Caron Big Cakes Yarn vs Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Buy the Caron Big Cakes for blankets, afghans and anything that needs a thicker, faster-working yarn. Buy the Lion Brand Mandala cake for scarves, shawls and lightweight garments where a finer DK gauge and a longer single-ball run matter. Caron is the softer, bulkier cake with smooth color transitions; Mandala is the finer, more portable cake with a wider shade range. Owners of both praise the acrylic ease of care, but Caron buyers report more weight inconsistency and some color bleeding, while Mandala is the more consistent of the two at a lighter gauge.

• Choose the Caron Big Cakes if you want a worsted-weight cake big enough for a lap afghan or prayer shawl from one ball.
• Choose the Lion Brand Mandala if you want a lighter DK yarn for scarves, shawls and garments with a long single-cake yardage.