Welcome to the first of many yarn reviews I’ll be publishing here on the blog. There are SO many yarn options out there, from affordable to expensive, synthetic to natural, and every variant in between. Having crocheted for as long as I have, I have come across many many yarns, and I feel super excited to share my thoughts with you on them! For this first one, I’m doing a Heartland yarn review!
Reminder: Everything I write here is my opinion and my opinion only. No brand has asked me to do these reviews, and I am not receiving any compensation to review these yarns.
First impressions
I first found Heartland at my local Joann’s store in the Acrylic Yarn section. I noticed it for it’s softer color palette, a contrast to the neighboring Basic Stitch and Big Twist yarns, which were a lot bolder.
I’m already a huge Lion Brand fan, so I took a closer look. One of the first things that stood out to me was that each of the colorway names were after national parks. As someone who is on a mission to eventually see every national park in the U.S., my interest was piqued.
Yarn Details
- Fiber: 100% acrylic
- Weight : Medium, weight 4
- Gauge: 4×4″
- Crochet: 12 stitches, 15 rows with a 6mm hook
- Knit: 16 stitches, 22 rows with 5.5mm needles
- Colorways: Named for national parks and landmarks, each color is a soft heathered representation of the locale
- Price range: $5-8 USD
Performance and experience
Ease of use
Working with Heartland was quite enjoyable. It is a larger Medium weight yarn, resulting in a faster end product. The ply is a little looser, giving the stitches a really nice definition. That looser ply though does result in a little more splitting than some of Heartland’s counterparts. As you crochet or knit with it, I encourage you to work a little slower to ensure you’re not splitting your yarn in your stitches.
Texture and feel
The texture of this yarn is really nice to both work with and in the final products. It has a nice halo effect to it, giving it almost the same look as holding a yarn with mohair. It does not shed, and feels really nice against the skin.
Strength and durability
This yarn is also extremely strong. Where I can normally rip a yarn if I can’t find my yarn snips, I had a really hard time doing this with Heartland. Definitely great for a garment you will wear often or a home ware that will get some use, like a pillow.
Washing and care
The label on Heartland states that this yarn is machine washable and dryable, which to be honest, I have tried neither. While I’m nervous to stick the garments I’ve made in the washer and dryer, I do actually think they’d be fine, though I’m curious if the halo effect would still be present.
Project recommendations
This yarn is extremely versatile. I think it would work well for home accessories like blankets and pillows.
I have personally made a few garments using Heartland, and they are very comfortable. I would recommend only making cold-weather garments like sweaters, cardigans, scarves, or beanies, as this yarn does not breathe super well. It sure does lock in the heat!
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Gorgeous colorways | No vibrant, bright colorway options |
| Affordable | More expensive than some counterparts |
| Soft | Not breathable |
| Available in a lot of stores | Splits when working |
| Really nice stitch definition |
Rating
Sub-ratings
- Softness: 4/5
- Ease of use: 3/5
- Durability: 5/5
- Value for money: 5/5
- Color range: 4/5
Final thoughts
I highly recommend Heartland for anyone from beginner to advanced. It’s a fairly easy yarn to work with, has a really nice texture, and the colorways are beautiful. I can see myself making a lot more with this yarn, and I’m thinking of using it for an upcoming crochet pattern of my own to try it out for my pillows.
Have you used Heartland? Let me know in the comments what you think!
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