Comparing Impressions or Barcelona Yarn To Puzzle Yarn

This yarn review is comparing  Impressions or Barcelona Yarn (discontinued) to Puzzle Yarn. Impressions yarn seems to be the replacement for Barcelona Big Yarn. I will be highlighting projects made by Barcelona / Impressions and Puzzle Yarn at the end of this post. This yarn comparison is my honest assessment after designing and crocheting the Bonfire Poncho and Bucket Hat, using Barcelona yarn, and the Round Puzzle Poncho using Puzzle Yarn.

After I started using Barcelona / Impressions yarn, I noticed how it was similar to Premiere Puzzle yarn.

I am not writing this yarn review for Michaels or any other yarn company. I’m giving my honest opinion, to help you make a decision on what yarn you would like to use, for your next bulky weight (5) project. Bonus! I will add a list of other (5) bulky yarn that is comparable, at the end of this post.

Here is a side by side description of Barcelona, Impressions & Puzzle Yarns. 

• Weight: Bulky (5) (Barcelona)
  Weight: Bulky (5) (Impressions)
  Weight: Bulky (5) (Puzzle)
• Contents: 100% acrylic (Barcelona)
  Contents: 100% acrylic (Impressions)
  Contents: 100% acrylic (Puzzle)
• (Barcelona) Skein Weight:250 grams (8.82 ounces)
  Yardage: 410 yards (375 meters)
  (Impressions) Skein Weight: 150 grams (5.29 ounces)
  Yardage: 246 yards (225 meters)
  (Puzzle) Skein Weight: 200 grams (7 ounces)
  Yardage: 328 yards (310 meters)
• (Barcelona) (Impressions) (Puzzle) Knitting Gauge:
  15 sts – 20 rows = 4″ (10 cm)
• Suggested Knitting Needle:
• 6 mm, US – 10
• Suggested Crochet Hook:
  6 mm, US – J/10
• Gauge:
  I used a larger hook than is recommended to create my designs. Here is the gauge I acquired using a 6.5 mm, US K/10.5mm hook.
  4″ = 7 Rows of hdc x 4″ = 12 hdc st’s US K/10.5
  
  
  
  Below is my honest opinion of Barcelona / Impressions yarn, in comparison it to Puzzle Yarn.
• A few of the colors are similar to Premiere Puzzle Yarn.
• I found a few knots in the two Barcelona balls that I have worked with. Nothing out of the ordinary. The knots in Puzzle yarn were significantly less.
• I did encounter thick thin spot in Barcelona. There were no thick and thin spots in Puzzle yarn.
• Both yarns are easy to crochet with, as it slides over the hook in a slick and easy manner.
• I didn’t have to deal with the yarn splitting with either the Barcelona or the Puzzle yarns.
  
  Below is a the Comparison in Video Format.
  
  

  
  
  Do I recommend Barcelona / Impressions yarn or Puzzle yarn?

• I do recommend these two bulky yarns to create garments, hats, scarves & blankets. 
• I am happily giving each brand of yarn a 4.5 star rating.
• At the time of this writing, Barcelona Yarn has been discontinued and Impressions Yarn has taken it’s place. You may be able to find Barcelona Big Ball yarn on Ebay, Amazon and Etsy. Impressions Yarn is the clear replacement, but the balls are much smaller. 
  

  
  
  Tell me what you think of Impressions & Barcelona Yarn or Puzzle Yarn.

• Please tell me your experience using Barcelona, Impressions or Puzzle yarn. Leave me a comment below. 
• If you leave me a comment, I may add it to this blog post, so that others will have a better understanding of what it is like to use this yarn.
• I want this post to be of help to others, so it would be my peasure to add your experience to this blog post.
  

  
  
  Projects that have been made with Barcelona yarn (click the links below to view the “projects” of the ravelers design. You will find the link to the pattern the raveler used at that link)

• Hailey Jean knit a beautiful sweater using Barcelona Big Ball Yarn.  It’s called the Gossamer Twist Sweater. 
• Twiggy’s Waffle Blanket is soooooo pretty, and it looks so warm!
• Remnant’s Threads crocheted the prettiest cabled doggie sweater using Barcelona yarn.
  
• Cindi crocheted a gorgeous shawl using Barcelona Yarn. It looks like it would be a quick make as well.
• There are many more projects in Ravelry that used Bacelona yarn. Click THIS LINK and you might find something that inspires you to use up your Barcelona Stash. Hey, you might want to grab a few balls of easy to find Puzzle yarn at Walmart.

  
  Check out these projects using Puzzle Yarn by Premiere. You will see a couple of projects that feature my design, the Round Puzzle Poncho.

• Deb Thurmond was a tester for the Round Puzzle Poncho. I love the colors that she chose, and she is a beautiful model.
• Abitknottie crocheted a stunning blanket using Puzzle Yarn.
• I am loving KnottyMrs.Smiths Hat that she crocheted. It has so much texture!
• Weedwacker crocheted the Round Puzzle Poncho and she said, ” I am on my second one, so I will have one for fall and one for spring. It is cozy to wear, and feels like a warm hug.”
  
• Check out the other projects that use Puzzle Yarn at Ravelry.
  
  
  

• Here are few projects that have been made using Impressions yarn (click the links below to view the “projects” of the ravelers design. You will find the link to the pattern the raveler used at that link)

• Huskylovee crocheted the cutest little knome guys in the colorway mulberry. So cute!
• Trinaquilts crocheted a fun boxy chicken using the colorway Brown Mustard.
• The Kindlyknitter made the prettiest knit sweater using Impressions Yarn. It is lovely!
  
• There are many more projects in Ravelry that used Impressions yarn. Click THIS LINK and you might find something that inspires you to use up your Stash of Impressions Yarn. 
  
  
  

  Now it is time to share yarn substitutions that others have found.
  
  

• The information that I am sharing can be found at YARNSUB.COM
• Major by Universal Yarns is considered a 99% match. It is a little more expensive. Colors are limited.
• The following links are a 94% match, there are differences in the ply, gauge, texture and how easy it is to work with the yarn. Remember that you can go to Yarnsub.com to view all of the differences.
  1. King Cole Shadow Chunky
  2. Hayfield Bonanza
  3. Red Heart Gemstone
  
  I hope you enjoyed this comaparison yarn review. Below are two of my designs that used Barcelona Yarn. The Bonfire Bucket Hat and the Bonfire Poncho.
  
  
  
  It was so much fun designing a round poncho using Puzzle Yarn. Just like Weedwacker, I crocheted two.
  
  
  
  Let me know if you have used any of these yarns. Tell me if you agree with my 4.5 stars and tell me if I need to add more to this assessment.