Top Competitors to Lion Brand Yarn: Must-Try Alternatives

Crafting enthusiasts and fiber artists are always on the lookout for top-quality yarns to bring their creative visions to life. Lion Brand Yarn, a name synonymous with durability and vibrant color palettes, continues to lead the industry with an impressive array of products. With options ranging from cozy wool blends to soft cottons, this iconic brand promises something for every style and need. Discover our curated list of the best Lion Brand yarns below.

Illustration of lion brand yarn

Best brands of lion brand yarn in 2025

Vanna's Choice

Vanna's Choice, designed by Vanna White, is a renowned worsted weight yarn from Lion Brand, known for its durability, beautiful drape, and excellent stitch definition. Made from 100% acrylic fiber, it is easy to care for, machine washable, and dryable. Introduced in collaboration with Vanna White since 1985, this yarn is available in a wide variety of colors, including solids, prints, mist, and heathers. It is praised for its soft, lofty texture and minimal sheen, making it ideal for knit and crochet projects. With yardage ranging from 145 to 170 yards per skein, it is a popular choice among crafters.

Wool-Ease

Lion Brand Wool-Ease is a highly regarded yarn brand, beloved by knitters and crocheters for its versatility, softness, and easy care. It is a worsted-weight yarn with a blend of 80% acrylic and 20% wool, making it durable and warm while being machine washable and tumble dryable. Introduced as a 4-ply worsted-weight yarn, Wool-Ease has inspired an entire family of yarns, including the super bulky Wool-Ease Thick & Quick. This yarn is available in a wide variety of colors and is suitable for a range of projects, from cold weather accessories to home goods. Its popularity has endured due to its excellent texture and machine wash-and-dryability. Find more about Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn.

Heartland

Lion Brand's Heartland yarn is a premium, worsted weight yarn renowned for its softness, durability, and beautiful colorways inspired by American landscapes. It is available in 38 color options, including solids and tweeds, with fiber content varying between 100% acrylic for solids and 94% acrylic, 6% rayon for tweeds. Each skein contains approximately 251 yards and 5oz of yarn, making it ideal for a variety of projects like blankets, scarves, and sweaters. The yarn is machine washable and dryable, and it has a slight halo effect that adds to its aesthetic appeal. Heartland yarn is highly versatile and suitable for both beginners and advanced crafters. For more details, check out the Heartland yarn page.

Scarfie

Lion Brand's Scarfie yarn is a highly regarded choice among crafters, known for its soft and lofty texture, which is achieved through a blend of 78% acrylic and 22% wool. This bulky-weight yarn, classified as CYC category 5, is ideal for quick and cozy projects like scarves, hats, and blankets. The yarn features a unique ombre effect with gradual color transitions, making it visually striking. With 312 yards per ball, it is sufficient for creating a full-length scarf or other accessories. The yarn is machine washable and dry flat recommended, ensuring easy care. For more details, visit the Scarfie yarn page on their website.

Feels Like Butta

Lion Brand's Feels Like Butta yarn is a highly acclaimed product, known for its soft, fuzzy chain texture and 100% polyester composition, making it machine washable and tumble dryable. This medium-weight yarn, available in 16 solid colors, is ideal for knitting and crochet projects, requiring needles of 4 mm (6 US) or 4.5 mm (7 US) and hooks of 4-5 mm. It offers 218 yards (199 meters) per skein, making it a great value for the price. Introduced to the market, this yarn has quickly become a favorite among crafters due to its velvety feel and ease of use. With over 215 free patterns available on Lion Brand's site, it's a versatile choice for various projects.

Mandala

Lion Brand's Mandala yarn is highly regarded for its exceptional quality, featuring 100% acrylic fiber, making it versatile and easy to care for with machine wash and dry capabilities. It is a lightweight 3 (DK) yarn, each cake weighing 5.3oz/150g and containing 590yd/540m of yarn, ideal for crocheting small projects like scarves, hats, and shawls. The yarn is known for its vibrant, self-striping color transitions and soft, squishy texture. Recommended hook size is 5mm (H-8), and it is available in a wide range of enchanting colors. This yarn has been a favorite among crocheters since its introduction, praised for its ease of use and consistent quality. For more information, visit the Mandala yarn page on their website.

Pound of Love

Lion Brand's Pound of Love yarn is a top choice among crafters, offering 1,020 yards per 16 oz. ball, making it one of the most economical options with the highest yardage available. This worsted weight, 100% premium acrylic yarn is known for its softness, workability, and extensive color palette, now including over 24 shades. It is ideal for large projects such as throws, blankets, and baby items. The yarn has seen improvements, including fewer knots and tangles since the change in manufacturing facilities. It is highly rated for its quality and value, available at a price range of $9.99 to $11.99. For more details, visit the Lion Brand website.

Hometown USA

Lion Brand's Hometown USA yarn is a top choice among crafters, offering a super-bulky, 100% acrylic yarn that is machine washable and dryable. Introduced in 2009, this yarn comes in a wide range of colors, including solids, multi-colors, and tweeds, making it ideal for various projects such as sweaters, scarves, and homeware. It features excellent stitch definition and works up quickly, making it perfect for fast knit and crochet projects. The yarn is available in 26 shades and has a net weight of 142g (5.01oz) per skein, with a length of 81 yards (74 meters). For more details, explore the Lion Brand's Hometown USA yarn collection.

Homespun

Lion Brand's Homespun yarn is renowned for its exceptional softness and versatility, making it a favorite among crafters. Comprising 98% acrylic and 2% other fibers, this bulky yarn is ideal for projects like shawls, sweaters, and throws, offering beautiful solids, heathers, and self-striping 'painterly' colors. With a crochet gauge of 10 sc = 4'' on K-10.5 hooks and 185 yards per skein, Homespun yarn is highly praised for its texture and ease of use. Founded in 1878, Lion Brand Yarns is the oldest producer of knitting and craft yarn in the United States, ensuring a legacy of quality and reliability. The yarn's unique construction, though sometimes prone to splitting, results in a soft and beautifully draped fabric. For more details, visit the Homespun yarn page.

Baby Soft

Lion Brand's Baby Soft yarn is a highly regarded choice for crafting baby and kids' items, known for its softness, ease of care, and versatile color palette. It is a DK weight yarn, composed of 60% acrylic and 40% nylon, making it machine washable and dryable. Introduced with 26 cheerful pastel colors, Baby Soft is ideal for projects like blankets, sweaters, and accessories. Each skein contains 459 yards of yarn, sufficient for many baby sweater projects. With over 1,300 reviews and a 3.8-star rating on Ravelry, it is a popular choice among crafters. For more information on this yarn, visit the Baby Soft yarn page.