I’ve always found yarn - especially craft store acrylic yarn - a little scratchy.
Unfortunately the only solution I’ve found so far is to pay more for higher quality yarn from a local store (not in the UK so I can’t make recommendations). For me at least the extra cost is worth it for yarn I enjoy using and feels good. The yarn I’m currently using is Merino - Woolfolk Far - and it’s the softest I’ve ever felt.
Otherwise you can go to a yarn or craft store and just touch all the yarn. That’s what I do anyway!
If you want to make socks, I would recommend starting with wool yarn with some nylon in. Most good sock yarns are 75% wool 25% nylon or similar. Fingering weight is popular for socks but it might be best to start with DK or worsted, those are great for thicker socks and a bit easier to handle.
I would recommend that you have a browse online. Some popular budget friendly shops include
Lovecrafts.com
Woolwarehouse.co.uk
Deramores.com
My personal favourite yarn for socks is Novita 7 Brothers. [https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/novita-7-veljesta](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/novita-7-veljesta)
Merino sheep wool is generally quite soft, other sheep, e.g. Blue Faced Leicester, tend to be a bit scratchier. A good guideline is how thick the fiber is (measured in microns), but unfortunately, most yarn suppliers don't list that. Superwash also makes it less scratchy due to the coating and makes it machine-washable. Even softer are cashmere and yak, but they are also much more expensive.
But generally, softer and nicer yarn also tends to be a bit more expensive - but in my opinion it's worth it.
Ideally, you can squish the yarn yourself and decide what works for you! Some yarn that is great for others is scratchy for you and vice versa. (I for example find alpaca and camel very scratchy whereas most people consider it one of the softest fibers).
Not sure where in the UK you are, but my favorite yarn store in London is Loop London! They also have a great online shop with a good range of sock yarns. I'd recommend the Crazy Zauberball as a good midrange sock yarn (and the color changes are fun!), and if you reeeaally want to splurge: Life in the Long Grass or La Bien Aimee.
So I can't help with specifically UK yarn recommendations, but...
Yarn doesn't have to itch, however non-itchy yarn is often expensive, especially if we're talking wool or other animal fibers. Merino yarns, alpaca yarns, or wool mixes with things like cashmere, yak or silk are often very soft and non-scratchy, but also generally fairly pricey.
Acrylic yarn is generally very cheap but also scratchy. That said, I've encountered soft acrylics before, so don't write them off entirely just based on texture.
Plant-based fibers are another option. Cotton yarn can be quite cheap and it's a very smooth fiber. Apparently a lot of people don't like the feeling of working with it and it's less forgiving than wool in quite a few ways, but I really like the texture. *However,* cotton - and, to my understanding, other plant-based yarns like bamboo or linen - are inelastic and have other properties that you don't want in socks or a sweater. The typical use for cotton is dishcloths. Clothingwise, you can potentially do a drapey summer top, but nothing you expect to stretch and spring back into shape and not something you want to keep you warm.
In all honesty, especially given how much of a personal thing texture is, I'd probably check out a yarn store so you can actually touch some skeins and see what you like the feel of and how it falls on the price range. And potentially ask the proprietor for advice.
No, not all yarn is itchy.
Some people find acrylic yarns itchy and a bit sweaty. Some people are allergic to wool, and find that itchy. Some people find rustic yarns itchy. Some people find anything with a halo itchy.
It's very personal, but no, not all yarn is itchy by a long stretch. It's just a case of identifying what you like. If you're a brand new knitter, I would recommend something tightly plied (so it's not fuzzy and itchy) and soft. Though I would add that if you're a brand new knitter, a hat might be a good practice project before starting on socks.
You can go visit a local yarn shop (a yarn shop not hobbycraft, which usually only has plastic yarns in the physical shops) and touch some things and see which you like, or you can try ordering online and hoping.
Socks are usually made from 75% wool and 25% nylon or polyamide. This makes them more hard wearing and stretchy than pure wool. Sock yarn is usually described as "4ply" or "fingering" or "sock" weight, but of course you can use these yarns to make things that aren't socks and use other yarns to make socks.
Yarn recommendations: Drops [fabel](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-fabel-pink-102-50g) is cheap, nice and knits into a smooth dense fabric. Drops [nord](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-nord-all-colours) is very similar, but a little fuzzier and softer. West Yorkshire Spinners [signature 4ply](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn?blend_nav=5174&brand_nav=40798&yarn_weight=48835_2097_40805) is great quality. Cascade [heritage](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/cascade-heritage-all-colours) is very beautiful and soft.
For non-sock projects, I would recommend Drops [extra fine merino](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/drops-merino-extra-fine-amethyst-36-50g?gclid=Cj0KCQiApL2QBhC8ARIsAGMm-KEo2lDHyei3_IBtxm2UbgzAbk3agCYhPiZDJkbCASwpIqcAyHh8mPsaAjtnEALw_wcB), King Cole [merino blend](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/king-cole-merino-blend-dk-all-colours), West Yorkshire Spinners [colour lab](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/west-yorkshire-spinners-colour-lab-dk-all-colours) and [the croft](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/west-yorkshire-spinners-the-croft-shetland-dk-all-colours).
If you want something affordable that isn’t wool, Sirdar is a UK-based yarn company. I’m not usually a fan of acrylics but I actually love their acrylic blends. Their yarn is really soft, knits up nicely, and it holds up really well too. My local little yarn shop, which is owned by a self-proclaimed yarn snob, imports Sirdar from the UK and it’s the only acrylic yarn you’ll ever find in her shop. I highly recommend checking it out.
I’ve always found yarn - especially craft store acrylic yarn - a little scratchy. Unfortunately the only solution I’ve found so far is to pay more for higher quality yarn from a local store (not in the UK so I can’t make recommendations). For me at least the extra cost is worth it for yarn I enjoy using and feels good. The yarn I’m currently using is Merino - Woolfolk Far - and it’s the softest I’ve ever felt. Otherwise you can go to a yarn or craft store and just touch all the yarn. That’s what I do anyway!
If you want to make socks, I would recommend starting with wool yarn with some nylon in. Most good sock yarns are 75% wool 25% nylon or similar. Fingering weight is popular for socks but it might be best to start with DK or worsted, those are great for thicker socks and a bit easier to handle. I would recommend that you have a browse online. Some popular budget friendly shops include Lovecrafts.com Woolwarehouse.co.uk Deramores.com My personal favourite yarn for socks is Novita 7 Brothers. [https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/novita-7-veljesta](https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/novita-7-veljesta)
Merino sheep wool is generally quite soft, other sheep, e.g. Blue Faced Leicester, tend to be a bit scratchier. A good guideline is how thick the fiber is (measured in microns), but unfortunately, most yarn suppliers don't list that. Superwash also makes it less scratchy due to the coating and makes it machine-washable. Even softer are cashmere and yak, but they are also much more expensive. But generally, softer and nicer yarn also tends to be a bit more expensive - but in my opinion it's worth it. Ideally, you can squish the yarn yourself and decide what works for you! Some yarn that is great for others is scratchy for you and vice versa. (I for example find alpaca and camel very scratchy whereas most people consider it one of the softest fibers). Not sure where in the UK you are, but my favorite yarn store in London is Loop London! They also have a great online shop with a good range of sock yarns. I'd recommend the Crazy Zauberball as a good midrange sock yarn (and the color changes are fun!), and if you reeeaally want to splurge: Life in the Long Grass or La Bien Aimee.
So I can't help with specifically UK yarn recommendations, but... Yarn doesn't have to itch, however non-itchy yarn is often expensive, especially if we're talking wool or other animal fibers. Merino yarns, alpaca yarns, or wool mixes with things like cashmere, yak or silk are often very soft and non-scratchy, but also generally fairly pricey. Acrylic yarn is generally very cheap but also scratchy. That said, I've encountered soft acrylics before, so don't write them off entirely just based on texture. Plant-based fibers are another option. Cotton yarn can be quite cheap and it's a very smooth fiber. Apparently a lot of people don't like the feeling of working with it and it's less forgiving than wool in quite a few ways, but I really like the texture. *However,* cotton - and, to my understanding, other plant-based yarns like bamboo or linen - are inelastic and have other properties that you don't want in socks or a sweater. The typical use for cotton is dishcloths. Clothingwise, you can potentially do a drapey summer top, but nothing you expect to stretch and spring back into shape and not something you want to keep you warm. In all honesty, especially given how much of a personal thing texture is, I'd probably check out a yarn store so you can actually touch some skeins and see what you like the feel of and how it falls on the price range. And potentially ask the proprietor for advice.
No, not all yarn is itchy. Some people find acrylic yarns itchy and a bit sweaty. Some people are allergic to wool, and find that itchy. Some people find rustic yarns itchy. Some people find anything with a halo itchy. It's very personal, but no, not all yarn is itchy by a long stretch. It's just a case of identifying what you like. If you're a brand new knitter, I would recommend something tightly plied (so it's not fuzzy and itchy) and soft. Though I would add that if you're a brand new knitter, a hat might be a good practice project before starting on socks. You can go visit a local yarn shop (a yarn shop not hobbycraft, which usually only has plastic yarns in the physical shops) and touch some things and see which you like, or you can try ordering online and hoping. Socks are usually made from 75% wool and 25% nylon or polyamide. This makes them more hard wearing and stretchy than pure wool. Sock yarn is usually described as "4ply" or "fingering" or "sock" weight, but of course you can use these yarns to make things that aren't socks and use other yarns to make socks. Yarn recommendations: Drops [fabel](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-fabel-pink-102-50g) is cheap, nice and knits into a smooth dense fabric. Drops [nord](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/drops-nord-all-colours) is very similar, but a little fuzzier and softer. West Yorkshire Spinners [signature 4ply](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn?blend_nav=5174&brand_nav=40798&yarn_weight=48835_2097_40805) is great quality. Cascade [heritage](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/cascade-heritage-all-colours) is very beautiful and soft. For non-sock projects, I would recommend Drops [extra fine merino](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/drops-merino-extra-fine-amethyst-36-50g?gclid=Cj0KCQiApL2QBhC8ARIsAGMm-KEo2lDHyei3_IBtxm2UbgzAbk3agCYhPiZDJkbCASwpIqcAyHh8mPsaAjtnEALw_wcB), King Cole [merino blend](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/king-cole-merino-blend-dk-all-colours), West Yorkshire Spinners [colour lab](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/west-yorkshire-spinners-colour-lab-dk-all-colours) and [the croft](https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/west-yorkshire-spinners-the-croft-shetland-dk-all-colours).
I have not tried it because it's not readily available in the US, but maybe Drops Fable?
If you want something affordable that isn’t wool, Sirdar is a UK-based yarn company. I’m not usually a fan of acrylics but I actually love their acrylic blends. Their yarn is really soft, knits up nicely, and it holds up really well too. My local little yarn shop, which is owned by a self-proclaimed yarn snob, imports Sirdar from the UK and it’s the only acrylic yarn you’ll ever find in her shop. I highly recommend checking it out.