Glow in the Dark Yarn: A Fun Crochet Experiment with Bling Bling
Have you ever thought of testing out glow in the dark yarn? Curious to know how it glows, what it takes for it to glow and how long the glow lasts for? Then you are in the right place because in this review, I test out an affordable option for Glow-in-the-Dark yarn and you can get some answers to those questions!
Full disclosure: I have received the Bling Bling glow-in-the-dark yarn for free in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by Bling Bling in any way. I would never recommend a product that I don’t absolutely love. There are affiliate links in this post. We will receive a commission if you make a purchase through our affiliate link at no extra cost to you.
Table of Contents Show
Introduction
Glow-in-the-dark yarn is infused with phosphorescent materials that absorb light and emit a glow in darkness. Typically made from synthetic fibers like polyester or acrylic, these materials hold the glow effect better than natural fibers. This type of yarn is popular for novelty projects, Halloween decorations, and safety-related crafts.
For more details on how glow-in-the-dark yarn works, check out my post: Does Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn Really Work?
I recently had the opportunity to test Bling Bling Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn. My review focuses on usability, glow effect, and whether it’s worth trying.
First Impressions
Packaging & Colour Selection
The packaging is clean and simple—nothing too fancy. I received:
Three balls of Traditional High Brightness Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn (White, Orange, Purple)
Two balls of Premium Glow-in-the-Dark Chenille Yarn (White, Grey)
The pastel colours are pleasing and there is a wide variety of colours to choose from, but note that the glow colour is the same across all shades, most notably glowy green.
Texture & Fiber Content
Texture: Stiff compared to cotton, smooth but not very soft, and not very stretchy.
Composition: 98% polyester, 2% luminous fibers.
Yarn Specifications
For the Traditional High Brightness Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn:
Yarn Weight: DK
Length: 50m / 55 yards per roll
Ball Weight: 50g / 1.76 oz
Recommended Crochet Hook Size: 3.5mm
For those unfamiliar with yarn weights, yardage, and hook sizes, check out these guides:
Testing the Glow Effect
Experiment 1 - Indoor Light Charging Test
I conducted an experiment using a table lamp. I used a light meter borrowed from my hubby which measures light in lux - so the table lamp source measures at 500 lux.
Placed all yarn balls under the lamp for 15 minutes.
Added an extra light source at the bottom for two of the five balls.
Checked glow intensity in complete darkness.
Results:
The brightest glow came from the Traditional High Brightness White Yarn.
The Chenille Yarn also glowed well.
Orange and Purple glowed noticeably less, especially without additional lighting.
Glow faded after 30 minutes, with the white yarn retaining some brightness.
By an hour, the glow was barely visible.
Note: Photos below were taken using an iPhone 15 with low-light function turned off for a more accurate representation.
Position of all the different types of yarn before the experiment so you know which ones are lighting up more!
Below here you can see the glow right after 15 minutes of charging under a table lamp, then the glow of the yarn after left in the dark for 15 minutes.
Then with all the yarn in the same positions (meaning the order of each type and colour of yarn), and the subsequent glow at 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 1 hour!
As you can see below, there is no very visible glow after 1 hour but bear in mind this was just with 15 minutes of charging under a table lamp with a light source only measuring at 500 lux.
Experiment 2 - Outdoor Light Charging Test
I conducted another experiment by placing the same yarn balls under direct afternoon sunlight at 2 PM, where the lux meter measured 2000 lux. To add variety, I also included a newly crocheted garland piece and left them all on the balcony for 30 minutes.
Results:
The brightest glow appeared immediately after charging, with the brightest also from the Traditional High Brightness White Yarn.
The White Chenille Yarn also glowed well.
Glow intensity at 15 minutes was still visible but dimming.
By 30 minutes, the glow was barely noticeable.
Longer charging (30 min vs. 15 min) and higher light intensity (2000 lux vs. 500 lux) did not improve glow duration.
The crocheted garland piece showed similar glow behaviour to the yarn balls.
Note: Photos below were taken using an iPhone 15 with low-light function turned off for a more accurate representation.
Above here you can see the glow right after 15 minutes of charging under the sun at 2pm, then the photo below shows the glow of the yarn after left in the dark for 15 minutes and then for 30 minutes.
Free Crochet Planner Journal!
Click here to grab this 20-paged workbook and checklists that will help organize your creativity before you even start on your next crochet project! Or click on image on the left.
Experiment 3 - UV Torch Charging Test
For my final experiment, I used a single UV torch measuring 2000 lux and focused the light on a small concentrated area of each yarn ball. This test aimed to compare the glow intensity of the orange, white, and purple yarns under UV exposure.
Results:
The white yarn glowed the brightest under concentrated UV light.
Orange and purple yarns emitted a weaker but still visible glow.
The difference in glow intensity was more apparent under UV light than in previous tests.
Compared side by side, the white yarn was significantly brighter, while orange and purple were comparable and dimmer.
While previous experiments showed minimal glow from the orange and purple yarns, this test suggested that their glow might be relatively weak compared to the white yarn rather than completely absent. In the final image, the white yarn glowed the brightest, while the orange and purple yarns had a dimmer yet comparable glow.
Crochet Experience
Ease of Use
Glides smoothly over the hook.
Slightly splitty due to multiple strands grouped together.
Used a 3.5mm Furls Streamline Metal Hook — felt like the right size.
Frogging was easy due to its stiffness.
Stitch Definition & Tension
Stitch definition is clear and holds its shape well.
Avoid very tight tension as the stiffness can make insertion difficult.
Durability
Strong and slightly elastic.
Ends may fray but feels resistant to breaking.
More durable than typical cotton yarn.
Suitability for Projects
Recommended Uses
✅ Amigurumi – Holds shape well.
✅ Halloween & Novelty Projects – Great for decorations, glowing garlands, or accents.
✅ Bags & Accessories – Can add a unique touch but stiffness may affect drape.
Not Ideal For
❌ Garments & Blankets – Stiffness and texture make it less comfortable for wearables.
❌ Baby Items – Synthetic fibers and slight splitty nature may not be ideal for delicate skin.
Washing & Maintenance
Hand wash recommended (not machine washable).
Water temperature: Max 40°C.
No bleach, no ironing.
These care instructions align with general yarn care, especially for specialty fibers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
✅ Wide range of colors.
✅ Affordable price point.
✅ Available in small 50g balls—great for testing before committing.
✅ Strong glow (especially white & chenille versions).
✅ Fairly easy to work with.
✅ Ideal for amigurumi, novelty projects, and decorations.
Cons
❌ Glow fades within 30 minutes (requires recharging).
❌ Can be splitty at times.
❌ Stiffer and less soft than natural fibers like cotton.
❌ Not suitable for garments, blankets, or baby projects.
If you found this article useful, please remember to pin the image above to Pinterest so others might benefit from it too!
Final Verdict
If you’re looking for a fun, novelty yarn for amigurumi, Halloween décor, or experimental projects, Bling Bling Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn is a solid choice! It delivers a strong glow initially, but don’t expect it to last all night—you’ll need to recharge it periodically.
For those interested in specialty yarns, this is an affordable and enjoyable option to try. You might even want to grab a few colours just to experiment!
Where to Buy
If you want to find out more about Bling Bling glow-in-the-dark yarn, go on ahead here to check it out. They have many different selections with different colours to choose from. They even have reflective yarn, if you don’t know the difference between that and glow-in-the-dark yarn then go ahead and check out this post on “Does Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn Really Work?”, because inside I explain the differences in those types of yarn.
Can’t wait for you to try it out and see the finished crochet pieces glowing in the dark! I actually made a Halloween garland with the traditional yarn set of white, purple and orange. It is a full video tutorial on how to make it using this exact set of yarn, which I have not had the time to put together yet but for sure I’ll post in here once it’s done so you can see the process of making it with this yarn too!
Other Glow-in-the-Dark Yarns to Explore
If you're curious about other options, here are some alternatives I'd love to try in the future, which I will post about when I get the chance to test them out:
Red Heart Super Glow Yarn
This glow in the dark yarn is worsted weight and comes in 4 different colours, also similarly made from polyester. Likewise, it charges under light and emits a glow in complete darkness.
DIY Glow Yarn by Lion Brand
They have a few ranges including the DIY glow original, DIY glow cozy, DIY glow twist and DIY glow chenille. They have about 4-6 colour selections for each type and their glow twist looks like it is more of a reflective yarn rather than glow in the dark yarn. The chenille range is super bulky while the glow cozy is worsted weight for crocheters who love bigger projects.
Comment below if you have tried either one of these glow in the dark yarn brands and have experience with them. I also love testing out new types of yarn! Stay tuned for future reviews as I test more glow-in-the-dark yarns! Find out all about glow in the dark yarns over here with “Does Glow-in-the-Dark Yarn Really Work?”.
Also remember to get your free Crochet Planner Journal below to plan what yarn brands and colours you want to get together for your next crochet project!
Free Crochet Planner Journal!
Click here to grab this 20-paged workbook and checklists that will help organize your creativity before you even start on your next crochet project! Or click on image on the left.
