Crochet Beginnings: Yarn Basics

dawnesdesigns1

Oct 2

2 min read

Different Fibers of Yarn and Uses

There are a lot of different types of fibers but we’ll focus on the most commonly used, wool, cotton, and acrylic.

Wool is commonly used in clothing as it’s great at insulation, soft and elastic, and suitable for cold weather. While most high quality wool can be soft, some wool can be a bit itchy.

Cotton is breathable, smooth, durable, and is commonly used in summer items and is generally good for those who have sensitive skin.

Acrylic is a synthetic fiber that is the most affordable. It’s lightweight, easy to care for, and versatile in sizes. If you’re just starting and need something to work with, acrylic yarn may be a good option to test patterns or new stitches before using a more expensive yarn.

Of course, there are many more types of fibers beyond these three, but again, these tend to be the most you see in stores and at craft fairs.

Weight of Yarn

The weight of the yarn is equivalent to its size and is indicated on each skein by a number, typically inside a cute little yarn skein.

The numbers range from 0 all the way to 7, with 0 being the lightest/finest weight, and 7 being jumbo sized. The most common size you may find is 4.

It’s important to choose the best size for your project. For example, if you’re looking to make a blanket, you probably don’t want to pick a fine yarn like 0, 1, or 2. You’ll probably want something a bit thicker like 4, 5, or 6.

If you’re looking to crochet a light summer top, you’re probably going to want something like 1, 2, or 3 rather than something heavy like a 6 or 7.

It’s also important to note that the size of your yarn will also determine what hook you’ll need. If you need help choosing a hook, take a look at our Crochet Beginnings: Hooks Blog.

Yarn Packaging

Yarn can be packaged and wound differently. There are 6 most commonly used forms of packaging.

Skein
Hank
Ball
Donut
Cone
Cake

There really isn’t an advantage to purchasing one form of packaging above the other.

Hanks are typically used for natural and animal fibers.

Cones are typically used for cotton and have a cardboard center the yarn is wound around.

Craft stores mostly carry skeins and cakes with skeins being the most popular form of packaging.

Packaging Symbols

Once you’ve purchased your yarn, you’ll notice some information on the packaging that’ll help you in your project.

Gauge - both in knitting and crochet.
Yarn Weight - size.
Recommended Hook and Needle size - for both knitting and crochet.
Yarn Amount - usually displayed in yards/ounces and meters/grams.
Type of material - think cotton, acrylic, blends, etc.
Care Instructions - Think handwashing vs. machine wash, ironing, bleaching, and dry cleaning.