Bernat Super Value Yarn Vs. Caron Perfect Match Yarn

Needlework crafters are always looking for ways of satisfying their yarn craving without irritating the careful family budget. Constantly looking for great values on quality yarn for wearables and afghans, Bernat and Caron offer their own versions of bulk yarn. How do these yarns measure up?

Value

Bernat Super Value yarn is $3-4 for 7 ounces while Caron Perfect Match is usually in the solid $3 range for the same among of worsted weight yarn. They are both made from 100% acrylic and come in a wide variety of basic and fashion colors. On the surface they might seem like the same value for this quantity of yarn. The real test came when I used them to crochet some wearables.

How they worked

Both Bernat Super Value and Caron Perfect Match have the same weight to each yarn strand as you work with them. I made a bell-sleeved tunic with the Bernat Super Value and a Shrug with the Caron Perfect Match and had a similar feeling of a coarse yarn. Bernat Super Value feels rougher on the skin than the Caron Perfect Match, but neither of them split while working with them. Some of the softer brands of both Bernat (satin) and Caron (simply soft) do a lot of splitting while working with them, so it was refreshing not to have that experience again.

Drape

You can imagine that worsted weight yarn isn't the best yarn for drape qualities on a garment. However, you can't find out the true difference between these yarns without washing the completed project. I washed them under the same conditions and with the same detergent. After drying them in a commercial drier, I found that the Bernat Super Value was much softer than the Caron Perfect Match. The drape of the Bernat Super Value was easy and wearable; the Caron Perfect Match wearable was much stiffer and felt the same as if I had not washed it. Whereas the Bernat Super Value was initially the coarser of the two, it softened considerable after washing which the Caron version did not do.

Color

The color of Caron's Perfect Match is brighter on average than the Bernat colors. You can find some brighter colors of Bernat Super Value, but the colors always look muted and somewhat fuzzy when worked into stitches. I would have to say that the colors of Caron Perfect Match are more useable for projects than the faded look of the Bernat Super Value yarn.

For Projects

It depends on what your project is of whether the Bernat or Caron brands will win out. Afghans will do well with Bernat's softness, and Caron's stiff and somewhat soft structure works good as pullover sweaters or jackets. It's easy to use either yarn for large projects where you have to estimate the amount needed since the colors are consistent enough because there are no dye lots.

Smell retention

From my current experience with Bernat and Caron yarn, I've found that the Bernat yarn will maintain the freshly laundered smell for months after it was actually washed. This is great for blankets or clothing that is worn over something else (thus getting little contact with direct sweat from the body) and will give you a pleasant smell for a while until it needs to be laundered again. Caron Perfect Match yarn doesn't hold the fresh smell very long; it tends to smell just like the original yarn minus the store scent.

Overall Value

I would have to say, that despite the brighter colors of Caron Perfect Match, the Bernat Super Value is more of a value. These two yarns seem to go on sale at the same time at craft stores, but Bernat Super Value shines through with a useable yarn for a great price. Bernat also has a greater range of colors, though most of them aren't ones I would use for anything but afghans. For almost equivalent yarns in all respects, Bernat really steps out after you finish the project and wash it for the first time.