Is Walmart’s Mainstays Basic Yarn comparable to Red Heart Super Saver? I think it is, at an even lower price!

I recently discovered that Walmart is now selling their own brand of value acrylic yarn, so I decided to give it a try.  It is called Mainstays Basic Yarn, and I found it to be similar in quality to Red Heart Super Saver.  The texture of the yarn is smooth, doesn’t easily split, and although it is a little scratchy (as are many yarns at this price point), I believe it will soften up nicely in the wash.  Projects made from this yarn can be machine washed and dried.  Mainstays yarn does not come in as many colors as Super Saver, though.

According to the label, each skein weighs 7 oz (198.4 g) and contains 397 yards (363 m) of yarn.  This is the same weight as Super Saver, but with a few more yards, indicating that Mainstays yarn is just slightly thinner than Super Saver (even though they are both worsted weight).  My Walmart store sells Red Heart Super Saver for around $2.79 per skein, whereas the Mainstays Basic Yarn is $1.97 per skein (slightly cheaper).

The label includes a free pattern on the back, and provides most of the information normally given on other brands’ labels.  The only information that is not provided is the dye lot number.  The label does not say anything about the dye lot, so I am assuming it is a “No Dye Lot” yarn, like Super Saver.

Overall, I think Mainstays Basic Yarn is similar in quality and slightly cheaper in price than Red Heart Super Saver, and is great for projects that need to be durable and machine-washable.

What is your favorite value acrylic yarn?