The picks
Best Yarn for Pillows and Cushions
A blanket hangs. A cushion cover is stretched over something firm and then sat on.
By Sawyer V. · Published September 9, 2026
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The short answer
Use a firmly spun yarn with good stitch definition - anti-pilling acrylic for everyday use, mercerized cotton for texture, untreated wool for cables. A cushion cover is stretched over a firm insert and then sat on, so structure and abrasion resistance matter and drape actively hurts.
| # | Product | Best for | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No photoLion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-PillingFirm enough to hold a shape, and spun against the pilling that sitting causes. | A cushion that is actually used | Worsted (4) | Check price on Amazon#ad disclosure |
| 2 | No photoLion Brand 24/7 CottonMercerized cotton makes texture read from across a room, which is the whole point of a cushion. | Textured covers - cables, bobbles, colorwork | Worsted (4) | Check price on Amazon#ad disclosure |
| 3 | No photoPatons Classic Wool WorstedUntreated wool holds a cable shape better than anything else here, and it blocks. | Cabled and Aran-style covers | Worsted (4) | Check price on Amazon#ad disclosure |
| 4 | No photoCaron Simply SoftThe drape that makes it a good blanket yarn makes a cushion cover go baggy. | Blankets and wraps | Worsted (4) | Check price on Amazon#ad disclosure |
Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling
Lion Brand · Best for a cushion that is actually used
An acrylic worsted sold specifically on its pilling behavior, which is the one complaint that ends most acrylic garments.
- Fiber
- 100% acrylic
- Weight
- 4 Medium / worsted
- Skein
- 3.5oz / 100g, 185yd
- Gauge
- 18 sts x 26 rows on US 8 (5mm)
- Hook
- H-8 (5mm), 16 sc x 18 rows
- Care
- Machine wash, machine dry
Who it suits
Anyone making a cover for a sofa rather than a shelf.
Why it is here
100% acrylic, worsted weight, 185yd per 100g, machine wash and machine dry. A cushion takes more friction than almost anything else in a room - it is leaned on, sat on and dragged around - and pilling is the failure that makes a hand-made cover look old first.
What you give up
It is not the softest acrylic and it does not drape. On a cushion both of those are advantages, which is the point, but do not expect blanket softness.
Specifications from Lion Brand product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton
Lion Brand · Best for textured covers - cables, bobbles, colorwork
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 making a cover whose stitch pattern is the design.
Why it is here
100% mercerized cotton, worsted weight, 186yd per 100g, machine wash with a medium dryer. Cotton has no halo, so cables and bobbles keep their edges - and a cushion is viewed from four feet away rather than worn, which is exactly where crisp definition pays.
What you give up
Cotton has no elasticity, so the cover will not stretch over a slightly-too-large insert. Measure the insert and match the gauge; you cannot ease it on.
Specifications from Lion Brand product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Patons Classic Wool Worsted
Patons · Best for cabled and aran-style covers
100% non-superwash wool at supermarket money. It blooms when blocked, holds a cable, and it will felt if you put it in the machine.
- Fiber
- 100% wool (not superwash)
- Weight
- 4 Medium / worsted
- Ball
- 3.5oz / 100g, 194yd / 177m
- Gauge
- 20 sts x 26 rows on 4.5mm (US 7)
- Hook
- 5mm (US H/8), 14 sc x 17 rows
- Care
- Hand wash, lay flat to dry, do not machine wash
Who it suits
Anyone making a heirloom-style textured cushion.
Why it is here
100% untreated wool, worsted weight, 194yd per 100g. Wool's elasticity keeps a cable standing proud instead of flattening under weight, and wet blocking sets the shape permanently - see [how to block your knitting](/guides/how-to-block-your-knitting).
What you give up
Hand wash only, which for a cushion cover that will meet food and pets is a genuine drawback. Make it removable and expect to hand wash it.
Specifications from Yarnspirations product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
Caron Simply Soft
Caron · Best for blankets and wraps
A softer, shinier acrylic worsted with noticeable drape - which is exactly why it is a poor choice for anything that needs to hold a shape.
- Fiber
- 100% acrylic
- Weight
- 4 Medium / worsted
- Skein
- 6oz / 170g, 315yd / 288m
- Gauge
- 18 sts x 24 rows on 5mm (US 8)
- Hook
- 5mm (US H/8), 13 sc x 14 rows
- Care
- Machine wash cool, dry flat, no bleach
Who it suits
Not cushion makers. It is a genuinely good blanket yarn.
Why it is here
100% acrylic, worsted weight, 315yd per 170g, with a light twist and a slight sheen that give it unusual drape for the price.
What you give up
A cushion cover needs to hold tension across a firm insert. A drapey, loosely spun yarn stretches under that tension and stays stretched, so the cover ends up loose and creased within weeks.
Specifications from Yarnspirations product page. We have not handled this item - see how we pick.
A cushion is under constant tension
Every other home-textile project on this site hangs or lies flat. A cushion cover is different: it is stretched over an insert that is deliberately slightly larger than the cover, and it stays under that tension permanently.
So a yarn that creeps - deforms slowly under sustained load and does not recover - will produce a cover that fits beautifully on day one and looks like a pillowcase by month three. That is the same mechanism that ruins an acrylic market bag, applied to a different object.
Stitch definition is the design
A cushion is the one project where a stitch pattern is the entire point. Nobody puts a plain stockinette cushion on a sofa; the reason to make one rather than buy one is texture.
- Cables need elasticity to stand proud. Wool is best, firm acrylic second.
- Bobbles and popcorns need a yarn that holds a shape. Cotton and firm acrylic both work; soft acrylic collapses.
- Colorwork needs a matte yarn - shine flattens the pattern. See best yarn for colorwork.
- Granny squares work well at cushion size and give you a use for leftovers - see best yarn for granny squares.
Sizes and yardage
| Insert | Cover, knitted | Front and back | Textured or cabled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 x 16in | 15 x 15in | 300-400yd | 450-600yd |
| 18 x 18in | 17 x 17in | 400-500yd | 600-750yd |
| 20 x 20in | 19 x 19in | 500-600yd | 750-900yd |
| 12 x 20in lumbar | 11 x 19in | 350-450yd | 500-650yd |
Cables and bobbles consume far more yarn than plain fabric - the third column is not padding. Crochet uses roughly a third more again, which the yardage page works through.
Construction, briefly
- Make it removable. A cushion cover gets dirty. A sewn-shut cover is a cover you cannot wash.
- Buttons or an envelope back. An envelope back is easier and needs no notions; buttons look better and need buttonholes.
- Line it if the fabric is open. A textured knit lets the insert show through, which is why a plain fabric backing is worth adding.
- Block the front panel before seaming. Cables and texture set properly, and the two panels end up the same size - see how to seam knitting and crochet.
- Match the insert to the cover, not the reverse. Inserts are cheap and come in standard sizes; recalculating a cover is not.
What to avoid
- Chenille. It sheds onto everything the cushion touches, and it hides the texture that justified making it.
- Anything with a long halo. Mohair-style yarns look wonderful and shed on clothing.
- Very soft, loosely spun yarn. It goes baggy under insert tension.
- Hand-wash-only fiber for a family sofa. Be honest about how the cushion will actually live.
What we would buy
- Everyday sofa cushion: Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling.
- Texture as the design: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton.
- Cables you want to last: Patons Classic Wool.
- For the finish: blocking mats - a blocked cushion panel is square, and an unblocked one is not.
Questions people actually ask
What is the best yarn for a cushion cover?
A firmly spun yarn with good stitch definition. Anti-pilling acrylic for everyday use, mercerized cotton for texture, and untreated wool for cables. Drape works against you on a cushion.
How much yarn do I need for a cushion cover?
400 to 500 yards of worsted for a plain 18in cover, front and back. Cables and bobbles push that to 600 to 750 yards, and crochet uses roughly a third more again.
Should a knitted cushion cover be smaller than the insert?
Yes, by about an inch in each direction, so the insert fills it out. Knit it to the exact size and it will look loose and creased.
Why does my knitted cushion cover go baggy?
The yarn is creeping under the insert's sustained tension. Loosely spun, drapey yarns deform and do not recover - use a firmer spin, and work at a tighter gauge.
Can you use chenille yarn for cushions?
It is the common choice and a poor one. Chenille sheds onto everything the cushion touches, and its pile hides the stitch texture that is usually the reason for making a cover by hand.