Best Yarn for the Melt The Ice Hat: Comparison Guide

Choosing the right yarn for your melt the ice hat affects everything — how the finished hat looks, how warm it is, how long it lasts, and how much you enjoy making it. The wrong yarn can turn a meaningful project into a frustrating experience, while the right choice makes every stitch satisfying.

This guide compares popular yarn options across every budget, with specific attention to the red color accuracy that makes the melt the ice hat recognizable. Whether you are knitting or crocheting, these recommendations apply to both crafts.

What to Look for in Melt The Ice Hat Yarn

The ideal yarn for this project balances several factors. Not every yarn excels at all of them, so decide which matter most to you before shopping.

Essential Qualities

• Bright, true red color — The signature red is essential to the hat's symbolism. Avoid burgundy, orange-red, or pink-toned reds.
• Good stitch definition — You want to see the stitches clearly, especially the ribbing and crown decrease lines.
• Warmth — This is a winter hat worn outdoors at rallies, marches, and everyday errands.
• Machine washability — Practical for a hat you will wear often.
• Worsted or DK weight — Matches the official melt the ice hat pattern gauge.

How to Evaluate Red Yarn Online vs. In-Store

Screen colors and yarn colors rarely match. A skein labeled "Cherry Red" on your monitor may arrive as coral or crimson. When ordering online, search for customer project photos on Ravelry — filter by the yarn you are considering and see how it looks in finished hats under natural light.

In-store, hold the skein near a window. Fluorescent lighting shifts reds toward orange. Look for a red that reads as true red without pink or brown undertones in daylight.

Yarn Weight Options

The official pattern by Paul Neary at Needle & Skein supports three weights. Each produces a different fabric feel:

For your first melt the ice hat, worsted weight knits up fastest and is the most forgiving of gauge inconsistencies. See our knitting tutorial or crochet tutorial for complete pattern instructions using worsted weight yarn.

Budget-Friendly Yarn Options (Under $5)

Red Heart Super Saver — Cherry Red

The most accessible option for the melt the ice hat. Available at every craft store and most big-box retailers across the United States.

Fiber: 100% Acrylic | Yardage: 364 yards | Price: $3–4

Pros:

• Extremely affordable — one skein covers the entire hat with yarn to spare for the tassel
• Widely available in stores and online, even during high-demand periods
• Machine washable and dryable without special care
• Holds up to heavy wear, snow, and rain without felting or pilling
• Color is consistent across dye lots

Cons:

• Slightly scratchy straight off the skein (softens significantly after a wash with fabric softener)
• Acrylic fiber does not breathe as well as natural fibers — can feel clammy in mild weather
• The "squeaky" feel while knitting or crocheting bothers some crafters

Softening Red Heart Super Saver

Soak the finished hat in lukewarm water with a capful of hair conditioner for 30 minutes. Gently squeeze out the water (do not wring), lay flat to dry. This transforms the fabric from stiff and scratchy to surprisingly soft.

Best for: First-time hat makers, group knitting projects, knit-along events, or when making multiple hats for rallies.

Caron Simply Soft — Harvest Red

A noticeable step up from Super Saver in hand feel, while staying under $5 per skein.

Fiber: 100% Acrylic | Yardage: 315 yards | Price: $4–5

Pros:

• Softer than Red Heart from the start — no need for a softening soak
• Beautiful drape that creates a less structured, more relaxed hat silhouette
• Good color saturation in the Harvest Red colorway
• Machine washable

Cons:

• Can pill with heavy wear, especially at friction points (where a coat collar rubs the brim)
• Slightly splitty yarn — the plies separate easily, which is annoying for crocheters
• Drape may be too soft for some — the hat may not hold its pointed shape as crisply

Best for: Gift hats, crafters who prioritize softness over structure.

Mid-Range Yarn Options ($6–15)

Lion Brand Vanna's Choice — Scarlet

A reliable worsted weight acrylic with consistent quality and a wide shade range.

Fiber: 100% Acrylic | Yardage: 170 yards | Price: $6–7

Pros:

• Excellent stitch definition — ribbing and decrease lines look crisp
• Several red shades available (Scarlet, Cranberry, Brick) so you can find your ideal red
• Easy care, machine washable
• Moderate price point with good quality

Cons:

• Only 170 yards per skein — you may need two skeins for a worsted weight melt the ice hat, which pushes the total cost to $12–14
• Still acrylic, so it lacks the warmth and breathability of natural fiber

Best for: Crafters who want a polished-looking finished hat and do not mind buying two skeins.

Cascade 220 — Christmas Red (#8895)

A classic 100% Peruvian Highland wool that is a favorite among knitters worldwide. This is the yarn that multiple melt the ice hat kit retailers have chosen for their curated bundles.

Fiber: 100% Wool | Yardage: 220 yards | Price: $10–12

Pros:

• Gorgeous stitch definition — every knit, purl, and decrease shows beautifully
• Natural wool warmth that breathes with your body temperature
• Felts slightly with wear, creating a traditional, dense fabric over time
• Rich, deep Christmas Red color that reads as a true, saturated red
• Available at local yarn shops and online retailers as part of melt the ice hat kits (see kit section below)

Cons:

• Hand wash only — hot machine water will felt the hat into a shrunken, matted lump
• Can feel slightly itchy against sensitive skin (wearing a thin liner helps)
• Not as widely stocked in big-box stores — check local yarn shops or order online

Why Wool Works Best for the Norwegian Tradition

The original Norwegian nisseluer were knitted from local wool. Using wool for your melt the ice hat connects to that material tradition. Wool naturally regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and develops a beautiful patina over time.

Best for: Experienced crafters who appreciate natural fibers and do not mind hand washing.

Premium Yarn Options ($15+)

Malabrigo Rios — Ravelry Red

Hand-dyed superwash merino that produces stunning, one-of-a-kind finished hats. Available through curated kit bundles at multiple yarn shops (see kit section below).

Fiber: 100% Superwash Merino | Yardage: 210 yards | Price: $15–18

Pros:

• Incredibly soft and squishy — comfortable against skin without a liner
• Superwash treatment means it is machine washable despite being pure wool
• Hand-dyed color depth creates subtle tonal variations that make each hat unique
• Beautiful drape that blocks into a refined, professional-looking hat

Cons:

• Expensive — at $15–18 per skein, this is a premium choice
• Color varies between dye lots, so buy enough for your entire project in one batch
• May feel like "too much" for a first hat — save this for when you know your gauge and technique

Hand-Dyed Color Depth

Unlike machine-dyed yarns that produce flat, uniform color, Malabrigo's kettle-dyed process creates micro-variations across the skein. In a finished hat, this reads as rich visual texture — subtle shifts from deep crimson to bright scarlet within the same row.

Best for: Gift hats, special occasions, or when you want the absolute best finished product.

Berroco Vintage — Sour Cherry (#5154)

A wool-acrylic-nylon blend that combines natural warmth, easy care, and durability.

Fiber: 52% Acrylic / 40% Wool / 8% Nylon | Yardage: 218 yards | Price: $12–14

Pros:

• Soft and warm without the itch of pure wool
• Machine washable — the acrylic and nylon stabilize the wool fibers
• Nylon content adds durability at wear points (brim fold, crown tip)
• Generous yardage at 218 yards — one skein covers the hat easily

Cons:

• Not as soft as pure merino (the acrylic content is noticeable)
• Sour Cherry colorway may read slightly darker than a true red — check in natural light
• Availability varies by store

Best for: Everyday wear hats that need to withstand regular machine washing and outdoor conditions.

Complete Yarn Comparison Chart

How Much Yarn Do You Need?

Yardage requirements differ between knitting and crochet because the stitch structures consume yarn at different rates.

Yardage by Craft and Yarn Weight

With most worsted weight skeins providing 200+ yards, one skein is usually enough for the hat plus a tassel. Buy two skeins if you are unsure about your gauge, want extra for a longer statement-length tassel, or plan to swatch extensively.

Why Crochet Uses Less Yarn

Crochet stitches are taller than knit stitches, so the hat body requires fewer rounds to reach the same height. However, each individual crochet stitch uses more yarn than a knit stitch. These two factors roughly cancel out, with crochet ending up slightly lower in total yardage.

Buying Yarn Kits for the Melt The Ice Hat

Several yarn shops offer pre-assembled kits that include the yarn, pattern, and sometimes needles or hooks. Kits take the guesswork out of yarn selection and ensure you have the right color and quantity.

Where to Find Kits

• Halcyon Yarn — offers kits with multiple yarn options including Plymouth Galway Worsted and Cascade Pure Alpaca
• Gather Fiber — curated kit with selected red yarn and pattern
• Fabulous Yarn — kit featuring Cascade 220 in Christmas Red

Are Kits Worth the Cost?

Kits typically cost $5–10 more than buying yarn alone, but they include the $5 pattern. If you were going to buy the official pattern anyway, the extra cost is minimal — and you get a yarn that the shop has verified works well for the project.

Our Recommendation

For most crafters making their first melt the ice hat, Cascade 220 in Christmas Red hits the sweet spot. It is affordable enough that you will not stress over mistakes, natural enough to feel special, and produces a hat with beautiful stitch definition. The 220 yards per skein gives you comfortable margin for the hat plus tassel.

If budget is the priority, Red Heart Super Saver works perfectly well. The finished hat will look great and last for years. Give it a wash with fabric softener before wearing to remove the initial stiffness.

If you want the absolute best, Malabrigo Rios produces a hat that feels like a luxury item. The hand-dyed color depth is unmatched, and the superwash treatment means you can machine wash it without worry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use cotton yarn for the melt the ice hat? Cotton is not recommended. It has no elasticity, which means the ribbed brim will not stretch to fit snugly. Cotton also does not insulate well in cold weather. If you must use cotton, blend yarns (cotton-acrylic) work better than 100% cotton.

Is one skein really enough? For worsted weight, yes. Most skeins provide 200+ yards, and the hat uses 180–250 yards depending on your gauge and craft. The exception is Lion Brand Vanna's Choice at 170 yards — you may need two skeins.

Does yarn color matter for the symbolism? The traditional melt the ice hat is bright red, connecting to the Norwegian WWII resistance hats. Some crafters have made versions in white, orange, or variegated reds. The shape and tassel are what make the hat recognizable, but the red carries the deepest historical meaning.

What about yarn from the dollar store? Dollar store yarns are typically very thin, inconsistent in color, and uncomfortable against skin. For a hat you will wear with pride, invest at least in Red Heart Super Saver ($3–4). The small upgrade in quality is worth it for a project with this much meaning.

Match Your Yarn to Your Project

Once you have chosen your yarn, use our free tools and patterns to plan the rest of your melt the ice hat:

• Crown Decrease Calculator — Calculate precise decreases for your exact stitch count
• How to Knit the Melt The Ice Hat — Complete knitting walkthrough
• How to Crochet the Melt The Ice Hat — Complete crochet walkthrough
• Free Knitting Pattern — The pillar pattern page with size charts

This page contains AI-assisted content reviewed and edited by our team for accuracy and clarity.