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Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn vs Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Buy the Caron Cloud Cakes if you want the softest, loftiest fabric for baby blankets, hats and cozy sweaters. Buy the Lion Brand Mandala if you want a longer-running cake in a lighter DK weight for scarves, shawls and colorwork. Cloud Cakes wins on softness and hand feel; Mandala wins on yardage, weight range and availability. Owners love Cloud Cakes' brushed fleece texture but many are upset the line is discontinued, so stock is unpredictable. Mandala is a steady, widely stocked workhorse that reviewers call easy to work with.

  • Choose the Caron Cloud Cakes if you are making something worn against the skin, like a baby blanket or a soft hat, and you can find the shade you want.
  • Choose the Lion Brand Mandala if you need one cake to finish a scarf or shawl and want a lighter DK yarn with more colorways.

Prices

  • Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn: $6.75 at Yarnspirations (last seen Nov 11)
  • Lion Brand Mandala Yarn: $5.36 at Walmart (checked today)
  • Difference: the Lion Brand Mandala Yarn is $1.39 cheaper than the Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn at the latest prices (Nov 11 and Nov 12)
Caron
Caron cloud cakes kelp

Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn

Caron cloud cakes kelp

$6.75at YarnspirationsChecked 5 h ago
See all prices and details
Visit Yarnspirations
Pros
  • Extremely soft brushed texture, among the softest acrylics reviewers have felt
  • Lofty and light, so projects stay airy
  • Large 240 g ball means fewer joins
  • Machine washable
  • Good stitch smoothness with no knots reported
Cons
  • Line is discontinued, so shades sell out and may not return
  • Not very thick despite the worsted label
  • Limited color restocks, including Lagoon and Saltwater Taffy
  • Shorter yardage for its weight than Mandala
Lion Brand
Lion Brand Mandala Yarn Cake Ghidorah

Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Lion Brand Mandala Yarn Cake Ghidorah

4.6(5 ratings)
$5.36at WalmartChecked 48 min ago
See all prices and details
Visit Walmart
Pros
  • 590 yd per cake covers a scarf or small shawl in one ball
  • Wide color range across jewel, bright and classic shades
  • Machine wash and low-heat tumble dry
  • Consistent, widely available supply
  • Smooth DK weight gives clean stitch definition
Cons
  • Plain acrylic hand feel, not as soft as Cloud Cakes
  • Lighter weight means more stitches per inch and slower projects
  • Some colorways have visible color-pooling shifts

What separates them

Caron Cloud Cakes YarnLion Brand Mandala Yarn
Yarn weightWorsted (4), knits at 20 sts per 4 in on US 7DK (3), knits at 22 sts per 4 in on US 5
TextureAiry, brushed, fleecy finish that feels cloud-softSmooth, standard acrylic with a clean stitch definition
Ball sizeOne 240 g / 8.5 oz ballOne 150 g / 5.3 oz cake
YardageHeavy ball but shorter total length for its weight590 yd / 540 m per cake, enough for a scarf or small shawl
Color rangeFun, poppy shades, but several popular colors are out of stockVery wide range, from jewel tones to brights and classic shades
AvailabilityDiscontinued line; restocks are uncertainWidely stocked and easy to reorder
CareMachine washableMachine wash and low-heat tumble dry
Best projectsSoft garments, baby blankets, hats, shawlsScarves, shawls, colorwork and children's items

Price history

$16.00$11.24
Nov 11Nov 12
  • Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn: lowest $11.24 on Nov 11 at Michaels; $11.24 on Nov 12.
  • Lion Brand Mandala Yarn: lowest $16.00 on Nov 11 at Walmart; $16.00 on Nov 12.

Prices at every store

Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn

  • YarnspirationsNew

    In stockReturn policy

    $6.75Checked 5 h ago
    Visit Yarnspirations
  • MichaelsNew

    In stock

    $11.24+ $9.99 shippingChecked 48 min ago
    Visit Michaels

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 2 stores and price history →

Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $5.36+ $5.99 shippingChecked 48 min ago
    Visit Walmart
  • WalmartNew

    In stock

    $16.00+ $6.99 shippingChecked 48 min ago
    Visit Walmart

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

Prices and history →

Specs compared

SpecCaron Cloud Cakes YarnLion Brand Mandala Yarn
Fiber ContentAcrylic—
Type of YarnKnitting Yarn—
Yarn weight—3 Light / DK
Crochet gauge—16 sc x 20 r on H-8 (5 mm)
Knit gauge—22 sts x 30 r on #5 (3.75mm)
Length yards—590
Length meters—540
Weight oz—5.3
Weight g—150
Fiber detail—100% Acrylic
Care—Machine Wash, Machine Dry
Recommended needles—3.75mm (US 5)
Show all 17 specsShow fewer specs
SpecCaron Cloud Cakes YarnLion Brand Mandala Yarn
Recommended crochet hook—5.00mm (H)
Care instructions—Low Heat Tumble Dry, Machine Wash 30°C
color—Other
actual_color—Ghidorah
size—One Size

What reviewers say

Caron Cloud Cakes Yarn

Buyers describe Cloud Cakes as extremely soft, some calling it the softest yarn they have felt, with fun, poppy colors and a smooth, knot-free strand. They like it for baby blankets, hats and sweaters and consider it good quality. Many are heartbroken that the line is discontinued and ask for more colors and restocks of shades like Lagoon and Saltwater Taffy.

What people mention
  • SoftnessPraisedReviewers repeatedly call it the softest yarn they have worked with.
  • ColorsMixedBuyers love the poppy shades but want more colors and restocks of favorites like Lagoon and Saltwater Taffy.
  • AvailabilityCriticisedThe line is discontinued, and reviewers are heartbroken and asking for it to return.
  • TexturePraisedThe strand is smooth and knot-free, with a lofty, fleecy feel.

Lion Brand Mandala Yarn

Crocheters and knitters like Mandala for its long color repeats and the way one cake finishes a scarf or shawl. Common complaints are that the acrylic feels rougher than expected and that cakes can differ in where colors fall.

What people mention
  • Color repeatsPraisedBuyers like that the long gradients stripe on their own without joining new balls.
  • SoftnessMixedSome find it soft enough for wearables, others call it scratchy until washed.
  • YardagePraisedOne cake covers a scarf or small shawl, which buyers appreciate.
  • Color consistencyCriticisedCakes in the same colorway can start and end at different points, complicating matching.

Questions and answers

Which is softer, Caron Cloud Cakes or Lion Brand Mandala?
Caron Cloud Cakes is noticeably softer. Its brushed, fleecy finish is what reviewers praise most, while Mandala is a smooth standard acrylic.
Which is better for a baby blanket?
Cloud Cakes. Its airy softness suits blankets and hats against the skin. Mandala works too but feels less plush.
Which yarn goes further?
Mandala. One cake carries 590 yd, while Cloud Cakes packs a heavy 240 g ball with less length for its weight.
Is Cloud Cakes being discontinued?
Yes. Reviewers report the line is discontinued and ask for restocks of shades like Lagoon and Saltwater Taffy, so buy enough for your whole project when you find it.
Can I substitute one for the other in a pattern?
Only with gauge adjustments. Cloud Cakes is worsted at 20 sts per 4 in on US 7; Mandala is DK at 22 sts on US 5. Swatch and change needle size to match your pattern.
Which lasts longer in the wash?
Mandala is labeled for machine wash and low-heat tumble dry. Cloud Cakes is machine washable but its brushed texture can mat over time, so air dry it to keep it fluffy.

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More comparisons

  • Caron Big Cakes Yarn vs Caron cloud cakes kelp
  • Caron Big Cakes Yarn vs Lion Brand Mandala Yarn Cake Ghidorah

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