Since I live in the south and most of what I make needs to be washable, I use a lot of acrylic and a little cotton yarn as well. Wool is totally out. I’ve done some work with bamboo, which I liked of course, but still acrylic tends to be my main source of yarn use.

Like most people, I started with Red Heart Super Saver. It’s inexpensive and pretty easy to find. As I became more proficient at crochet, however, I expanded into other brands like Vanna’s Choice and Bernat. And, yes, as most yarn crafters will tell you they are much softer than Super Saver. In fact, many knitters and crocheters have real issues with Super Saver. It’s got a reputation as cheap and scratchy. I won’t say this isn’t true. Even Red Heart has an acrylic called Soft Touch, so the company obviously offers an acrylic yarn that is soft and nothing like its Super Saver brand.

I’m writing all this, however, to say that Super Saver yarn does have a place in the yarn crafting world. First of all, it is a great yarn for those new to crochet or knitting. For less than $5, you can buy a hunk of yarn and even a hook or knitting needles and you are ready to start. That hunk of yarn can really go a long way too for a beginner who might want to start with small and easy projects like hats or fingerless gloves. How many crafts can you say that about?

It is also good for some charity projects such as making afghans or hats for adults. I used some turquoise and brown Super Saver yarn to make some hats for the homeless and even had enough left over to make a cover for an ottoman. The colors are great, and hey, I stick my feet on this thing, so it needs to handle some wear and tear.

And, then, don’t forget about our beloved pets. I have odds and ends of blankets and squares I’ve made up over the years that make for lots of cuddly spots for my furry friends. Here is Chanel enjoying an old afghan that I rolled up into a tube shape for her. This afghan is from back in my early days of crochet when I think I attempted to make a baby blanket from variegated Super Saver, but by the time I was done, the child was in college!

I would guess this afghan is at least 15 years old, and yet, it’s in great shape. So while I can’t claim Super Saver is my first choice of yarns to work with, I think too many yarn snobs out there dismiss it too quickly.