Understanding Knitting Yarn

It may seem that there is an overwhelming choice and hundreds of different types of knitting yarn and that it will take a lifetime before you know and understand how to choose the right yarn. Well it won't. All of this apparent complexity can be broken down into 3 things you need to know:

 

1. What is the yarn made of - i.e the yarn fibre
2. How thick is the yarn - i.e. yarn weight
3. What is the physical characteristic - i.e. yarn texture

 

Yarn Fibre

 

Yarn is made from fibres twisted together into long strands. These can be:

 

- natural fibres i.e. from an animal or a plant
- manmade fibre i.e. made from chemical processes
- blends – ie. a mix of manmade and natural fibres

 

The various fibres all have their own characteristics and properties - some of which you can see and feel when you start to compare them. They also vary in price with 100% natural fibre yarns more expensive than manmade or blends. From the range of yarn fibres available, choice of fibre is a matter of personal taste and preference. See Hand Knitters' Guide to Yarn Fibre for more detail.

 

Yarn Weight

 

Yarn thickness is known as the yarn weight (not to be confused with the weight in grams by which it is sold). Each standard weight has a name, the most common weights being 4 ply, Double Knit, Aran, Chunky & Super Chunky. note: you will always find the standard weight name on the yarn label - the paper label around the yarn.

There are also yarn weights that are now becoming more widely available that don't fall easily into the standard yarn weight categories. These include ribbons, tapes, braids and novelty yarns.

 

You need to choose a yarn that is the right thickness i.e. weight for what you are making. The weight is probably the most important factor because it influences the overall suitability more than the fibre or the texture, e.g. finer yarns for baby clothes, thicker yarns for winter knitwear. see Hand Knitters' Guide to Yarn Weight for more detail.

 

Yarn Texture

Yarn comes in a variety of textures: it can be smooth, soft, fluffy, bobbly, spiky. Some of the texture effect is as a result of the natural characteristic of the yarn, e.g. Merino wool is naturally very soft, or alternatively as a result of the techniques used to produce the yarn. Textured yarns such as novelty yarns won't show the detail of the stitch pattern. Instead, their appeal is in the actual texture of the yarn rather than that produced by how it is knit.

Manufacturers have their own brand names for their combinations of yarn fibre, yarn weight and yarn texture. They are constantly launching new yarn brands (and discontinuing others) to appeal to knitters - to suit tastes, styles and fashion and to keep hand knitting interesting and exciting.

 

You will never need to worry about finding a yarn that you like that is suitable for your project and you’ll be shopping like an expert in next to no time at at all!