Chenille, velvet, plush, fluffy, blanket yarn. Customers use all five names for the same thing: the thick, velvety yarn behind the squashy blankets and cuddly toys that fill your social media feed.
They are all made the same way, with a soft pile of short fibres standing out from a central core, which is what gives that velvet feel. Where they differ is in thickness, in how far a ball goes, and in what they are best at. Pick the right one and your project is finished in a weekend.
Seven soft yarns side by side
| Yarn | Ball | Hook or needle | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga Blankie | 100 g, 50 m | 8 to 9 mm | KES 400 | Thick baby blankets, big teddies |
| DMC Velvet | 100 g, 100 m | 6 mm | KES 650 | Jumpers, cardigans, cushions |
| Himalaya Velvet | 100 g, 120 m | 8 mm | KES 650 | Blankets and colour blocking |
| Himalaya Dolphin Baby | 100 g, 120 m | 4 to 5 mm | KES 700 | Amigurumi and baby blankets |
| DMC Happy Chenille | 15 g, 38 m | 3 mm | KES 120 | Small toys and details |
| Ganga Jumbo | 300 g, 90 m | 10 mm | KES 1,250 | Chunky throws, poufs, pet beds |
| Ganga Super Stitch | 300 g, 36 m | 20 mm, or your arms | KES 1,250 | Giant-stitch throws |
Our picks
Best for toys and babies
Himalaya Dolphin Baby
KES 700 a ball
This is the velvet yarn most people picture when they think of plush amigurumi. Its dense, soft pile makes each stitch stand out and gives toys that huggable finish, and at 120 metres a ball goes more than twice as far as the thickest blanket yarns.
100% polyester chenille · 100 g, 120 m · 4 to 5 mm hook
See Dolphin Baby
Best for clothes
DMC Velvet
KES 650 a ball
Slimmer than a blanket yarn, so it makes a jumper or cardigan you can actually wear without feeling wrapped in a duvet. The texture does all the work: plain stitches come out looking rich, which makes it a kind yarn for a first garment.
100% polyester · Chunky · 100 g, 100 m · 6 mm hook or needles
See DMC Velvet
Best for a fast, thick blanket
Ganga Acrowools Blankie
KES 400 a ball
Our best-selling yarn online, and the thickest of the everyday chenilles. A blanket grows in an evening. We have written a full guide to it, including how many balls each size of blanket needs.
Read the Blankie guide
Best for small toys
DMC Happy Chenille
KES 120 a ball
A tiny 15 g ball of fine chenille made for amigurumi. It is just the right amount for ears, paws and small details, so you can buy six colours for a toy without paying for six full balls you will never finish.
100% polyester · 15 g, 38 m · 3 mm hook
See Happy ChenilleNever held a hook or needles?
Alize Puffy is a soft loop yarn you knit with your fingers, pulling one ready-made loop through the next. At KES 700 a ball it is a lovely first project for children and complete beginners.
How to work with chenille
Feel for the stitch instead of looking for it. The pile hides the gaps, and your fingers find them faster than your eyes.
Keep stitches simple and fairly firm. Loose stitches in chenille can work themselves into little loops, which crafters call worming.
Use stitch markers at the start of every round. See our guide to stitch markers.
Weave in ends a little longer than usual, and knot them first, because the pile can shed from a cut end.
Wash cool and gentle, dry flat in the shade, and keep the iron well away.
You have to touch these
No photo does chenille justice. Come and feel all of them at our shop on the 1st floor of Sarit Centre.
Shop chenille and velvet yarnOr call us on +254 798 316860
Prices correct at the time of writing.
