I used to crochet a lot and still have a huge stash of yarn. I don't remember ever buying Red Heart in a specialty yarn shop, only from Walmart, Michaels and JoAnn's. The quality of Red Heart has gone down while the price goes up. It is stiff and rough until you wash it - then it becomes limp and stretches horribly. I will still use it - for items around the house ... I won't use it for any special items that may become heirloom pieces. There are so many brands of yarn to choose from - different qualities for different items.