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What are the Different Types of Knitting Yarn?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Yarn is a continuous strand made up of fibers or filaments, used for making fabric or textiles of various kinds. The distinct types of knitting yarn are categorized by their weight, purpose, ply, source fiber(s), texture, color, and pattern. In addition, knitters choosing yarn will want to match yardage and gauge.

Weight, Purpose, Ply. Although knitting yarn weights have been standardized by the Craft Yarn Council of America (CYCOA), there are a number of different systems actually in use in the English-speaking world, making it important to make sure know the system so you can match yarns to directions accurately. The following chart is not complete: it does not, for example, include the Australian and New Zealand terminology of naming yarn weights by “ply” or the British system which substitutes chunky for bulky and aran or triple for worsted. Notice that some of the systems mix weight and purpose in their categories. Also, in the following chart, dk is used as it characteristically is in knitting, to stand for “double knit.”



CYCOA super
fine
fine light medium bulky super
bulky
Other 1 fingering sportweight light
worsted
worsted bulky superbulky
Other 2 sock
yarn
fingering/baby sport/dk worsted bulky super-bulky
Other 3 lace -- light medium bulky --
Other 4 accent/
novelty
fingering sport worsted bulky --


Yarn.
Yarn.

Fiber. Knitting yarn may be made of natural or synthetic fiber. Animal fiber is a popular source for yarn, and the types used include sheep, alpaca, angora, camel, cashmere, and qiviut - the arctic musk ox. Silk is also popular. Vegetable fibers include cotton, linen, hemp, and ramie. Rayon and acetate are manmade, but use plant fiber.

New yarn types are still being invented. 100% bamboo fiber yarn was developed in 2002. Soybean protein viscose fiber filament yarn is also available. Synthetic knitting yarn is made from coal or petroleum products. Types of synthetic knitting yarn include acrylic, nylon, polyester, spandex, and polypropylene.

A skein of worsted weight yarn.
A skein of worsted weight yarn.

Knitting yarn is also available in blends that combine fibers. Metallics – filaments of metal from a variety of sources, are often combined with other fibers in novelty yarns. Railroad track ribbon, glitter, metallized polyester, paillettes, sequins, and lurex are also combined with natural and synthetic fibers to create both color and sparkling effects.

A zip-up knitted sweater.
A zip-up knitted sweater.

Texture. Knitting yarns have been developed to provide a wide range of textures beyond the ply. Bouclé or loop yarn, chenille, double-knit, slubbed, nubbed, rayon chainette - a.k.a. tassel yarn, tassel chainette, or fringe yarn - ribbon yarn, felted ribbon yarn, ladder and rung, eyelash or fun fur, and ratiné are some of the varied and interesting types that have been developed.

A sweater made with angora yarn.
A sweater made with angora yarn.

Color and Pattern. Knitting yarn is available undyed or may be dyed by the manufacturer or the user. An extensive array of colors is available, including single color and multi-color skeins. Single colors may be uniform, or they may be heathered or space-dyed. Hand painted, self-patterning - for example, jacquard, fair isle, or chevron - and self-striping yarn are some of the newer innovations in knitting yarn.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

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Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to WiseGEEK about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

sherlock87

Another piece of advice that I would give to beginning knitters is to not buy really nice yarn at first- don't get the really awful acrylic that feels like sand paper, but find something like a nice discount knitting yarn rather than a full price one, at least not until you can at least master garter stitch scarves.

lamaestra

New knitters should always try to knit first with bulky or super bulky yarn, because it is much more forgiving and easier to work with. The laceweight or "super fine" yarn is like cobwebs almost - beautiful, but really hard to work with!

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    • Yarn.
      By: Anette Linnea Rasmus
      Yarn.
    • A skein of worsted weight yarn.
      By: Ekaterina Kolmakova
      A skein of worsted weight yarn.
    • A zip-up knitted sweater.
      By: Ruslan Kudrin
      A zip-up knitted sweater.
    • A sweater made with angora yarn.
      By: Myrtille MLB
      A sweater made with angora yarn.
    • Knitting needles and yarn.
      By: picsfive
      Knitting needles and yarn.
    • A higher ply yarn will show more definition in a cable knit pattern.
      By: uckyo
      A higher ply yarn will show more definition in a cable knit pattern.
    • Sport weight yarn is considered ideal for making children's clothes.
      By: WINIKI
      Sport weight yarn is considered ideal for making children's clothes.
    • Eyelash yarn is generally used for trims and small clothing items like scarves.
      By: Andreja Donko
      Eyelash yarn is generally used for trims and small clothing items like scarves.
    • Knitters choose yarn to match the gauge, or stitches per inch, of a project.
      By: Ekaterina Lin
      Knitters choose yarn to match the gauge, or stitches per inch, of a project.
    • When selecting knitting wool, make sure that the color and texture suits the knitting project.
      By: joephotostudio
      When selecting knitting wool, make sure that the color and texture suits the knitting project.
    • Yarn comes in many colors, types, and thicknesses.
      By: Maryna Ivanova
      Yarn comes in many colors, types, and thicknesses.
    • Some types of yarn are more water resistant and are ideal for making gloves.
      By: adisa
      Some types of yarn are more water resistant and are ideal for making gloves.