3 Best Buys for Knitting With I Love This Yarn Cotton in 2026

I Love This Yarn Cotton, sold on the shelf as I Love This Cotton, is a widely available 100 percent cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby's house brand. It has built a following among crafters who make dishcloths, amigurumi, and warm-weather projects, mostly because it is easy to find and comes in a large range of colors.

#1. Knit Picks Dishie Worsted Cotton: Best cotton alternative to order online

Knit Picks Dishie Worsted Cotton (Jalapeno)

Our verdict:

Best cotton alternative to order online

Best for dishcloths and home knits when you want a 100% cotton worsted yarn delivered.

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• 100% cotton, worsted weight, tightly spun and absorbent
• About 4.5 stitches per inch on US 7 to 8 needles
• Machine washable, made for dishcloths and kitchen knits

Keep in mind: Cotton has little stretch, so it is harder on the hands than wool and not ideal for ribbing.

Product details checked September 2026

I Love This Yarn Cotton is a store brand, so it is not always easy to find. Dishie is a similar 100% cotton worsted weight yarn you can order.

#2. TLKKUE Large-Eye Blunt Yarn Needles (12 pieces): Best for weaving in cotton ends

TLKKUE Large-Eye Blunt Yarn Needles (12 pieces, 3 sizes)

Our verdict:

Best for weaving in cotton ends

Best for weaving in ends on fingering through bulky yarn.

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• 12 steel blunt needles in 3 lengths, about 2 to 2.75 inches
• Large eyes for threading yarn
• Blunt tips slide between stitches without splitting fibers

Keep in mind: Straight tips are harder than bent tips for picking up edge stitches when seaming.

Product details checked September 2026

Cotton ends work loose more easily than wool, so weave them in well with a blunt needle.

#3. KnitPro Nova Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set (US 4 to 11): Best needle set for cotton projects

KnitPro Nova Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set (US 4 to 11)

Our verdict:

Best needle set for cotton projects

Best for a knitter ready for one set that covers most sweater, hat and shawl projects.

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• 8 sizes of 5-inch tips from US 4 to 11 (3.5 to 8mm)
• Nickel-free brass tips with a chrome finish
• Printed sizes on each pair and a fabric storage case

Keep in mind: Smooth metal tips are fast but slippery, which some beginners find harder than wood.

Product details checked September 2026

Smooth metal tips help cotton slide. An interchangeable set also covers the US 7 to 9 range most cotton patterns use.

Factors to consider when choosing cotton yarn and tools

• 100% cotton or a blend. Pure cotton is absorbent and good for dishcloths. It has little stretch, so it is not ideal for ribbing.
• Weight. Most everyday cotton yarn is worsted weight and knits on US 7 to 9 needles.
• Needles. Smooth metal or coated tips help cotton slide, since cotton does not stretch around the needle.
• Yarn needle. A blunt large-eye needle weaves in cotton ends, which tend to work loose.
• Care. Cotton goes in the washing machine and shrinks a little in a hot dryer.

What I Love This Yarn Cotton Actually Is

This yarn is spun from 100 percent cotton. That means it has almost no stretch compared to wool. Cotton fiber is also heavier by volume than wool. A skein of this yarn feels denser in the hand than a similar-sized skein of wool.

It is a plant fiber, so it does not felt. It holds up well to repeated machine washing. That is part of why it is popular for dishcloths and other things that get washed often.

The yarn comes in a wide range of solid and variegated colors. This is one of the more consistent points reviewers mention across independent write-ups of this yarn.

What It Knits Well (and What It Doesn't)

Dishcloths and washcloths are the most common project for this yarn, and for good reason. Cotton's durability and lack of stretch are exactly what a project that gets scrubbed and washed repeatedly needs.

Amigurumi and other stuffed projects also suit this yarn well, since its firmer, less stretchy fabric holds a shape and stuffing better than a springier wool would.

Garments are the weaker fit. Cotton's lack of stretch means a knitted cotton sweater can stretch out of shape and grow heavier with wear. Cotton absorbs and holds more water weight than wool does. Reviewers who tried garment projects with this yarn consistently mention this tradeoff.

Needle Size and Gauge for This Yarn

Most patterns calling for this yarn use a US 7-9 (4.5-5.5mm) needle. That matches its medium, worsted-like weight on the Craft Yarn Council chart. Check the specific pattern's gauge. Cotton's lack of stretch means your swatch measurement matters more than it would with a forgiving wool.

Knit a swatch and wash it the way you plan to wash the finished project before you commit to a full pattern. Cotton can behave differently after its first wash than it does straight off the skein.

More in this guide

• Knit Pro: what to check before you buy an interchangeable needle set.
• Needle case: roll and zip cases, plus hard cases, for keeping needles organized.
• Yarn needle: the blunt large-eye needle for weaving in ends and seaming.

For other yarns, see our yarn buying guide and our worsted weight acrylic yarn guide.

I Love This Yarn Cotton FAQ

What weight is I Love This Cotton yarn?

It is sold as a medium, worsted-like weight, pairing with a US 7-9 (4.5-5.5mm) needle on the standard Craft Yarn Council chart.

What can you make with I Love This Cotton yarn?

Dishcloths, washcloths, market bags, and amigurumi are the most common projects, since cotton's durability and lack of stretch suit those uses well.

Is I Love This Cotton yarn good for sweaters?

It is not the strongest choice. Cotton lacks stretch and absorbs water weight, so a cotton sweater can grow and lose shape with wear more than a wool one would.

Does I Love This Cotton yarn shrink?

Cotton can shrink slightly on a first hot wash. Washing a gauge swatch the way you plan to wash the finished project helps you catch this before it affects a full-size piece.

Is this yarn machine washable?

Yes, cotton generally holds up well to machine washing, which is part of why it suits dishcloths and other frequently washed projects so well.

Verdict on I Love This Yarn Cotton

I Love This Yarn Cotton is a solid, affordable choice for dishcloths, amigurumi, and other projects that benefit from a durable, machine-washable fiber. It is a weaker fit for drapey garments, since cotton's lack of stretch and extra water weight work against a good sweater fit. Match the project to the fiber, and this yarn performs well.