Super Bulky & Jumbo Yarn Guide
Super Bulky & Jumbo yarn (Craft Yarn Council Categories 6 & 7) provide the fastest, boldest knitting experience possible. Known in the UK as Super Chunky, these ultra-thick yarns turn out statement blankets, plush home decor, and one-hour hats with satisfying ease.
Quick Specifications
Best Projects for Super Bulky & Jumbo Yarn
- One-Hour Beanies & Cowls: A single skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick or Malabrigo Rasta on US 13 (9.0 mm) needles creates a warm winter hat in about an hour.
- Plush Chenille Throw Blankets: Thick chenille-style yarns (like Bernat Blanket) knit up quickly without shedding, making them ideal for family room throws.
- Arm-Knit & Giant Roving Blankets: Jumbo Category 7 yarns worked directly with your arms or US 50 (25 mm) needles produce massive, dramatic texture.
- Baskets, Rugs & Home Accessories: Dense, firm stitches create structured containers and durable floor mats.
While giant unspun wool roving looks beautiful on social media, unspun fibers pill, shed, and felt rapidly with friction. For functional blankets, choose spun, lightly fullered wool (like Malabrigo Rasta) or machine-washable chenille yarn instead.
Recommended Super Bulky Yarns
Top-rated, widely stocked super bulky yarn lines in North America:
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick
80% acrylic, 20% woolAn extremely popular one-skein-hat-and-cowl yarn in the US — quick to knit up and a common choice for beginner projects.
Malabrigo Rasta
100% merino woolA lightly fullered single-ply super bulky yarn with hand-dyed depth, loved for rapid one-evening winter hats and cowls.
Bernat Blanket
100% polyesterA plush chenille-style super bulky yarn widely used across North America for quick, cozy throw blankets and pillows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Super Bulky (CYC 6) and Jumbo (CYC 7)?
Super Bulky (CYC 6) works to 7–11 stitches per 4 inches on US 11–17 (8–12 mm) needles, commonly used for quick winter beanies and cozy scarves. Jumbo (CYC 7) is extremely thick (often unspun roving or tube yarn) that knits to 6 stitches or fewer per 4 inches on US 19 to 50 (15–25 mm) needles or arm-knitting.
How much super bulky yarn do I need for a throw blanket?
A standard sofa throw blanket (approx. 40 × 60 inches) in Super Bulky yarn typically requires 800 to 1,100 yards (around 5 to 7 large 300g skeins of Bernat Blanket, or 10–12 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick).
What is the best way to weave in ends on super bulky yarn?
Because super bulky yarn tails are so thick, standard weaving can create large, noticeable lumps. The best technique is to split the yarn plies at the tail, trim away half of the strands to reduce bulk, and weave the thinned strands in opposite directions.