What is Yarn Worming and Why Would You Care?

What causes yarn worming?

If the yarn is really slippery to the touch, it will most likely worm if you use anything but single crochet. In some cases, you will see finished project samples where, if you zoom in, you can physically see that the real sample has experienced yarn worming.

For the visual sample below, double crochet and treble crochet stitches were used. Beautiful project, wrong yarn for it.

Feel The Yarn

If the yarn is super soft and slippery to the touch, you should automatically axe projects that involve anything more than single crochet. I have seen others use half double crochet, but the taller the stitch, the more likely the worming will occur.

Worming can easily occur if the project snags on the simplest of things, such as your own fingers popping through the finished project. Your fingers or any objects will instantly change the structure of the stitches when you pull on them.

Objects like the rings on your fingers or even your pet's toenails are a recipe for disaster.

The Crochet Fat Cat with the Tutorial has been in my possession for years without any worming. Why? The stitchwork is tight using single crochet.

What Was Noticed Early On?

When this type of yarn came to the market, crocheters thought they could use it for just about anything. Unfortunately, some of us, myself included, realized it's not one of those multi-functional yarns.

However, those who make cute stuffies, such as Amigurumi, have found that this yarn not only holds its shape but also elevates the look of the project with its shiny chenille. Items like the Crochet Valentine Bear by Repeat Crafter Me are a great example of a perfect use for this yarn.

With amigurumi being such a huge market, crocheters didn't want to buy enormous balls of yarn and/or were vocal about needing just a little bit of this color or that to make their characters.

Yarnspirations Adapted to Consumer Demand

Yarnspirations introduced Yarn Kits, which let you buy bundled yarn in smaller quantities. Items like Bernat Velvet and even Red Heart Super Saver have smaller yarn kits.

I find the yarn kits perfect for giving yarn gifts for Christmas, birthdays, or when you want to teach someone a skill and get them started with a lot of colors without the investment of full balls.

Squish The Really Soft Yarn

If you are looking at this yarn and you are examining it, push down on the yarn ball. What does the yarn do?

• If you push into the ball, does it bounce back completely without showing any evidence of the yarn 'pile' being squished?
• If you brush your hand across the yarn, does the yarn 'pile' move with your hand, or does it return to its original position?
• How do the yarn strands interact with each other, do they easily slip or do they kind of stick to each other?

Bernat Blanket products chenille is soft, but it's not slippery. The stitches stay intact. This means you can use this yarn for larger stitches without worrying about it worming.

Items like the Country Snow Window Blanket: you can have those beautiful doily-like stitches without worry. It's one of the main reasons I love Bernat Blanket; it's a yarn I can use for virtually anything.

BUT LISTEN...

I'm not saying you shouldn't get the slippery yarn. What I am saying is that you need to be selective in its use. Maybe for items that aren't handled often, or where you worry about pets or people interacting with them constantly.

For amigurumi, yes, go for it, as most amigurumi uses single crochet stitches, so worming won't occur.

Some people have had luck with half double crochet, but I have no experience with that, as I only trust doing this type of yarn in single crochet. I don't want to waste my time crocheting something only to have it worm. If the worming occurs, unfortunately, it's game over, and there is no repair that can reset it.