Yes, chunky (the UK name) and bulky (the US name) are the same category, Craft Yarn Council weight 5, often called 12 ply in Australia. It knits at 12–15 stitches per 10 cm on 5.5–8 mm needles and crochets on 6.5–9 mm hooks. Names vary between brands, so compare gauge or metres per 100 g: Gazzal Merino Boucle gives 120 m per 100 g on 7–8 mm needles.

Yes, chunky yarn suits beginners: big stitches are easy to see and count, mistakes are easy to spot, and hats and scarves work up quickly. Pick a smooth yarn rather than bouclé or faux fur, which hide stitches and are hard to unpick. At VILRITA, Alize Superlana Maxi (75% acrylic, 25% wool, 100 m per 100 g, 8–10 mm needles) is a straightforward first chunky yarn.

An adult beanie in chunky yarn takes roughly 115–185 m, more with a deep folded brim or a pompom. That is about 2 balls of Alize Superlana Maxi (100 m per 100 g) or 1–2 balls of DROPS Melody (140 m per 50 g). If you're unsure, get one extra ball from the same dye lot; finishing with a different lot can show as a visible colour band.

Yes, two strands of worsted held together usually knit to roughly chunky gauge, and two strands of DK come out around worsted or aran. It's a handy way to use stash or mix colours, but the drape will differ from a single chunky yarn, so swatch first and match the pattern's stitches per 10 cm. If you'd rather work one strand, Gazzal Merino Boucle (100% superwash merino) is a single-strand chunky.

Look for airy fibres: alpaca blends and bouclé trap air, so a chunky sweater stays warm without feeling heavy on the shoulders. DROPS Melody is 71% alpaca, 25% wool and 4% polyamide with 140 m per 50 g on 8 mm needles, a lot of length for a chunky yarn. Gazzal Merino Boucle (100% superwash merino) gives a springy, textured fabric with easier care.

Paper raffia yarn is the usual choice for summer bags and baskets, because it is stiff enough to hold its shape. YarnArt Papiro is 100% raffia paper, 130 m per 100 g, worked on a 6.5 mm hook, and comes in 27 colours. Tight single crochet gives the firmest bag. Paper yarn shouldn't be soaked, so spot-clean finished pieces with a damp cloth and let them air-dry.