropped right into my inbox! They also have text alerts which are great when you’re traveling but still need a yarn fix. (Yes, I have ordered yarn online while on vacation)

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4. Michaels

So Michaels is the closest craft store to my house and therefore where I do the most in-person shopping. I’ve also become a huge fan of the regular coupons they have. Online and in the app they almost always have a coupon to use.

Not only do I love the in-store yarn but Michaels also carries some yarn online that I can’t always get my hands on in stores and the color variety is great too.

5. Furls Crochet

Hooks count too, right? I fell in love with Furls when I started looking for ergonomic hooks to help the wrist pain I sometimes get when I crochet. I’ve since collected more than a handful and am constantly wanting to order more.

When I first ordered Furls hooks I tried to keep my purchase small, which was hard since their hooks are so pretty. I wanted to make sure I loved the hooks before I bought more. I picked up some of the Furls Swirl hooks and fell in love. Since then I’ve bought countless more of their resin hooks and also a few of their Streamline Wood hooks which are lovely as well.

Although my most frequent purchases are Furls hooks, they do actually sell yarn as well. Although I cannot personally attest to their yarn since I haven’t bought it (yet), many of my fiber friends have tried it out and I’ve only heard good things so far. The color lineup they have is also adorable and vibrant so I can’t wait to give it a go.

6. Hobbii

Hobbii was definitely a purchase I made once I was more comfortable buying yarn online. I had been looking for an inexpensive alternative to new yarns and Hobbii was perfect. They have a mixture of cost-saving and higher end yarn so you can really explore all kinds of new fiber.

I most recently bought their Diablo yarn and to say I’m obsessed is an understatement. I am working with this lace weight yarn double stranded to create a cardigan and it is working up BEAUTIFULLY. I cannot wait to share once I’m done. I can’t wait to order even more yarn from Hobbii.

I also signed up for their email list (clearly a trend I have, but I love a good yarn deal). I now get coupons and offers emailed right to me and they are truly great!

Hobbi even has crochet patterns!

You can shop Hobbii yarn for yourself here!

7. Amazon

Although I love Amazon for a lot of my home products, it isn’t always my #1 go-to for online yarn shopping. What I do love is that I can get yarns super quick when I’m in a pinch.

I also find that occasionally I can get bulk packages of yarn, like Bernat Blanket in a 3-pack. There are also times I can find colors or types of yarn that are unavailable in other stores at the time.

8. Indie Yarn Dyers

The BEST and most underrated way to get your yarn – indie dyers! I saved the best for last because the yarn you get from small batch dyers is absolutely the best. I did save this for last because this is the most expensive option but you get what you pay for. Although it isn’t always cost effective is always worth it!

My top favorites currently are Red Door Fibre Studio and Sewrella Yarn (a true classic). I follow a whole bunch of dyers and am always looking for more. I wish I was able to buy even more hand-dyed yarn than I do but my budget doesn’t allow for that at the moment.

I highly recommend getting on social media or Etsy and finding yourself some of these amazing makers. It is worth all of the hype and the yarn they create is amazing.

Where will you be online yarn shopping next?

Do you have any other recommendations for us? We’d love to hear from you and discover more yarn squish to enjoy!

If you haven’t shopped for yarn online yet I hope this was a helpful tool for you. Online yarn shopping can really be such a fun experience. Added bonus, in many circumstances, if you don’t love the yarn you get online, you can return it. I always recommend checking the return policy before you buy, especially if you haven’t tried out a yarn before. I can personally attest that thus far, I have not returned any yarn I bought online. It’s an accomplishment I’m proud of, but really I just love yarn.