The picks
Best Cotton Yarn
One treatment splits this shelf in half. Get it the wrong way round and your dishcloth repels water.
By Sawyer V. · Published October 17, 2026
Disclosure: we earn a commission when you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. It never decides what we recommend or how we rank it - read the full disclosure.
The short answer
Decide first whether you want mercerized or unmercerized cotton, because that single treatment changes what the yarn can do. Mercerized cotton - Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Patons Grace - has been treated with caustic soda, which straightens the fiber, adds a sheen, sharpens stitch definition and makes it repel water. Unmercerized cotton - Lily Sugar'n Cream, Bernat Handicrafter - keeps its natural texture and absorbs water, which is why every dishcloth pattern names it. For bags, baskets and amigurumi buy mercerized; for anything whose job is to be wet buy unmercerized; for garments buy a DK cotton rather than a worsted one, because worsted cotton is heavy to wear.
| # | Product | Best for | Fiber | Care | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lion Brand 24/7 CottonMercerized cotton with the best stitch definition on this page, and a care label that permits a dryer. | Bags, baskets, amigurumi, anything structural | 100% mercerized cotton | Machine wash and tumble | $6.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
| 2 |  Lily Sugar'n CreamUnmercerized cotton that actually absorbs water - the reason every dishcloth pattern names it. | Dishcloths, washcloths, pot holders | 100% cotton, unmercerized | Machine wash cool, tumble low | $17.88 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
| 3 |  Paintbox Yarns Cotton DKPlain 100% cotton at DK in a 50g ball - the cheapest route to a cotton garment in a lot of colors. | Summer tops, baby clothes, colorwork | 100% cotton | Machine wash 40C, no tumble | $4.75 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
| 4 |  Premier Home Cotton ConeSeven hundred yards on one cone - enough for a bag and its strap with no dye-lot join anywhere. | Market bags, rugs, anything over 400 yards | 85% cotton, 15% polyester | Machine wash and tumble | $14.99 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
| 5 |  Bernat Handicrafter CottonThe same kitchen cotton as Sugar'n Cream in a 50g ball - buy it when the pattern wants four colors. | Multi-color kitchen sets and small gifts | 100% cotton, unmercerized | Machine wash cool, dry flat | $6.67 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
| 6 |  Lion Brand Coboo51% cotton and 49% rayon from bamboo. The rayon half is doing the work, and it is not doing cotton's work. | Drape, which is a different requirement | 51% cotton, 49% rayon | Machine wash, dry flat | $18.49 - View on Amazon#ad disclosure - price as of October 20, 2026 |
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
Lion Brand · Best for bags, baskets, amigurumi, anything structural
Mercerized cotton with a sheen and a stiff hand. Stitch definition is the best on this page, which is why amigurumi people keep buying it.
- Fiber
- 100% mercerized cotton
- Weight
- Worsted
- Skein
- 3.5oz / 100g, 186yd / 170m
- Gauge
- 19 sts x 26 rows on 5mm (US 8)
- Hook
- 5.5mm (US I/9), 16 sc x 18 rows
- Care
- Machine wash, water not above 105F; medium heat dryer
Who it suits
Anyone crocheting toys, bags or baskets, and anyone who wants cotton that can be machine washed and tumbled.
Why it is here
100% mercerized cotton, worsted, 3.5oz/100g skeins at 186yd/170m, published gauge 19 sts x 26 rows on 5mm (US 8) and 16 sc x 18 rows on 5.5mm (US I/9), machine wash in water not above 105F and tumble on medium heat. Mercerizing is a caustic soda treatment that straightens and swells the fiber, producing the sheen and the crisp stitch definition this yarn is known for. The dryer permission is rare on cotton and genuinely useful.
What you give up
Mercerized cotton repels water rather than absorbing it, so this is the wrong yarn for a dishcloth or a towel. It is also stiffer in the hand than unmercerized cotton, which some people dislike.
Specifications from Lion Brand product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Lily Sugar'n Cream
Lily · Best for dishcloths, washcloths, pot holders
Unmercerized cotton in a small 2.5oz ball. Absorbent, hard-wearing, and the reason every dishcloth pattern ever written specifies it.
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Weight
- 4 Medium / worsted
- Ball
- 2.5oz / 71g, 120yd / 109m
- Gauge
- 20 sts x 26 rows on 4.5mm (US 7)
- Hook
- 5mm (US H/8), 13 sc x 14 rows
- Care
- Machine wash not above 86F delicate, tumble dry low
Who it suits
Anyone making something whose job is to be wet.
Why it is here
100% cotton, unmercerized, category 4 worsted, 2.5oz/71g balls at 120yd/109m, published gauge 20 sts x 26 rows on 4.5mm (US 7) and 13 sc x 14 rows on 5mm (US H/8), machine wash not above 86F on delicate and tumble dry low. Unmercerized means the fiber keeps its natural twist and its absorbency, which is the entire specification for a cloth. It is also hard-wearing enough to survive being boiled, scrubbed with and wrung out, repeatedly.
What you give up
It is not the yarn for a garment - rougher than mercerized cotton, with no sheen and no drape. Wearing a Sugar'n Cream top is a well-known disappointment, and [best yarn for a summer top](/yarn-by-project/best-yarn-for-a-summer-top) has better options.
Specifications from Yarnspirations product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK
Paintbox Yarns · Best for summer tops, baby clothes, colorwork
Plain 100% cotton at DK weight in a 50g ball - the cheapest way to buy a known cotton gauge in a lot of colors.
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Weight
- DK / light worsted
- Ball
- 50g (1.76oz), 137yd (125m)
- Needle
- US 6 (4mm)
- Gauge
- 22 sts x 30 rows to 4in
- Hook
- F (4.00mm)
- Care
- Machine wash 40C/105F, no bleach, do not tumble dry, iron medium
Who it suits
Anyone knitting or crocheting a cotton garment, and anyone whose pattern needs more than three shades.
Why it is here
100% cotton, DK / light worsted, 50g (1.76oz) balls at 137yd (125m), published gauge 22 sts x 30 rows to 4in on US 6 (4mm), hook F (4.00mm), machine wash at 40C/105F, no tumble dry, iron medium. DK is the weight most cotton garment patterns are written for, and 50g balls are the right put-up for colorwork - a project needing eight shades in small amounts would waste most of eight 100g balls.
What you give up
No tumble dry, which matters on a garment that will be washed often. Cotton has no elasticity either, so ribbed hems and cuffs will not pull in.
Specifications from LoveCrafts - Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK specification. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Premier Home Cotton Cone
Premier Yarns · Best for market bags, rugs, anything over 400 yards
Seven hundred yards of worsted cotton-poly on one cone - enough for a bag and its strap without a dye-lot join.
- Fiber
- 85% cotton, 15% polyester
- Weight
- 4 Medium worsted
- Cone
- 14oz (397g), 700yd (640m)
- Gauge
- 18 sts x 24 rows to 4in (10cm)
- Needle
- 5.0mm (US 8)
- Care
- Machine wash, tumble dry
Who it suits
Anyone making a large single-color piece, and anyone who has run out of a dye lot mid-project before.
Why it is here
85% cotton, 15% polyester, category 4 medium worsted, 14oz/397g cones at 700yd/640m, published gauge 18 sts x 24 rows to 4in on 5.0mm (US 8), machine wash and tumble dry. The cone put-up is the specification: 700 continuous yards means a market bag, a rug or a set of placemats comes out of one color-consistent length, and the 15% polyester adds abrasion resistance where a pure cotton bag handle would wear through.
What you give up
Not pure cotton, so it is the wrong choice if you specifically want a natural fiber. Cones are also awkward to work from without a stand, and the color range is narrower than the ball ranges.
Specifications from Mary Maxim - Premier Home Cotton Blend Yarn Cone specification. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Bernat Handicrafter Cotton
Bernat · Best for multi-color kitchen sets and small gifts
The other dishcloth cotton - the same job as Sugar'n Cream in a smaller ball, which matters when a pattern wants four colors.
- Fiber
- 100% cotton
- Weight
- 4 Medium / Worsted
- Ball
- 50g (1.8oz), 80yd (73m)
- Knit gauge
- 20 sts x 26 rows to 4in on 4.5mm (US 7)
- Crochet gauge
- 13 sc x 14 rows to 4in on 5mm (US H/8)
- Care
- Machine wash cool, dry flat, no bleach, no dry clean, no iron
Who it suits
Anyone making a striped dishcloth set, and anyone who wants a color without buying a lot of it.
Why it is here
100% cotton, category 4 worsted (medium), 50g (1.8oz) balls at 80yd (73m), published gauge 20 sts x 26 rows to 4in on 4.5mm (US 7) and 13 sc x 14 rows on 5mm (US H/8), machine wash cool and dry flat. The gauge is identical to Sugar'n Cream's, so the two substitute for each other freely - what differs is the ball size and the palette, which is the whole reason to pick one over the other.
What you give up
Eighty yards is the shortest put-up here, so a plain single-color dishcloth costs more in this than in a larger ball. Dry flat rather than tumble, unlike Sugar'n Cream.
Specifications from Yarnspirations - Bernat Handicrafter Cotton specification. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Lion Brand Coboo
Lion Brand · Best for drape, which is a different requirement
Cotton and bamboo in roughly equal parts - the blend that keeps bamboo's drape and adds enough cotton to hold a stitch.
- Fiber
- 51% cotton, 49% rayon from bamboo
- Weight
- 3 Light / DK
- Skein
- 3.5oz / 100g, 232yd / 212m
- Sold as
- Three-skein pack on the listing we link
- Gauge
- 23 sts x 32 rows on US 6 (4mm)
- Hook
- G-6 (4mm), 18 sc x 20 rows
- Care
- Machine wash, machine dry
Who it suits
Nobody buying cotton for structure - a bag, a basket, a toy or a cloth.
Why it is here
51% cotton, 49% rayon from bamboo, category 3 light/DK, 3.5oz/100g skeins at 232yd/212m, published gauge 23 sts x 32 rows on US 6 (4mm) and 18 sc x 20 rows on G-6 (4mm), machine wash and lay flat to dry. It sits on the cotton shelf and it behaves like a bamboo yarn: drapey, slippery, weak when wet and short on the stiffness that makes cotton good for structure. As a drapey summer yarn it is excellent, which is why [best bamboo yarn](/yarn-by-project/best-bamboo-yarn) ranks it highly.
What you give up
Buy it on purpose for a top or a shawl, not by accident for a basket. If you want cotton with some softness, the DK Paintbox above is the honest version.
Specifications from Lion Brand product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Mercerized or not: the decision that decides everything else
Mercerizing is a nineteenth-century finishing process: the cotton is held under tension in a caustic soda bath, which makes the fibers swell, straighten and stop twisting. Everything people like and dislike about mercerized cotton follows from that.
| Mercerized | Unmercerized | |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Sheen, almost silky | Matte, natural |
| Stitch definition | Crisp - the best on the cotton shelf | Soft, slightly fuzzy |
| Water | Repels it | Absorbs it |
| Strength | Stronger, holds up to abrasion | Softer, wears faster |
| Right for | Bags, baskets, amigurumi, garments with sheen | Dishcloths, towels, washcloths, anything absorbent |
| Examples here | Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton, Patons Grace | Lily Sugar'n Cream, Bernat Handicrafter |
Mercerized vs unmercerized cotton has the full comparison including the dyeing differences, and cotton yarn pros and cons covers what cotton does and does not do as a fiber.
The published numbers
| Yarn | Fiber | Put-up | Published knit gauge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Home Cotton Cone | 85% cotton, 15% polyester | 397g (14oz), 700yd | 18 sts x 24 rows on US 8 |
| Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton | 100% mercerized cotton | 100g (3.5oz), 186yd | 19 sts x 26 rows on US 8 |
| Lily Sugar'n Cream | 100% cotton | 71g (2.5oz), 120yd | 20 sts x 26 rows on 4.5mm |
| Bernat Handicrafter Cotton | 100% cotton | 50g (1.8oz), 80yd | 20 sts x 26 rows on 4.5mm |
| Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK | 100% cotton | 50g (1.76oz), 137yd | 22 sts x 30 rows on US 6 |
| Lion Brand Coboo | 51% cotton, 49% rayon from bamboo | 100g (3.5oz), 232yd | 23 sts x 32 rows on US 6 |
What cotton cannot do
- It has no elasticity. Ribbing does not pull in and cuffs do not grip. Design around it or add a little elastic thread at the hem.
- It does not block permanently. Cotton has no fiber memory, so a blocked edge relaxes back the first time it is washed.
- It is heavy. Cotton weighs more than wool for the same yardage, so a long cardigan drops under its own weight over a season.
- It is cold when wet, which is the opposite of wool. Not a cold-weather fiber - does wool keep you warm when wet has the contrast.
- It is hard on the hands. Cotton has no give, so tight crochet in it is tiring in a way wool is not - a grip hook helps, and best hook for cotton yarn covers the options.
Matching the cotton to the project
- Dishcloths and washcloths - unmercerized worsted cotton. Sugar'n Cream for one color, Handicrafter when you want four.
- Market bags and baskets - mercerized cotton for the stitch definition, or the cone for a large single-color piece.
- Amigurumi - mercerized cotton, because the sheen and the crisp stitches are exactly what shows a toy's shaping. Best yarn for amigurumi has the full case.
- Summer tops - DK cotton rather than worsted, because worsted cotton is heavy against the body.
- Baby clothes - DK cotton, washable and breathable, and no fiber to irritate. Is this yarn safe for a baby covers the wider question.
- Blankets - cotton is a hard sell here. It is heavy, it is not warm and a cotton blanket is a genuinely substantial object. Best yarn for a blanket has the alternatives.
How we picked
Ranked on whether the cotton is mercerized, then on published gauge, put-up and the care label - which on cotton varies more than people expect, with some yarns permitting a tumble dryer and others not. We did not test these side by side; every figure is the manufacturer's own and is cited below. Prices come from the live price layer with the date they were checked.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best cotton yarn?
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton for most projects - 100% mercerized cotton at 186 yards to a 100g skein, with the crispest stitch definition on the shelf and a care label that permits a tumble dryer. For dishcloths you want unmercerized instead, where Lily Sugar'n Cream is the standard.
What is the difference between mercerized and unmercerized cotton yarn?
Mercerized cotton has been treated with caustic soda under tension, which straightens the fiber and gives it a sheen, sharper stitch definition and more strength - and makes it repel water. Unmercerized cotton keeps its natural twist and absorbs water, which is why dishcloth patterns specify it.
What cotton yarn is best for dishcloths?
An unmercerized worsted cotton. Lily Sugar'n Cream at 120 yards to a 71g ball is the one most dishcloth patterns are written for, and Bernat Handicrafter publishes the same gauge in a 50g ball, which is better when you want several colors.
Is cotton yarn good for sweaters?
For warm-weather garments, yes, if you use a DK rather than a worsted cotton and design around the fiber. Cotton has no elasticity, so ribbing will not pull in, and it is heavy enough that a long cardigan lengthens under its own weight. It is not a cold-weather fiber.
Can you machine wash cotton yarn?
Usually, and the dryer is the part that varies. Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton publishes machine wash and tumble on medium; Lily Sugar'n Cream permits a low tumble; Paintbox Cotton DK says no tumble dry at all. Read the specific band, because cotton care instructions are less uniform than wool's.
What cotton yarn is best for amigurumi?
Mercerized cotton, because the crisp stitch definition shows the shaping that amigurumi depends on, and the fiber has no fuzz to hide it. Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton is the usual answer. Work it tighter than the band suggests so the stuffing does not show through.
Why is cotton yarn hard on your hands?
Because it has no give. Wool stretches slightly as you pull each stitch, which absorbs some of the effort; cotton does not, so the force goes into your fingers instead. Working a little looser, taking breaks and using a thicker grip on the hook or needle all help.
Is bamboo-cotton blend the same as cotton yarn?
No. A blend like Lion Brand Coboo at 51% cotton and 49% rayon from bamboo behaves largely like the rayon half - drapey, slippery, weak when wet. It is an excellent summer garment yarn and a poor choice for a bag, a basket or anything that needs to hold a shape.
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council - Standard Yarn Weight System
- Lion Brand - 24/7 Cotton specification
- Yarnspirations - Lily Sugar'n Cream specification
- LoveCrafts - Paintbox Yarns Cotton DK specification
- Premier Yarns - Home Cotton Cone specification
- Yarnspirations - Bernat Handicrafter Cotton specification
- Lion Brand - Coboo specification
- Yarnspirations - Patons Grace specification