Seven Steps to Make the Most of Buying Yarn Online

Buying yarn online is a quick and easy solution to your common knitting and crocheting project frustrations.

If you live far away from the closest local yarn store or if your pattern requires something rare and specific, you may find yourself without an essential element needed to complete the project you're dreaming up or just getting started on. That's where we at Mary Maxim can come in and send exactly what you need right to your door. For over 60 years, Mary Maxim has provided the high-quality yarns you need to inspire your creativity.

This list of seven easy tips should help you make the most of your experience buying yarn online. And at the end, we include helpful hints about understanding yarn fibers and weights. For knitting beginners and veterans alike, there is nothing more important than choosing the right yarn to make your project as beautiful and cozy as possible.

Step 1: Start With Knowing Your Yarn Basics

Looking for yarn can be a challenge, especially if you are new to knitting and crocheting. It can take some time to become familiar with some of the details. Usually, yarn labels and websites like Mary Maxim will give you all of the relevant information you need to know to decide if a particular yarn is going to be right for your project. In browsing through yarns, you will need to decipher information about yardage, fiber content, care instructions, weight, gauge and more.

For the crafting beginner, don't let it overwhelm you. Do your research and take your time choosing the best new yarn for your next endeavor. We're here to help. Remember to check out our "Helpful Hints" sections below on yarn fibers and weights, and take a look at our blog for easy how-tos.

Step 2: Use Search Categories to Your Advantage

Navigating shopping web pages is one of the most helpful tricks for understanding how to buy yarn online. When looking at our web page of available selections, at the top of the page, you can select the drop down box to search for yarn based on different categories. For example, you can search by brand, bestsellers or product name.

If you have a particular kind of yarn that you are looking for, like wool or alpaca, type it into the search bar at the top right-hand corner of the page, and it will show you what you want to see.

Whatever search method you use, you can sort your results by price or alphabetical order to make your treasure hunt even simpler. Instead of facing unknowns and shuffling through a bunch of choices inside the yarn store, find exactly what you need on through web search systems in seconds.

Step 3: Look up Online Reviews From Fellow Crafters

If you buy your yarn from a yarn store, you will only be able to hear the review from the person selling the craft supplies, and that may leave you feeling unsure. That's not the kind of service experience that we want you to have. Along with each of the selections on our site, we give our customers the opportunity to leave a review and relate their personal history with our yarns.

When browsing through our yarns, be sure to peruse the different stories that fellow crafters have shared. Remember, there are more to online reviews than just the number of stars. They are a great place to see the qualities of the yarn. Is the yarn soft? Is it durable? How does it hold up when being washed?

Reading the reviews of a product before you purchase is a unique upside to buying your yarn online. You may be surprised at what you find. Sometimes reviewers will direct you to a pattern they enjoyed or another yarn that pairs well with the one you are viewing. It makes the shopping experience less isolated and much more valuable.

Step 4: Search for Projects and Patterns Using Your Yarn of Choice

Another way the Internet can help you select the best yarn is by showing you finished projects that use your yarn of choice. While you can touch a skein of yarn in the store, you may be unable to tell from a single picture if the yarn online is what you are looking for. Browsing reviews and free patterns online should reveal more example pictures. You can see how the yarn falls, how the stitches look and how colors and texture work together to help you make the best decision.

Step 5: Ask Your Friends to Share Their Stories

One of your best resources as a craftsperson and artist is the other hobbyists who you know. If you are unsure about buying a particular brand online, ask your friends about their experiences with it. They may even give you some extra inspiration for your next project. Online reviews are helpful, but checking in with your group of friends about a yarn you're considering is also something we highly recommend.

Step 6: Pay Attention to Satisfaction Guarantees and Return Policies

An important aspect of any purchase, especially when it's online, is reading over the seller's return policy. Here at Mary Maxim, we will exchange anything you try out within six months of your order. If the yarn color or softness is not what you were hoping for, fill out our return form to send it back, and we will credit your account or give you something new.

Thanks to our 100 percent Satisfaction Guarantee, you never need to be afraid of buying yarn online with us, because your satisfaction is guaranteed. For other common concerns, check out our Customer Service page.

Step 7: Contact Us for Any Questions

If there is anything else you want to know about online yarn shopping, feel free to get in touch with us. We will be happy to answer any questions you have as you filter through the different brands and products in our collection. While some yarn qualities like softness can be subjective, we will do our best to help you find the best match for your projects. And if what you end up with is not to your liking, you can easily return the yarn and try another.

Day in and day out, we are here to help. Your experience is important to us, so if you have any needs or concerns, please fill out our contact form or give us a call at 1-800-962-9504.

Bonus: Two Helpful Hints for Yarn Buying Beginners

To help determine which type of yarn is perfect for your project of choice, here are some tips for identifying the materials and weight of different yarn types. You can find all of these and more in our online Mary Maxim yarn collection.

Helpful Hint 1: Understanding Different Yarn Fibers

To make your next project as flawless as possible, you want to take a close look at the pattern you are following. Most patterns will tell you what kind of yarn fiber and weight to use for the best results. When you're browsing different yarn options, try to find one that is identical, or at least similar, to what the pattern indicates. Here are some of the yarn fiber types you will find here at Mary Maxim:

Alpaca yarn: Perhaps the warmest material out there, alpaca fibers are ideal for cold-weather projects. Alpacas are soft, fluffy animals, and their pelts are incredibly cozy. With alpaca yarn, you can create irresistible ponchos, cardigans, tunics, socks and more for a stylish winter season. Take a look at our Mary Maxim Natural Alpaca Tweed in nature-inspired colors, both in stripes and solids. Alternatively, for a luxury feel with easy care, check out the premium acrylic-alpaca blend of Mary Maxim Woodlands yarn for your next knit or crochet project.

Acrylic yarn: This man-made material is perfect for garments that need to be washed regularly. Not only that, but its ease of use allows beginners to find their footing quickly. Out of all of the available fibers, acrylic is the most affordable, making it one of the most popular yarn types. Mary Maxim Best Value yarn is an example of silky-smooth worsted weight yarn made from 100 percent premium acrylic fibers for beautifully colored, shimmering stitches. Acrylic also makes for gorgeous and soft baby blankets when you use Mary Maxim Baby's Best.

Cotton yarn: What is unique about cotton is it is airy and light, making it a superb material for summer-themed, lacy cardigans, wraps and afghans. It's also a sturdy yarn, so you can expect it to hold up well over time. Some of our unique 100 percent cotton selections include the brightly colored Lily Sugar'n Cream worsted weight yarn and our Mary Maxim Scrub It yarn, which has a fun, fuzzy texture. These two yarns also pair nicely together to create adorable scrubbers and decor for any kitchen!

Wool yarn: A sheep's wool has traditionally been the most common type of yarn fiber that you can find on the crafting market. It is highly durable, and it's warm and cozy for sweaters and hats. For an advantageous pairing of warm wool and silky acrylic, check out the soft and iridescent blend of Mary Maxim Studio yarn for your next scarf. Or, to get a wide range of fall-inspired colors for your fashion accessories, take a look at this blended Mary Maxim Milan yarn.

Remember to pay close attention to your pattern for tips on what yarn fibers might work best to create the finished product you desire. Each yarn type has its advantages, and they are all beautiful in their own way. Understanding their differences will help you become a crafting expert in no time.

Helpful Hint 2: Identifying Types of Yarn Weight

While the material of the yarn fibers is important to understand, the final look of your pattern will also be highly dependent on the weight or thickness of the yarn. The more detailed you want to be, chances are you will need a more delicate yarn. The weight also affects the dimensions of your finished piece. Take a look at these different yarn weights to learn more.

Lace yarn: Among the finest of yarn weights, as you can probably guess, lace yarn makes for light and airy shawls, doilies, throws and the like. You can achieve intricate patterns and fine stitches. Lace has an elegance to it that makes this yarn a sight to behold.

Fingering weight yarn: One step thicker than lace, this yarn is useful for shawls and afghans. The fine yarn weight of fingering yarn compares to that of sock yarn and baby yarn. For your next baby blanket, take a look at this Mary Maxim Twinkle Baby yarn. If socks are your next project, these colorful striped Mary Maxim Footloose Sock yarns will make some bright and cute footwear you won't want to take off.

Sport weight yarn and DK yarn: Right in the center of the standard yarn weight system, you can find sport and DK, or double knitting, weight yarn. Add some glitter to your next project with Akkon Sparkle DK yarn, and enjoy the bright rainbow of Mary Maxim Prism yarn for a soft and lightweight middle-ground thickness.

Worsted weight yarn: For some added durability, put this popular yarn weight to good use. Beginners find this thickness easiest to learn new patterns with, and it can be used for almost any project you desire. You simply can't go wrong with Mary Maxim Maximum Value yarn with its softness and versatility, and to get the most out of acrylic smoothness and reliability, try Mary Maxim Starlette yarn.

Bulky Weight Yarn: Bulky or chunky yarn is handy for completing your project quickly. Since the yarn takes up so much room, it only takes a handful of stitches before you have a finished scarf or poncho. The chunkier the yarn, the thicker and warmer your piece will be! Mary Maxim Aspen is a great choice for a bulky sweater, and Mary Maxim Titan yarn would be excellent for a fluffy, cozy cover pattern that uses a larger hook or needle size.

Yarn labels and yarn web pages should tell you the weight of whatever yarn you're considering, as well as the gauge of the yarn and a recommended needle size to use. Patterns and labels are helpful tools for creating the beautiful projects you're planning. Be sure to use them to your advantage.

Buy Quality Yarn Online From Mary Maxim

We began in the 1930s, with Olive and Willard McPhedrain's first spinning wheel sale and manufactured yarn range. This step in Mary Maxim's history brought economic growth and employment opportunities to Sifton, Manitoba. When we combined bulky weight wool yarns with graph-style knitting patterns, our iconic sweaters helped Mary Maxim become a dependable, well-known industry-leader both in Canada and the U.S. — with even more designs and product lines for you to choose from.

We're still family owned and operated, with third and fourth generations practicing our earliest principle and passion: to bring you timeless designs and the best yarn possible. Today, we have 45 Mary Maxim Exclusive yarn options, as well as many others, for you to work with.

Your quest for the perfect yarn begins here at Mary Maxim — we love being able to provide you with the yarn you need for your craft projects and seeing your project ideas become finished creations. You can browse through all fibers and weights, ranging from wool to acrylic and from super bulky to super fine. Find natural and worsted weight yarns from familiar brands, and maybe branch out to discover something new.

Whether Mary Maxim Exclusive yarns tickle your fancy or if you're looking for a specific type or brand, we can help you find the perfect fit. Don't forget to check out our blog for more stitching tips or explore our free patterns.