Lesson 3: All about Yarn
Selecting the right hook is very important to making sure your project comes out as planned, but you can’t select the correct hook until you select your yarn. This section is all about yarn. I will go over yarn weights, fiber content and how to read a yarn label so you are well informed when it comes to selecting the perfect yarn for your project. So what are we weighting for? Lets get into it!
Yarn is categorized by weight. No, not how heavy the balls of yarn are, but rather how thick the strands are. Yarn weights range from 0 which is the thinnest also known as fingering weight yarn typically used for lace work up to 7 which is considered jumbo yarn. Below is a chart of all the yarn weights and what they are used for/their common name.
| Yarn Weight | Yarn Type |
|---|---|
| 0 | Lace |
| 1 | Super Fine, Sock, Baby |
| 2 | Fine: Sport, Baby |
| 3 | Light: Double Knit, Light Worsted |
| 4 | Medium: Worsted |
| 5 | Bulky: Chunky, Craft |
| 6 | Super Bulky: Roving |
| 7 | Jumbo |
I typically work most of my projects with a size 4 yarn. Also known as ‘worsted’ weight yarn. I use this weight of yarn to make a variety of items including, blankets, hats and scarves. I use bulky, size 5, yarn to make hats. The beauty of the different yarn weights is that you can get different results.
For instance, size 4 yarn will help make things that are lighter and flow better than a bulky weight yarn. However, when making a hat or blanket, bulky weight yarn will work up faster because it will help make taller stitches than a lighter weight yarn. So as you can see, each weight has its advantages and disadvantages. Now that we are no longer weighted down by the different yarn weights, lets discuss fiber content.
Yarn comes in a variety of different fiber contents. Some of the most popular include, acrylic, cotton, and wool. There are other fibers that are becoming more popular including, bamboo, tencel, as well as a variety of blends. Your yarn fiber content largely depends on your preferences, but also what you are making.
For instance if you are making a winter hat to go skiing in Denver, you are probably going to want a wool yarn, like Wool Ease Thick and Quick. The converse if you are making a top for the summer to wear on the beach in Miami, you are probably going to opt for a cotton or bamboo fiber yarn, like Lion Brands CooBoo. You will also want to consider the wear and tear of your project. For example if this is going to be a piece that is going to be work, played with, and need to be washed frequently, synthetic yarns, like acrylic fibers, may be a good choice because they are machine washable. You would not want to select something that is hand wash only/spot clean only for something that is going to be used and need to be washed often.
The last thing to consider when choosing your fiber content is if the person you are making it for has any allergies. I, for one, am not very fond of wool fibers. As someone who has skin issues most wool tends to be scratchy and irritates my skin and if my hats are not lined with satin will pull and break my hair. Therefore, I choose not work with wool fibers at all. I typically work with cotton, bamboo and tencel fibers. My absolute favorite yarn to work with is Lion Brands CooBoo yarn. These fibers are also good at helping to regulate temperature and while they may not be quite as warm as wool fibers, they are comfortable and do the trick for me and my family.
So far we have reviewed yarn weight, fiber content, and the final thing that I would like to touch on is how to read a yarn label. Yarn labels are very similar to the Nutrition Facts boxes that you find on the side of a box of cereal. Yarn labels are going to tell you everything that you need to know about that particular ball of yarn in your hand. It will have a variety of symbols and instructions to tell you exactly what you need to know, and sometimes, you may find a free pattern printed on the opposite side of the label as an added bonus😊
The key elements on a yarn label are as follows: Manufacturer, yarn name, yarn color, yarn weight by grams as well as yards, yarn weight for thickness of strand, recommended knitting needle size, recommended crochet hook size, fiber content, care instructions and dye lot.
Here is a sample yarn label below
As you can see by the image above, there are 3.5 oz of yarn in this particular skein or 109 yards. This information is key because it lets you know just how many skeins of yarn you will need to purchase to complete your project.
Moving down you can see that this yarn is 74% acrylic and 26% nylon which is your fiber content
In the same column, the manufacturer gives you the recommended care instructions that this yarn is machine wash and dryable. They also provide additional care instruction symbols in the third column of this label.
In the second column, we see the yarn weight is bulky which is indicated by the infographic of a ball of yarn with the number 5 in the middle. It also says “Bulky” right above the graphic.
In the small box below the yarn symbol, the manufacturer provides the recommended knitting needle size, and below that box, there is another box with the recommended crochet needle size. In this case it is a size K or 6.5mm hook.
Finally, above our barcode, the manufacturer provides the name for this particular yarn, which is ‘Dreamy’ as well as the color number which is 510. All the way to the far right, we can see the dye lot number.
Choosing the perfect yarn can get quite detailed, but it is a very important step in the process of crocheting. You want to make sure that the yarn you choose meets the needs for you and your project. Afterall you would not want to put in so much time and effort and not be able to use your project for its intended purpose. I hope that this post helps you to better understand the different yarns and their uses and helps to make the yarn aisle at the craft store a little less daunting.
