Why Cascade Yarns Belong in Every Crafter's Stash
Some yarn brands earn a devoted following through clever marketing. Cascade earns theirs through the yarn itself. Cascade Yarns has been producing some of the most reliable, well-priced, and widely loved fiber in the American knitting and crochet world for decades, and the loyalty their customers show is a direct reflection of how consistently good the product is.Â
At Paradise Fibers, we've carried Cascade yarn for years because it delivers on its promise every single time. Whether you're a beginner buying your first real skein of wool or an experienced maker who simply wants a dependable yarn at a fair price, Cascade belongs in your stash.
The Story Behind Cascade Yarn
Cascade Yarns is based in Seattle, Washington, which makes them practically neighbors of ours out here in Spokane. Founded in 1983, the company built its reputation on sourcing quality fiber from Peru and producing yarn with a consistency and value that quickly made it a staple in yarn shops across North America.Â
Their commitment to working directly with Peruvian mills and shepherds has remained a defining part of who they are, and that close relationship with the source of their fiber shows up in the quality of the finished product. Over four decades in business, Cascade has grown into one of the most recognized and respected names in the industry without losing the approachable, crafter-focused character that made people love them in the first place.
Popular Cascade Yarns Lines We Carry
The breadth of the Cascade lineup is one of the things that makes them so useful as a go-to brand. There is genuinely something here for every project, every skill level, and every budget. Here are the lines our customers reach for most often:
- Cascade 220 is the yarn that built the brand and remains its most iconic product. One hundred percent Peruvian Highland wool in a worsted weight, available in over 200 colors. It's smooth, consistent, beautifully balanced, and priced well enough to buy in quantity for larger projects. The 220 name refers to the 220 yards in each 100g skein, and it's become a standard reference point in the knitting world. If you've never tried Cascade yarn, this is where to start.
- Cascade 220 Superwash takes everything that makes the original great and adds machine washability. All the stitch definition and color range of the original with the practicality of an easy-care fiber. A top recommendation for garments, baby items, and anything that will be washed regularly.
- Cascade Anthem is a worsted weight acrylic with an incredibly soft hand that punches well above its price point. A great choice for large projects where budget matters and a natural fiber isn't strictly necessary.
- Cascade Eco Wool is an undyed, natural fiber option for crafters who love the character of unprocessed wool. Available in the natural colors of the fleece, it's a beautiful choice for dyeing projects or for anyone who appreciates the honest, earthy quality of fiber in its most natural state.
- Cascade Heritage is a fingering weight sock yarn blending wool and nylon for durability. Available in solid and self-striping colorways, it's one of the most popular sock yarns we carry and a consistent customer favorite.
- Cascade Alpaca Lana d'Oro blends alpaca and wool into a DK weight yarn with exceptional softness and drape. A luxurious step up from standard wool at a price that's still accessible for most crafters.
Why Crafters Keep Coming Back to Cascade Yarns
Consistency is the word that comes up most often when our customers talk about why they love Cascade yarns. Dye lots are reliable. Yardage is accurate. The twist and ply are even from skein to skein. These sound like basic expectations, but anyone who has worked with less reliable yarn knows how much it matters when you're deep into a project and need your next skein to match perfectly. Cascade delivers that reliability as a matter of course, and that's worth a lot.
The color range is another major draw. With hundreds of colorways across their various lines, finding a specific shade you need is rarely a problem. And because the same colors are available across multiple yarn weights in lines like the 220 family, you can swatch in one weight and scale up or down without losing the color you fell in love with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cascade Yarns
Where is Cascade Yarn made?
Cascade Yarns is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and sources most of its fiber from Peru, working directly with Peruvian mills and shepherds. The company has maintained close relationships with its Peruvian suppliers for decades, which contributes significantly to the consistency and quality of the finished yarn. Some specialty lines in the Cascade catalog source fiber from other regions depending on the specific fiber type.
Is Cascade 220 good for beginners?
Cascade 220 is one of our most recommended yarns for beginners and for good reason. It's smooth and consistent, which makes it easy to see your stitches clearly and identify mistakes. The worsted weight works up at a comfortable pace without being so thick that it limits what you can make. It's affordable enough to practice with generously, and it's available in enough colors to make even a simple first project feel exciting. If you're learning to knit or crochet and looking for a first real skein of wool, Cascade yarn in the 220 line is an excellent starting point.
Is Cascade 220 Superwash machine washable?
Yes. Cascade 220 Superwash is treated to be fully machine washable, which is one of the main reasons it's so popular for garments, baby items, and everyday accessories. The superwash process smooths the fiber scales that would otherwise cause wool to felt and shrink in the washing machine. We recommend washing on a gentle cycle in cool water and laying flat to dry for best results, but it handles the machine reliably without the felting risk of untreated wool.
What is the difference between Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Superwash?
Both are 100% Peruvian wool in a worsted weight with 220 yards per skein, but the superwash version has been treated to be machine washable while the original has not. The original 220 has a slightly more rustic, traditional wool hand and is better suited to projects that will be hand washed or that you want to felt intentionally. The superwash version is a bit smoother and more consistent in texture and is the better choice for anything that will see regular machine laundering. Both are excellent Cascade yarns and the right choice depends entirely on how the finished project will be cared for.
How many yards are in a skein of Cascade 220?
Each skein of Cascade 220 contains 220 yards of yarn in a 100 gram skein, which is actually where the name comes from. This makes yardage planning and pattern substitution very straightforward since the skein weight and yardage are easy to work with mathematically. Most worsted weight patterns list their yardage requirements clearly, and the consistent 220 yard skeins make it simple to calculate exactly how many you need.
