How to Make a Wig Out of Yarn: The Complete DIY Guide for Beginners

Yarn wigs are not an attempt to look like human hair. They are a costume piece, a cosplay essential, a crafting project, and — in some cases — a genuinely striking fashion accessory. Making a yarn wig costs under $20 and takes an afternoon. The result is durable, washable, and capable of holding shapes that would destroy a synthetic wig. Here is the process from start to finish, designed for someone who has never made anything out of yarn before.

What You Need

Step 1: Prepare the Yarn Strands

You need a large quantity of yarn pieces, all the same length. The length determines the finished hair length — keep in mind that yarn wigs lose about 30% of their length during brushing because the yarn unravels and fluffs.

1. Cut a piece of cardboard to your desired hair length. This will be your measuring template.
2. Wrap the yarn around the cardboard lengthwise — around and around, many times. The more wraps, the thicker the hair will be.
3. Cut the yarn along ONE edge of the cardboard. You now have a bundle of identical-length yarn pieces.
4. Repeat until you have enough bundles to cover the entire wig cap. For a full wig, you will need 3–4 times more yarn than you think.

Step 2: Attach Yarn to the Cap (Ventilating)

This is the most time-consuming step. You are essentially hand-tying each bundle of yarn into the wig cap, the same way a professional wig is ventilated strand by strand — except with bundles instead of individual hairs.

1. Stretch the wig cap over the canvas head. Secure with pins at the edges.
2. Map out your hairline and part line on the cap with a fabric marker. This guides where you place the yarn — the hairline needs to be clean and even.
3. Using the crochet hook (the latch hook method is easiest for beginners): Fold a bundle of yarn in half. Insert the hook through a hole in the wig cap. Catch the folded midpoint of the yarn bundle with the hook. Pull the loop back through the cap hole. Thread the loose ends of the yarn through the loop and pull tight. This creates a knot — similar to how a latch hook rug is made.
4. Work row by row, starting at the nape and moving upward toward the crown. The nape gets the longest yarn. The crown gets slightly shorter yarn for layering.
5. At the hairline, use smaller bundles with a tighter knot pattern for a clean, defined edge.
6. Continue until the entire cap is covered.

Step 3: Brush Out the Yarn

Raw yarn attached to a cap looks like yarn — thick, twisted, obviously synthetic. Brushing unravels each strand into fine, hair-like fibers that blend together into a soft, continuous texture.

1. Starting at the nape, use a pet slicker brush or wide-tooth comb to brush each bundle of yarn from the ends upward. The yarn will unravel, fluff, and triple in volume.
2. Work in sections. Brush until the individual strands are no longer distinguishable and the hair looks like a single continuous mass.
3. At the hairline, brush more gently to maintain the defined edge.

Step 4: Style

Yarn wigs can be cut, curled, and styled using methods similar to synthetic wigs — but with more tolerance for heat.

• Cutting: Trim the ends with sharp scissors for a clean shape. Yarn wigs take well to geometric cuts.
• Curling: Wrap sections around flexi rods and steam, or — for acrylic yarn only — use a flat iron on the lowest setting (200–220°F). Acrylic yarn melts at higher temperatures than synthetic wig fiber, giving you more margin for error.
• Spiking: Got2B Glued hairspray works on yarn wigs for rigid shapes and gravity-defying styles.
• Washing: Yarn wigs can be hand-washed in cool water with mild detergent. Air dry. The style will need to be reset after washing.

We stock wig caps, canvas heads, crochet hooks, and Got2B Glued — the foundations of any DIY wig project, whether it is yarn, synthetic, or human hair.

Jesica

Hi! I'm Jesica. As a 34-year-old African American woman, wigs have long been more than just a simple accessory to me—they are the ultimate tool for self-expression and boosting confidence. Over the past decade or so, I've purchased almost every type of wig on the market. I've had my fair share of fails, but I've also gained an incredible amount of valuable experience along the way. My goal here at Rizzwigs.com is simple: with hundreds of gorgeous styles available, I am here to use my incredibly picky buyer's eye and extensive hands-on experience to guide you. Stick with me to avoid the pitfalls, and let's unlock your most stunning, versatile looks together!