I knit with all kinds of yarns.  I’ve made gloves and scarves from beautiful cashmere, socks from a variety of natural fibers including wonderful merino, sweaters from cotton and silk blends and natural wools but when it’s time to make an afghan or baby blanket, I turn to the acrylic blends.

Below is a blanket that I’m working on now.  It’s two strands of the very reliable Plymouth Encore worsted.  This yarn is 75% acrylic and 25% wool.  It’s machine washable and even goes in the dryer. I’ve made many blankets using Encore and they are used and loved and last and last!

Another great blanket or afghan yarn is Lion Brand Wool-Ease.  The blanket below, barely started, is on Size 10 1/2 needles with Wool-Ease Chunky. Again, same great qualities for an afghan that will be used and loved.  The yarn is 80% acrylic and 20% wool.

And below, is another afghan made with Lion Brand Wool-Ease.  This one is at least 10 years old.  It’s soft and comfortable and the color is as bright as the day I made it.

So, as so many others have said today, it all depends on the project.  I am just as happy knitting with an acrylic blend as I am when I’m knitting with wool, cotton, or silk, it just depends on the type of item that I’m knitting.