Red Heart has an awful rep. I'm a very avid knitter and I know the right thing to do it knit with those lovely hand spun, small batch dyed luxury yarns (which I do often). But when you're looking to knit something that will be hard worn, you want to last forever, and you won't be pissed I'd your husband throws it in the washer and dryer - then Red Heart is where it's at. To soften it up a bit I just soak it in a TON (like, a whole bottle) of dollar store hair conditioner and give it a good wash. Don't be a yarn snob.