I make crochet dishcloths to sell online and at local craft shows. During shows, I’ve had many requests for dish scrubbies. I’ve tried making them with nylon netting that I cut into long strips and found it a real struggle to work with for a number of reasons. Consequently, I haven’t made many of them from netting. So, when I recently heard of Red Heart’s Scrubby Yarn, I had to give it a try! I’m pleasantly surprised as to how easy it is to work with and yet it’s also effective at scrubbing dishes. With that, I thought a complete review may be helpful to others who are considering the yarn. Here it is…
Size of skein. The skeins come in a net weight of 3.5 oz (100 g) with 92 yards (85 m) on them. The knit scrubbies I’ve made with this yarn (when coupled with a strand of cotton or cotton blend yarn) measure about 4″ wide x 4-1/2″ long. One skein makes 7 scrubbies of that size, with a little yarn left over.
Cost. Watch prices online as they do vary from site to site. I’ve seen prices for this yarn ranging from $4 to over $9 per skein. It pays to shop around!
Cotton Yarn (bottom) vs Scrubby Yarn (top)
Construction. This yarn is interesting in itself. It is made of 100% polyester and has a thin central strand with little “extensions” along the strand. The thin central strand appears to be too thin at first, but it actually works well when making a dish scrubby (especially when coupled with one strand of cotton yarn).When looking online at pictures of a skein of this yarn, to me it looks more tangled than a bowl full of angel hair pasta. It’s hard to distinguish one strand of yarn! However, once you get used to it, the yarn is easy to work with. Importantly, I have yet to encounter any tangles at all. In fact, it “flows” easier than most traditional yarns I’ve used. Literally, no knots or tangles. Amazing!
Color fast. Since it’s made with polyester I suspected it would not bleed its color. But, I tested it nevertheless. I placed a strand in hot water and let it sit for a while. No color loss at all! That’s very impressive to me, considering how much color loss there is in some of the cotton yarns! Also, I have not noticed any color loss with the one I’ve been washing dishes with for a while.
No color loss!
Scrubby yarn in very hot water
Effectiveness. The little “extensions” act as fine scrubbers when removing stuck-on food particles from dirty dishes. They are simple and effective for medium tough jobs. They cannot take the place of a steel wool pad on a really tough burnt-on food mess, but they are effective when washing everyday dishes. As advertised, the little “extensions” make the scrubbies more effective than using standard crochet or knit dishcloths for removing food particles from dishes.
Knitting with Cotton Plus Scrubby Yarn
Knit or crochet? Because this yarn has little “extensions” on it, I found that it’s easier to knit with than crochet. The “extensions” seem to get caught easily on the crochet hook. Knitting with this yarn seemed to be a smoother task. However, even with knitting it does take a little time to get used to working with it. Once you do, speed picks up and there are fewer dropped/split stitches. [Hint…Knit loosely!] Perhaps given some time, one could get used to crocheting with ease with it.
Use alone or with cotton yarn. As per Red Heart’s suggestions, this yarn can be used alone or coupled with cotton yarn. A scrubbie or dishcloth made with this yarn alone has a totally unique character and feel. It is quite stretchy and has little absorbency. To me, it resembles some sort of clothing accessory [like a nice scarf] or part of a child’s toy rather than something to wash dishes with. However, THAT’S just my opinion and the next person may love using it that way.
Thickness of scrubby
I found that I like it much more when coupled with cotton or cotton blend yarn. The cloths have a more sturdy, thicker feel with much more absorbency. I like that sort of feel when washing dishes. However, coupling it with cotton/cotton blend yarn does extend the drying time quite a bit.
Scrubbies
Substitute for nylon netting? When considering if this yarn could substitute for nylon netting in scrubbies, I’d say no. Why? Because it’s simply different. It’s not as scratchy as nylon netting, so the scrubbing effect is more mild. Netting seems more appropriate for those tougher jobs where you almost need a steel wool pad. Scrubbies made with this yarn are wonderful for those not-quite-so-tough jobs. They scrub more effectively than dishcloths, but not quite as well as scrubbies made with nylon netting. So, here’s my rendition of the most mild to the toughest scrubbing power among various options: cotton dishcloths, scrubbies made with scrubby yarn, scrubbies made with nylon net, green scratchy commercially made scrub pads, steel wool pads.
Honestly, I’ve been washing dishes for a while now with a scrubby I made with this yarn (coupled with cotton yarn) and I’m very happy with it for everyday needs. It’s much easier to work with than nylon netting. All things considered, I recommend this yarn for making scrubbies what would meet most everyday needs. Perhaps have a few other things on hand in your kitchen arsenal for handling those occasional really tough jobs that come along. However, this should meet your needs most of the time! Thanks Red Heart!
Happy crocheting and knitting!
Judi
English
I make scrubbies for cleaning with the red heart scrubby yarn and 100% cotton yarn(2 strands). Crochet. Found pattern on youtube.com
Great seller at local farmers market.
Thanks for the tip!
I have been using both red heart scrubby ( regular and sparkle) together to knit my scrubbies. Makes them thicker and they work wonderfully on everything that needs a little scrubbing. I also use 2 strands of regular scrubby yarn to make my scrubbies. For dish cloths the new red heart cotton scrubby is great, but impossible to get at this time.
Thanks for sharing Claudette! I have not tried the red heart cotton scrubby yarn. Have you tried getting it at Herrschners.com?
Hi Judi,
I was recently in Nova Scotia and was introduced to making the scrubbers Now i’m back in New Zealand and I need more yarn, can i buy it from you please, as they are a great stocking filler. I’ve been unable to find it in Christchurch…..
I’ve been making scrubbies with this wonderful yarn since Red Heart came out with it. I’ve even made a Fried Egg Scrubbie with a yellow or orange center (store bought vs farm fresh) and then white with the almond variegated around the edges as if you left the egg in the frying pan a bit too long. I also came up with a cute watermelon design in red with a layer of white in a single crochet stitch and then a layer of double crochet in the green. Then I add some little black knots as the seeds. It is very easy to work with and makes a great dish scrubbie or bath scrubbie.
Thanks for sharing! Sounds like some cute designs for the kitchen!!
I’ve recently discovered this scrubby yarn over the past month and just love it. I am not experienced knitter, but I use my 24 peg green round loom and make little scrubbies. I am experimenting with one strand of scrubby and one strand of yarn. I’m testing out cotton vs. acrylic. Do you know of any benefits of one vs. the other? I noticed that the cotton yarn I pair it with is quite thinner than acrylic and yields a thinner scrubby (3 or 4). I like the thickness of the acrylic better, but for washing I think cotton would be better…? Any tips are appreciated! Thanks for the article!!
Hi Deanna! Thanks so much for your feedback and comments on the scrubby yarn. Regarding your questions…I couple the scrubby yarn with cotton yarn when making my knit dish scrubbers. They work well, hold up well, wash/dry well in the laundry, and they scrub dishes, pots and pans very well also. (I had one customer say they work like steel wool pads without the rust or metallic odor.) I have not tried making them with the acrylic yarn; however, in some blog I remember reading that acrylic yarn does not work well for dishcloths or scrubbers because it mats up with such use. I cannot verify this, but it may be true. You might want to make one with the acrylic yarn coupled with the scrubby yarn and use it for a while to test it out before going forward with the acrylic yarn. Time spent testing it out may be well worth it, especially if you find the acrylic doesn’t hold up well when used in that way. No other tips except that I find it much easier to knit with than crochet (and I’ve had other people make similar comments like that too.) You’re welcome for the article and I’m glad it helps you out! Best wishes to you and yours, and let me know how your test with the acrylic yarn comes out! Judi
Is it safe to use on glass stove top?
I’m assuming so, but check with your instruction booklet to be sure. I’ve used it on nonstick pans, glassware, and truly anything including cast iron. It scrubs very well and has never scratched anything. The scrubby yarn is 100% polyester.
Great review Judi just what I was looking for,I am making scrubbies also what I did was make three rolls in a magic circle with cotton yarn then add two rolls of scrubby yarn. I used hoops so I did not have to find the stitch. I use them on my stove top and they are great Thanks Bobbi
Great tip on how you use the scrubby yarn! Thanks for commenting! Judi
I found it very difficult to crochet with as I could not see the stitches.
I can appreciate your comment, really! That’s why I couple it with cotton yarn. Using the two together makes it much easier (for me) to distinguish stitches when I knit pot scrubbers. However, when using just the scrubby yarn, I think it would be easier to knit with it rather than crochet. You didn’t mention what type of needle work you were doing and what you were making. Changing tactics may help.
Where do you get it in sudbury ontario
Hello Roxane,
Since I live in the USA, I’m not sure where you could buy this yarn locally to you. However, it can be purchased online at Herrschners.com and also at RedHeart.com. I have purchased it at Walmart, both in the store and online. I’ve also purchased it at HobbyLobby.com. Of those four places, hopefully at least one will ship to Canada.
I just saw this post now in June, so you might have already found this product in Canada. In any event, it is available at Michaels stores. I have bought it here in Oshawa at Michaels. $4.99, but they always have coupons. I have made 2 scrubbies so far. They work great, but the yarn is tricky to crochet with. I think I will try to knit some.
Thank you for your post and adding to the info about where to buy the scrubby yarn in Canada. I DO appreciate it! Yes, I agree, the scrubby yarn is tricky to crochet with. That’s why I usually knit with it. Also, I couple it with a strand of cotton yarn. It makes the knitting much easier and the scrubber works very well, with the cotton yarn giving it some absorbency. Try it sometime and let us know how it works for you.
Try Michael’s. That’s where I bought mine in eastern Ontario.
Thanks for such a complete review! In your opinion would this yarn work for making a back scrubber?
Hi! Thanks for such a complete review! In your opinion, would this yarn work good to make a back scrubber?
Thanks!!
Hmmmm. Possibly. I just took one of my scrubbers in my personal stash and rubbed it on my back. Note that mine are coupled with cotton yarn. I think it might work. It’s not too scratchy at all on the skin. I’d buy one skein and make a sample to try myself and see how it works. Best wishes on that project! Perhaps you’ve found a new application!
Sorry Judi but im from Ontario Canada. Love working with Red Heart yarn but have never seen this on our shelves. So were can i buy this yarn.
Yes, this yarn is a little hard to find right now because it’s apparently very new and in high demand. I have seen it at one Walmart store (out of three), but they didn’t have much in stock. I’ve seen it at Hobby Lobby also, although they ran out of stock quickly. I think your best bet is to shop for it online. I’ve purchased it at Herrschners.com and also directly from RedHeart.com. Red Heart Company has all the colors available that are currently being produced, whereas to date, Herrschner’s does not carry all the colors that Red Heart has. I hope this helps! Thanks for checking out the post, Judi
I also live in Ontario and have found this yarn at Stedmans and at Michael’s.
Hi Judi! Great Review! I was hoping you could tell me if these scrubbies can be used to wash non-stick pots and pans? Thanks!
Absolutely! I couple the scrubby yarn with cotton yarn for absorption. The scrubby yarn is 100% polyester…like layers of thread wound together. I have no doubt that it could be used on nonstick pans. I’ve done it and had absolutely no issue! Thanks for visiting the site! I hope they work well for you. (Note that I have no connections with the Red Heart Yarn company…Coats & Clark, I believe) Judi
I sell these scrubbies and they can be used on everything from your face to stainless steel appliances. Good to clean golf clubs and golf carts too. We keep 1in kitchen, each bathroom, plus I made a flat design to wash dishes. It’s a wonder yarn and I have used mine for over a year
Yes! This yarn works well for a number of things! Thanks for commenting. 🙂
They are polyester and can be used on everything including tour face.
Thanks for the review. I recently bought a skien of this to try making my own scrubbies. I haven’t gotten around to using it yet. I was able to find it at Hobby Lobby for about $3-$5.
You’re welcome for the review. I hope it helps! Let me know how it works for you. I’m totally happy with it and I hope you are to! (Note that I have no ties with Red Heart Yarn Co (Coats & Clark, I believe.)) Judi
Hi Judi,
Love this post. I am making scrubbies for Christmas and found an easy way to crochet. Use I hook. Chain 4 and join. 1st round: chain 3 (1st dc) 11 Double crochets in ring. Join, 2nd round: Chain 2 (1st hdc) 2 half double crochets in each space between double crochets. The spaces can be easily found by separating the double crochets. Just continue with rounds until size is obtained. I did 3. The more you work with this yarn the quicker it goes. Thanks for a wonderful review.
Thanks for sharing, Chris! (And thank YOU for your wonderful comments!) Judi
I FOUND WHEN IT WAS MADE I PUT IT IN THE WASHING MACHINE AND IT HAD DOUBLE THE THICKNESS!