Caron Skinny Cakes

As a crocheter and knitter, I’m always on the lookout for fun new yarns to fuel my next project. Recently, I discovered Caron Skinny Cakes, a lightweight, self-striping yarn that adds beautiful color and texture to all kinds of designs. If you love working with colorful, gradient yarns, Caron Skinny Cakes needs to be on your radar!

In this in-depth buying guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to find, choose, and crochet or knit with this fantastic yarn. Let’s dive in!

What Is Caron Skinny Cakes Yarn?

Caron Skinny Cakes is a light worsted weight yarn with a self-striping color effect. Each cake morphs between several coordinating hues, eliminating the need to change yarn shades manually as you work. The colors progress hand-dyed ombre style, making Caron Skinny Cakes perfect for shawls, scarves, blankets, and more.

This yarn features a blend of 75% acrylic and 25% rayon from bamboo. The result is a very soft, breathable feel and gorgeous drape. Despite the lightweight texture, Caron Skinny Cakes is still durable enough for accessories you’ll wear and use often.

Where to Buy Caron Skinny Cakes Yarn

Caron Skinny Cakes can be found both online and in craft stores. Check the yarn section of stores like:

• Michaels
• Joann
• Hobby Lobby
• AC Moore

Online retailers like Yarnspirations, LoveCrafts, and Webs also carry the full range of Caron Skinny Cakes colors.

How Much Does Caron Skinny Cakes Yarn Cost?

Caron Skinny Cakes yarn cakes are priced between $9.99 and $12.99 each. Since each cake includes over 500 yards of yarn, that breaks down to about $0.02 to $0.03 per yard. For the quality and yardage, this is an excellent value!

The specific price can vary based on the retailer. Always look out for sales, coupons, and deals to get the best bargain on your yarn purchase. Signing up for email newsletters from craft stores can help you snag discounts.

Yardage, Weight, and Fiber Info

Here are some key specs for Caron Skinny Cakes yarn:

• Yardage: Approximately 550 yards per cake
• Weight: Light worsted or size 3 yarn
• Fiber Content: 75% acrylic, 25% rayon from bamboo

The generous 550 yard cake allows you to complete an entire project in just 1-3 balls of yarn. The light worsted weight makes this yarn perfect for garments and accessories with drape and structure. And the bamboo rayon lends breathability and softness.

Available Colorways

One of the best things about Caron Skinny Cakes is the huge color selection! There are over 75 distinct colorways available.

Some top picks include:

• Blueberry Tart (purple)
• Strawberry Shortcake (pink)
• Limeade (green)
• Creamsicle (orange)
• Sea Glass (blue)
• Mint Chip (mint green)

Whether you love rich tones, pastels, or bright pops of color, there’s a Caron Skinny Cake for you. The colors blend beautifully within each cake too.

Soft, Lightweight Feel

Caron Skinny Cakes have a noticeably soft, lightweight feel. The bamboo rayon fibers help give it a cool, breathable quality that works well for scarves and lightweight sweaters.

Despite the light feel, Caron Skinny Cakes is still durable enough for everyday wear. It’s breathable but not overly delicate. Reviewers say it stands up well to regular use.

Ideal For Shawls, Scarves, and Blankets

What projects work best with Caron Skinny Cakes yarn? The self-striping colors are perfect for displaying drape, so this yarn shines when making:

• Shawls: Both triangle and rectangular shapes show off the color gradients.
• Blankets: For a twin or throw blanket, about 3 cakes creates a nice sized striped design.
• Scarves: Cowls, infinity scarves, and more make quick, easy projects.

You can also use Caron Skinny Cakes for sweaters, hats, bags, and other accessories. Just pick a pattern that flatters the tonal color strips. Lace stitch patterns like shells and ripples really make the colors pop!

Free Pattern Inspiration

Yarnspirations offers a wide selection of free patterns perfect for Caron Skinny Cakes yarn. Some favorites include:

• Crochet Reversible Skinny Cakes Throw: Uses just 3 cakes for a cozy striped throw.
• Skinny Cakes Shawl: A colorful crescent shawl that pops with texture.
• Knit Skinny Cakes Pullover: An easy knit sweater with a lace detail neckline.

Peruse all the Caron Skinny Cakes patterns for more ideas and inspiration for your next project.

How Much Yarn Do You Need?

In most cases, 1 to 3 cakes of Caron Skinny Cakes is plenty for a project. Here are some estimates:

• Scarf or cowl: 1 cake
• Shawl: 1-2 cakes
• Blanket: 2-3 cakes
• Sweater: At least 2 cakes

Remember that each cake has about 550 yards. Multiply this by the number of cakes to get your total yardage needs. Always get 1 extra skein to be safe in case you work up yarn faster than expected!

Perfect for Summer Knits and Crochet

Thanks to the lightweight feel, Caron Skinny Cakes works wonderfully for hot weather knits and crochet. Light cardigans, summer tops, and breezy shawls made with this yarn will keep you cool and comfortable when temperatures rise.

The colors also lend themselves nicely to summery color palettes. Pastels, brights, and ocean tones are abundant.

Gorgeous Ombre and Striping Effects

One of the coolest things about Caron Skinny Cakes is the built-in ombré and striping effect. As you work through a cake, the colors automatically transition with no effort on your part.

The hand-dyed style creates soft, blurred stripes that are pretty and whimsical. You’ll get compliments on both the colors and the gradient effect.

How Is It Different from Caron Cakes?

Caron Skinny Cakes is often compared to the original Caron Cakes line. While similar, there are a few differences:

• Caron Cakes are a heavier worsted weight while Skinny Cakes are light worsted.
• Skinny Cakes contain rayon for softness; Cakes are 100% acrylic.
• Caron Cakes have defined transitions between colors while Skinny Cakes blend more smoothly.
• Skinny Cakes cost a few dollars less per cake than Caron Cakes.

Both are great self-striping yarns, so choose based on your preferred fiber, drape, and other factors.

Recommended Needle and Hook Sizes

What tools work best with this yarn? Caron recommends these needle and hook sizes:

• Knitting needles: 4.5 mm to 5.5 mm (US size 7 to 9)
• Crochet hooks: 4.5 mm to 6.0 mm (US size 7 to J)

The “light worsted” weight means US 7, 8, and 9 needles and hooks keep the right amount of drape and structure. Feel free to adjust a size up or down to match your tension.

Caring for Your Finished Pieces

Caron Skinny Cakes is conveniently machine washable and dryable. Wash in cold water, then tumble dry on low. To minimize pilling, turn garments inside out first.

Avoid overly hot water or high heat drying to prevent damaging the yarn fibers. Always wash similar colors together to prevent any potential bleeding or transfer of dye.

Blocking your finished pieces can help them hold their shape and enhance the drape. Steaming or wet blocking with pins is perfect for lace shawls and garments to make the stitches really pop!

Great for Beginners

Caron Skinny Cakes is a fantastic yarn for beginner knitters and crocheters. The worsted weight gives enough substance to see your stitches clearly as you learn. And the self-striping color changes keep projects interesting as you progress.

The fiber blend is also very forgiving for newbie mistakes. If you need to rip back and redo a section, the yarn won’t show it. Caron Skinny Cakes helps build confidence and skills.

Shines in Lightweight Scarves and Shawls

For showing off beautiful drape and colors, you can’t go wrong with lightweight shawls and scarves using Caron Skinny Cakes. Simple stitches like single crochet or garter stitch let the ombre yarn colors shine.

Open lacy patterns like mesh, ripples, and waves also complement the gradients and sheen from this yarn. For next-level texture, add bobbles, puff stitches, or other dimensional details.

What Do Customers Say in Reviews?

Overall, crocheters and knitters rave about Caron Skinny Cakes in reviews. They love the vibrant colors, gradual color changes, and soft feel. Many say it works up quickly into beautiful finished pieces.

Some do note that Caron Skinny Cakes feels a bit thinner and splits more than other acrylic yarns. But the affordability and self-striping effect outweigh any minor negatives for most. It’s become a go-to for easy, colorful projects.

Where to Get the Best Deals

To get Caron Skinny Cakes yarn at the lowest prices, watch for these deals:

• Sales at Michael’s, Joann, and other craft stores. The lowest prices tend to be 40-50% off normal retail prices.
• Coupon codes online. Check sites like Ravelry, LoveCrafts, and Webs for promo codes at checkout.
• Michael’s and Joann both frequently run “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” yarn sales. This lets you score 3 cakes for the price of 2.
• Sign up for loyalty programs and email lists to get coupons sent right to your inbox.

With the right sale or code, you can often snag these gorgeous yarn cakes for under $7 each—an incredible value!

The Perfect Self-Striping Yarn

Caron Skinny Cakes have become my new yarn obsession thanks to the stunning colors, easy care, and affordability. If you’re searching for a lightweight, beginner-friendly yarn for colorful shawls, blankets, and more, Caron Skinny Cakes are a fantastic choice. Take advantage of deals and stock up on this top-rated self-striping yarn for your next creative endeavor!