What You Need to Know About Holiday Yarns Before You Crochet
Picture this. The holidays are quickly approaching and you’ve bought some holiday yarn that gets you in the spirit of the season. You know exactly what you want to make and you get started. All of a sudden, the colors are looking a bit strange. Why are the colors are grouped up in a way you didn’t expect?! Sound familiar? This happened to me recently, so I wanted to share my experience. I've also included some tips in hopes you can avoid some of the same frustrations I had this holiday season!
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What Makes Holiday Yarns Different
Holiday yarns are fun and unique. This type of multi-color yarn can vary in the color and patterns. They are designed by yarn brands with seasonal colors in mind.
Variegated yarn is a type of multicolored yarn where the colors blend and flow together in a single strand of yarn. Depending on how the colors are spaced, you could have intentional stripes (self-striping), unexpected large blocks of the same color in random spots (pooling), or short bursts of a single color (flashing).
Not all variegated yarn is created equal. For example, I have been working on a crochet holiday stocking pattern using variegated holiday yarn. I picked up a few different types and (while using the same stitches (single crochet) and making these the same way, each yarn came out different! Take a look at these pictures below!
Stitch Complexity Is Key
Simple stitches like single crochet can cause holiday yarns to pool or stripe unexpectedly, while more textured stitches (like moss stitch, shell stitch, or V-stitch) break up the color pattern and showcase the yarn's intended effect. This happens because different stitches can consume different amounts of yarn in each row/round.
RELATED: Yarn Choices Explained: Find your perfect yarn
Gauges
It is strongly suggested to swatch with 2-3 different stitches before committing to a specific project for this yarn. Gauges are helpful swatches that will show you whether the combination of stitches, hook, and tension you are using will make the item in the size indicated on the pattern.
Nobody wants to put all of their effort into a project only to have to “frog” the whole thing later!
Choosing the Right Stitch
By all means, you can use whatever stitch you want in your patterns, but here are some stitch ideas with links to tutorials if you’re having a hard time with the colors using your current stitch choice:
Moss Stitch (Granite Stitch) – This stitch alternates between single crochet and chain-1 spaces to distribute colors evenly and break up potential pooling.
Shell Stitch – The fan-like clusters allow for the use of varying amounts of yarn, which disrupts repetitive color patterns.
V-Stitch – Similar to shell stitch, the combination of double crochets and chain spaces helps mix colors nicely.
Granny Stitch/Granny Squares – Clusters and chain spaces often found in granny patterns are excellent for showing off variegated yarns without pooling issues.
Linen Stitch – Creates a woven look that blends colors nicely while maintaining definition.
C2C (Corner-to-Corner) – The diagonal working direction helps variegated colors blend uniquely compared to traditional row-by-row projects.
Suzette Stitch – The combination of double crochets and single crochets in an offset pattern creates texture and complements color changes.
Obviously these are not the only options out there for you. Tthe overall idea is that stitches with varying heights, clusters, or chain spaces tend to work best because they consume different amounts of yarn per repeat, preventing those frustrating stripes or blocks of color you might get with simple single crochet rows/rounds.
Conclusion
There are so many holiday yarns out there that I couldn't possibly list them all, but here are some known brand name examples of some of the holiday yarns you can find online and in stores:
Going forward for your future makes, try using gauges to see if you need to switch up the stitches being used, tension, or crochet hook size when using holiday yarn. Not all holiday yarns have the same color distributions in their skeins, so save yourself the time and frustration and prep before the project with a gauge.
Love the idea of a holiday stocking that's not as big as the regular ones on the mantle but not mini? Check out the Medium Holiday Stocking PDF Pattern for sale in the shop!
Have you ever used the multi-color holiday yarn they sell in stores and online during the holidays? What do you like to make with it? Which yarn is your favorite?
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I really enjoyed reading this! I never realized how much variety there is in holiday yarns or how differently each one can turn out, even with the same stitch. It’s fascinating how the colors can pool, stripe, or flash in their own way — that unpredictability makes each project unique. Those stockings sound so festive and creative!
I learned about the variation in the holiday yarns the hard way! They always catch my attention during the holidays so I figured I’d share my experience and try to save others from unexpected frustration! Thanks for reading!
I didn’t realize there were so many different types of holiday yarn! I love learning more about crocheting from your posts, and maybe one day I will give it a try.
Yes, there is so much out there!! I’m so happy you enjoy the content here 🙂 (if you try crochet, keep me updated on your progress!)
I had no idea that you could use these yarns and get different patterns! I’m hopeless at yarn crafts, but I really enjoyed learning more about how the yard pattern works.
I’ve been wanting to start some holiday crochet projects, and this really clears up a lot of the confusion about yarn types and textures. Definitely saving this for reference before I dive in—thanks for sharing!