There are so many different types of yarn to choose from, and knowing which is best for your next big crafting project can sometimes be difficult. So here at Crafty Llama, we have compiled this guide to help you understand everything to do with different yarns and fibres to help you select the perfect yarn for your project.

Yarn Weight

The yarn weight refers to the thickness of the strand of yarn. The weight of your yarn will have a huge impact on the finish of your final piece. A very fine yarn will produce a lightweight fabric with excellent drape, while a very chunky yarn will produce a heavier, denser fabric with a bold stitch pattern.  

Yarn Weight Guide

Lace - Ultra-fine, lacework and shawls

Fingering/Sock - Lightweight, socks and fine garments

Sport - Slightly thicker than fingering, baby items and light sweaters

DK (Double Knit) - A lighter worsted, sweaters and blankets

Aran - Heavy worsted, great for heavy jumpers

Chunky - Thick yarn for fast knitting, scarves and blankets

Super Chunky - Extra thick, large projects like chunky blankets and throws

Yarn Spin

This refers to the structure and twist of the yarn itself; how the yarn has been spun will have a huge effect on the density, weight and drape of the final fabric. When fibres are first twisted into a single strand, this is called a single. You will find yarns available as singles, but a lot of yarns will then be plied together. Multiple singles are twisted together to create a yarn that is then 2/3/4 ply, which allows spinners to create specific textures and strengthen the single ply. 

Many different types of yarn can be spun beyond the standard; yarns like boucle, gimp, slub, eyelash, chenille, tweed and even some unique hand-spun yarns are available. These kinds of yarns create very distinctive textures and fabrics, they can also be combined with plainer yarns as a contrast to great effect.

Yarn Fibre Content 

The physical characteristics of a yarn are largely defined by the fibre it is made from; for example, wool is a soft and springy fibre, so it will create a soft and slightly elastic yarn. These properties can be accentuated or manipulated by blending fibres or spinning them in a particular way, but the fibre's physicality will remain.    

Animal Fibres

Typically, fibres obtained from animals are very warm and soft; the fibres have varying degrees of elasticity and are usually breathable. These qualities make animal fibres such as wool perfect for creating autumn/winter garments such as sweaters, hats, and scarves. Examples of animal fibres include wool, alpaca, yak, mohair, camel, silk and cashmere. 

Plant Fibres

Plant fibres are a lot cooler than animal fibres; they offer less insulation and are generally stiffer or not as soft. Plant fibres tend to have little elasticity and, for this reason, can sometimes feel tight or difficult to knit with; a change of needles might help. These qualities make plant fibres excellent for lightweight spring/summer clothing as well as home/kitchen textiles. Examples of plant fibres include cotton, bamboo, linen, jute, hemp, soybean and tencel.  

Synthetic Fibres 

Synthetic fibres are generally a lot cheaper than natural fibres and come in a huge range of colours, textures and spins. Fabrics made from synthetic yarns are a lot less breathable than natural fibres and can lose their shape over time. This is again subjective and down to personal preference. Despite these points, synthetic yarns are available at a very accessible price point, and some, such as elastic, embody qualities that no natural yarns exhibit. Examples of synthetic fibres include acrylic, nylon, polyester, rayon and elastic.

Fibre Blends

Different fibres have different strengths and desirable qualities; fibres can be blended in such a way as to combine or accentuate these properties into a specialist yarn. A classic example is yarns for sock knitting, which often combine a wool/merino for softness and stretch, with a synthetic element, such as nylon or polyamide, for strength. The resulting yarn is perfect for socks as it combines the appealing physical qualities of wool to make the sock comfortable, but also adds strength from the synthetic fibre to give the garment longevity.   

I would suggest getting out there and seeing what’s available. There are so many specialist yarns blended from a huge variety of different fibres in different ratios. You can usually imagine how a blend will feel and knit up from your experience of the fibres it contains, but often the best way is to just try it out for yourself.  

Yarn Colour

Colour is a very important aspect when considering yarn choice; how different coloured yarns are combined and knitted will have a big impact on the final aesthetic of your fabric. You can combine yarns by striping them or plying them together; stripes will create contrast while plying yarns will blend the colours of the yarns all over the fabric.

Variegated, dyed and self-striping yarns are also available commercially and from indie dyers. These yarns change colour as you knit them and create stripes/patterns, or can be more abstract with blocks and flecks of colour. These can be really interesting and fun to work with, but the results can be unpredictable.

Yarn is often dyed in big batches, and commercially available yarns will have a 'dye lot' number. So if you need multiple balls for a project, you can purchase from the same dye batch and the colour of each ball of yarn will appear consistent. Yarns from different dye lots may appear slightly different shades, and this can be noticeable in a finished fabric.  

Many yarns also look very different colours as a skein or ball compared to a finished fabric, the stitch or combination of yarns used can also change the appearance. I would do plenty of exploration and sampling before committing to a big purchase or a huge project to ensure it is the right choice for you. 

There is just so much to consider when it comes to the world of yarn! I hope this has been helpful for when you are making those crucial decisions about a new project. Obviously it is entirely subjective, so I just hope you find your style and what excites you as a maker! There are no rules, don't be afraid to try a new combination of textures or colours. Just enjoy the process and be open to discovery.

Happy creating,

Kiera x