Still discovering the endless experiences of knitting and I think I have reached an “opinion” on acrylic yarn - don’t like it! The fibers
are so easily split or fuzzed - am I talking “old news”? Maybe everybody else knows this about acrylic. I know the cost of yarn is more attractive - just a thought I wanted to share. :knitting:
Acrylic yarn splits
Some does, some doesn’t. Same with natural fibers.
Yes, natural fibers split too, especially cotton. It has more to do with how tight or loose the fiber is spun than what it’s made of.
I completely understand your complaint. When I bought my first knitting supplies, I went for the cheap, scratchy acrylic stuff. It would split frequently when I began my first project, and by the end of it, I had more stitches on the needle than what I originally cast on and a very uneven scarf. Oops! It was then that realized that I could not just keep knitting over those mistakes! 
As a few have said it has more to with how tightly it’s plied. I’ve had natural fibers split, too. There are some very good acrylics out there and they are great for projects that need to be washed a lot like kids clothes or blankies.
I used to be sort of a yarn snob and would only buy natural fibers, but it’s a little difficult to be a yarn snob and be on a student budget. I really love natural fibers, but I’m also a fan of some of the really great synthetics too. One of my favourites lately has been Patons Shetland Chunky, which is 75% acrylic and 25% wool. It’s so soft, and at $5.65, it’s a good price for the blanket I’m knitting my DBF’s nanny!
Plymouth “Encore” is another reliable blend (75% acrylic, 25% wool).
As others note, there are soft, well-behaved acrylics and there is harsh, scratchy, junky stuff that’s hell to knit with. If you’ve got the latter, try using needles with a blunt point – they’re less likely to split the yarn. And if that doesn’t work, use the yarn to stuff a cat bed or something: it’s false economy to waste your time and effort on something you hate doing and won’t want to wear.
I’d love to try more animal fibers but am terribly allergic to wool. My hands turn red when trying to work with it. Also, I live in Mississippi, so wool isn’t very practical here. So I’m left with cotton and acrylic. There is a nice cotton/acrylic blend called TLC Cotton Plus. It’s not as bulky as 100% cotton, and softer than 100% acrylic, and it’s not too expensive. I feel your pain on the budget.
Not all acrylics split. I’m working with “I Love This Yarn” from Hobby Lobby on an afghan and I haven’t had it split on me at all and I’m doing cables with it.
I agree. The yarn I will never work with again is Simply Soft. That stuff is horrible! I also hate Red Heart, but they do have some cool colors. Most of the time I get my yarn at Walmart because I don’t want to go to Hobby Lobby or Michaels’.
Miley, I’m working on an afghan for a friend who is allergic to wool, using Caron SS. It hasn’t split on my yet,and is very soft. I’m told that once you wash it, it gets softer yet.
Just out of curiosity, is there some reason you don’t want to go to Michael’s or Hobby Lobby that we should know about? Bad labor practices or dubious business affairs?
I’ve never heard anything about about Michaels or Hobby Lobby (plenty about Walmart though).
I like CSS and it washes beautifully and does get softer. 
I used SS to make 2 afghans this fall using double strand. The pattern called for size 17 needles and I’m not happy with the SS on that size needle. The second afghan I dropped to size 13 bamboo and was very happy with the drape and feel. These are gifts and have been washed and I am sure I will work with SS again sometime. The other acrylic I worked with was Red Heart super saver. It felt coarse working up in the afghan single strand size 9 or 10 needle, I can’t remember. After I washed it it was pleasingly soft and draped well. Neither one was particularly splitty for me.
I totally second this opinion! I’ve been using it for LOTS of things–I made a toddler sweater out of it, an adult sweater, some shawls–it’s SUPER soft, and it doesn’t split at all, and yay!–it’s machine washable and dryable! The price is great too for the yardage you get (under $3 a skein for 355 yards!). I’ve had both natural fibers and acrylic fibers split on me, so I’m not sure it has much to do with what the yarn is made from; as many have said, it’s probably how it’s spun. If you’re up to try one more acrylic yarn, I’d say to give Hobby Lobby’s “I Love This Yarn” a chance. They’re coming out with lots of pretty new colors now.
yes!!! I’m getting tired of the acrylic also, it just doesn’t give you a great finished project either! lol
I’m looking into investing soon in some wool yarns, I need some advice on what kind to start out buying as a newbie knitter.