This yarn is very affordable and washes great! They have improved the softness also. This used to be very scratchy and stiff, it's now much softer and nicer. After a single wash it's almost as soft as baby yarn. I use this yarn for afghans mostly but it also makes nice hats and scarfs. There are lots of colors so it's easy to make multi colored projects look just how you want them to and there's no risk of color run or fading. I do throw 1/2 cup of vinegar in all of my wash to make the clothes softer, that trick works great on this yarn also.