Reading a Yarn Label

Reading a yarn label is an important skill for all knitters. Most knitting yarn is sold with a paper band around the yarn i.e. the yarn label, which gives a lot of useful information about the yarn. The information includes everything you need to help you choose the right yarn for your project and also to take care of your item when you have made it.

 

It is important that you learn how to read a yarn label and understand what all the symbols and information on the yarn label means.

 

Information you will find on a Yarn Label

Standard Care Symbols: these are the washing and care instructions for the yarn.

 

Crossed Knitting Needles Symbol: this indicates the size of needles recommended for this yarn.

 

Small Grid Symbol: this is the Tension Guide. If you knit a square of fabric in stocking stitch using the size of needles shown and with the number of stitches and number of rows shown on the grid, the fabric will measure 10cms square. The small sample is known as a tension swatch -see All About Tension for more details.

 

Lot No. Yarn is dyed in batches. This is the code number for the batch. There will be slight variations in colour from one batch to another.

 

Shade: this is the name used for colour. You will need this if you want to buy this colour again. You will find a name and/or a number to represent the shade.

50g: weight in grams of yarn in this ball. Typically sold in 100g or 50g balls.

 

m: metres of yarn there are in this ball.

 

Fibre: the yarn fibre name and the content for each fibre as a percentage will be shown on the label .

 

Wool Kite Mark: only awarded if the yarn is 100% wool and has attained the high standard set by the Australian Wool Services. see www.wool.com for more information.

 

Other Information: the label will also include the manufacturers details and the yarn brand name.