Grimes acrylic worsted yarn: bold colour, great value
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You know that specific panic when you realise mid-project that you only grabbed two balls of a worsted and the third came from a completely different batch? Dye lots are a genuine headache, and Grimes sidesteps the whole thing by arriving as a three-ball set — same production run, 690m waiting for you before you even wind the first cake.
Both colourways are the bold kind: Dark Purple reads as a true, deep jewel tone (not that washed-out lilac that photographs well and disappoints in person), and Red is the full-on, opaque, statement-from-across-the-room version. Saturated shades like these look intentional on cables, blanket squares, and oversized hats alike. Your stitches are going to show up.
The 100% acrylic construction means machine washing is just... handled. Kids' blankets, a hat your partner stuffs in their coat pocket daily, a gift for the friend who definitely won't hand-wash — toss it in, pull it out, done. No felting, no shrinking, no drama.
Worsted weight is where stitch definition really earns its keep. Cables pop, seed stitch reads cleanly, and the smooth, well-twisted construction means fibres don't work loose and pill on the surface the way looser budget acrylics can. High-friction spots like underarms will always take more wear over time, but day-to-day use on blankets and outerwear accessories is very manageable.
Beginners will find this weight forgiving — there's enough memory in the fibre that uneven tension doesn't snowball into a disaster, and 690m gives you room to knit a proper gauge swatch and still finish something you're genuinely proud of. If you want a lighter 100% acrylic in the same family for a colourwork panel or contrast brim, Gonca in DK is the natural step down in weight. For a side-by-side worsted-weight acrylic comparison with a different ball count, Favorite is worth a look. And if you want to stay at worsted weight but bring in some natural-fibre softness, Zerda Alpaca carries an alpaca blend at the same medium weight with a noticeably different hand.
Three hefty balls, two colours that don't apologise for themselves, and zero dye-lot hunting — that's what Grimes brings to your next cast-on.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Fiber Composition | 100% Acrylic Fully synthetic — machine washable, won't felt, and free from animal proteins, which makes it a safe choice for anyone with wool sensitivities. |
| Weight / Type | 4 Medium: Worsted, Afghan, Aran Mid-weight — works up at a satisfying pace and gives you real stitch definition for cables, textured patterns, and colourwork. |
| Yardage per Ball | 230m / 251.53 yds 3 balls per pack = approximately 690m / 754.59 yds total — enough for a simple adult sweater or a generous lap blanket. |
| Weight per Ball | 150g / 5.29 oz Big, hefty balls mean fewer ends to weave in across large projects — a small but real quality-of-life win. |
| Package Content | 3 balls per pack (450g / 15.87 oz total) Sold as a matched set of 3 — all balls come from the same dye run, so colour consistency across your project is built in. |
| Brand | Ice Yarns Our own label — quality checked and shipped directly from us. |
| Available Colourways | Dark Purple, Red Two saturated, bold shades — both sold as 3-ball packs from the same dye run, so there are no dye-lot worries mid-project. |
| Recommended Needle Size | Not specified For worsted-weight acrylic, 4.5mm–6mm is a typical starting point — always knit a gauge swatch before casting on a garment. |
| Recommended Hook Size | Not specified A 5mm–6mm crochet hook is a common match for worsted acrylic — swatch first if gauge matters for your project. |
| Gauge | Not specified Work a 10cm x 10cm swatch with your chosen needle or hook before starting any sized garment. |
| Care Instructions | Not specified 100% acrylic is generally machine washable — check the ball band label when your order arrives for the exact care symbols. |
| Country of Origin | Not specified |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many packs of Grimes do I actually need for a sweater or a large blanket?
One pack gives you three balls at 230m each — 690m total. For a simple boxy pullover in a smaller adult size, that can be enough, but a standard fitted sweater in a medium or larger will almost certainly need a second pack. Cabled patterns eat yardage faster than plain stockinette, sometimes by 20% or more. Our honest advice: look up your pattern's stated yardage, compare it to 690m, and if you're within 150m of that number, grab the second pack now. Hunting for a matching colourway weeks later is a gamble you don't want to take. For a generous lap blanket, two packs gives you a comfortable amount with a little left in reserve — which, honestly, is always the better position to be in.
Is Grimes a good choice for complete beginners, or is worsted acrylic harder to work with than it looks?
Worsted weight is one of the friendliest places to start. The stitches are big enough to see clearly on the needle, your tension mistakes don't compound as badly as they do on fine yarn, and the fibre has enough memory to forgive slight wobbles without the whole row looking uneven. Grimes specifically has a smooth, well-twisted construction — that means it slides on metal or bamboo needles without snagging, and you can frog a section and re-knit it without the yarn getting fuzzy or losing its structure. The 690m across three matched balls also means you can swatch properly and still have plenty left for a real project. A hat, a simple cowl, a striped baby blanket — this weight handles all of them without fuss.
