Caron Simply Soft is a hugely popular yarn in the United States and many crochet patterns use it. But what’s it really like to crochet with? Is the colour range all it’s cracked up to be and should it become one of your yarn stash staples? Let’s dive into the reality of choosing Caron Simply Soft yarn and why I ended up choosing it for my 2026 crochet along.
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What Is Caron Simply Soft Yarn?
Over the years, I’ve seen many patterns that use Caron Simply Soft, but as I’m based in the UK and Caron is a US brand it is quite expensive here. But one of the reasons that it’s chosen so often by pattern designers is that in the US it is an affordable yarn brand. These import costs really do have a lot to answer for! However, when you look at what you get in each ball of yarn – 288 meters / 315 yards of yarn in every skein, that is a generous amount when compared to what other brands include in each of their balls of yarn. Although the amount of yarn still doesn’t make the brand comparable in price to other affordable UK brands, it does mean that the cost per meter is not as high as at first glance.
The other thing that draws me to Caron Simply Soft is the colour range. There are over 40 shades to choose from in the Soft solid colour range, but when you include the Paints range which is the collection of multicolour yarn, then there are 80 colourways available. This makes for a huge colour choice, which depending on how you look at it is a brilliant thing or completely overwhelming. For me the colour choice is a plus as then I get real options for creating an eye pleasing project with several colours included in it.
So, the boring part – what kind of yarn is Caron Simply Soft? It is a 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn or a medium weight 4, and that is comparable to Aran weight and the recommended hook size is a 5mm or a size 8.
The yarn itself has a soft twist, so although it makes a fabric which is lovely and soft to the touch, it doesn’t hold stitch definition well. Something to consider when matching this yarn with the stitch you’re going to use.
What Is Caron Simply Soft Like To Crochet With?
My first impressions of this yarn are good. It was easy to find the tail in the middle of the skein – I prefer starting in the middle of the ball as it stops the yarn from spinning next to me. Many other brands of yarn don’t make the middle tail easy to find and I end up pulling most of the guts of the ball out trying to find it – but not the case here which is great.
When it comes to the recommended hook size, this usually feels too big of a hook. I like my crochet to have a nice close finish with the gaps between the stitches being as small as possible. The 5mm recommended hook size for this yarn looks quite good and the finish isn’t too gappy. I probably would drop down to a 4.5mm if I wanted a tighter finish for say a winter sweater, but it would be a very picky detail and the 5mm hook genuinely creates a nice fabric finish.
You get a really good mix of colour to choose from, pastels, bright and bold and neutral colours, so no matter what project you’re making you’ve got a fantastic colour selection to pick from. The dye covers the yarn well and is even throughout, although if you have two skeins from two different dye lots they are unlikely to match well, but this is a problem common to every yarn brand and is in no way unique to Caron.
The only real negative comment I have about the Simply Soft range is that the yarn can sometimes have sections that untwist and look like unspun roving. You then have the choice of just crocheting with it anyway or cutting it out and having to deal with ends. I’ve never encountered a knot with Simply Soft, but some skeins have several of these rogue bits of yarn and they are very annoying to deal with.
One other thing to note is the stitch definition. Caron Simply Soft is a soft twist yarn. This means that it doesn’t hold its shape and will flatten out with use. So any stitches that have a texture will not be as well defined as you thought they would be. Just something to bear in mind when choosing the stitches you will make with this yarn.
On the flip side this is a lovely soft yarn that is perfect for making clothing that touches the skin. It is also nice and thick which makes it perfect for winter clothes and accessories.
How To Care For Caron Simply Soft
Since the yarn is 100% acrylic it is very easy to care for. You can machine wash and tumble dry anything made with this yarn, so no special consideration needed. Just don’t bleach it and anything you make with it should last for years.
Who Is Caron Simply Soft Best Suited To?
Caron Simply Soft is a good yarn choice for every level of crocheter. Its thickness means that it is easy for a complete beginner to use and also a good choice for anyone with mobility issues in their hands since it needs a larger hook size.
Patterns that use this yarn grow in size quickly due to the thickness, but the finished project won’t look overly chunky making it a good trade off in terms of the quality of the finish and the time needed to crochet it.
I would choose a different yarn if I was using a crochet stitch that I wanted really good stitch definition, instead, I would choose something with a tighter twist. I personally would switch to a mercerised cotton yarn for really good stitch definition that keeps a fabric that is gentle on the skin.
My Verdict On Caron Simply Soft
All things considered I did decide to choose Caron Simply Soft yarn for my next crochet along – The Study of Corners which starts July 24th 2026. You can find more details of that in this blog post here (link).
I chose to go with Caron Simply Soft because it is a very common yarn in the US, which is where most of my audience live, and the colour range meant that I could choose a palette of 5 colours that genuinely complement each other.
I wanted a spring theme for this project which is a very different colour choice to my usual bright and bold colours that are characteristic of my previous sampler blankets.
Caron Simply Soft is definitely a yarn I would recommend to use. It’s easy to get hold of in the States and not too difficult to get elsewhere in the world even though it does mean incurring a higher cost.
Patterns that I’ve used Caron Simply Soft for are:
The Study of Corners Crochet Along
The Country Garden Sampler Blanket
Swirled Pumpkin Hat
My Study of Corners Crochet Along starts on the 24th of July 2026, come and join us, it’s completely free to get involved and you’ll discover some new stitches too. Find out more here.
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