Yarn Size

Yarn Size

250g Skeins Soft Aloes Fiber Cotton baby crochet yarnFingering100gblack
250g Skeins Soft Aloes Fiber Cotton baby crochet yarnFingering100gblack
Paypal   US $.75
100 New Stripes Mix Color JACQUARD WOVEN Silk Mens Tie K
100 New Stripes Mix Color JACQUARD WOVEN Silk Mens Tie K
Paypal   US $.99
KIT 2 KNIT classic Divine Snowflake sweater
KIT 2 KNIT classic Divine Snowflake sweater
Paypal   US $23.99
Nashua West Minster Fibers Rowan Creative Linen 2430 5 skeins500g SALE
Nashua West Minster Fibers Rowan Creative Linen 2430 5 skeins500g SALE
Paypal   US $28.93
1x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportOrange007
1x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportOrange007
Paypal   US $1.45
12 SKS FILATURA LANEROTA FASHION TWEED RED VARIEGATED
12 SKS FILATURA LANEROTA FASHION TWEED RED VARIEGATED
Paypal   US $16.95
12 SKS FILATURA LANEROTA FASHION TWEED BLUE VARIEGATED
12 SKS FILATURA LANEROTA FASHION TWEED BLUE VARIEGATED
Paypal   US $16.95
NEW CARON WONDERART JESUS LATCH HOOK KIT 30 X 36 NIB
NEW CARON WONDERART JESUS LATCH HOOK KIT 30 X 36 NIB
Paypal   US $29.99
New Bucilla Santa Face Ornaments Set of 10 Plastic Canvas Needlepoint Kit
New Bucilla Santa Face Ornaments Set of 10 Plastic Canvas Needlepoint Kit
Paypal   US $6.99
Regia Design Silk Color 2 X 50g 0190
Regia Design Silk Color 2 X 50g 0190
Paypal   US $11.22
6x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportRose Pink026
6x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportRose Pink026
Paypal   US $9.99
BERNAT BOA Blue Bird 3 Skeins 50g 71yds 175 ozEach New
BERNAT BOA Blue Bird 3 Skeins 50g 71yds 175 ozEach New
Paypal   US $12.75
1x50g Egypt Cotton Milk Silk Baby Sock Yarn WholesaleDKBlue2301
1x50g Egypt Cotton Milk Silk Baby Sock Yarn WholesaleDKBlue2301
Paypal   US $.99
3 Skeins Hand dyed wool yarn multi color worst knitting yarn ASC007
3 Skeins Hand dyed wool yarn multi color worst knitting yarn ASC007
Paypal   US $.99
Vintage Bucilla Grande Poppy Linen Decorator Pillow Crewel Embroidery Kit
Vintage Bucilla Grande Poppy Linen Decorator Pillow Crewel Embroidery Kit
Paypal   US $5.00
2625g Skeins Alpaca Wool scarf sweater yarn LOTWrosted125gDark Grey961
2625g Skeins Alpaca Wool scarf sweater yarn LOTWrosted125gDark Grey961
Paypal   US $5.51
Rowan Cotton Braid Yarn varigated novelty cotton linen blend
Rowan Cotton Braid Yarn varigated novelty cotton linen blend
Paypal   US $8.00
Vintage Bucilla Woodland Bouquet Crewel Embroidery Kit
Vintage Bucilla Woodland Bouquet Crewel Embroidery Kit
Paypal   US $7.01
SALE OCEAN SEA SAILBOAT Theme PILLOWTOP VERVACO QUICKPOINT Cross Stitch 16x16
SALE OCEAN SEA SAILBOAT Theme PILLOWTOP VERVACO QUICKPOINT Cross Stitch 16x16
Paypal   US $9.95
Vintage Bucilla Troubles on the Line Crewel Embroidery Sampler Kit
Vintage Bucilla Troubles on the Line Crewel Embroidery Sampler Kit
Paypal   US $7.42
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS SWEDISH IVY FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS SWEDISH IVY FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
Paypal   US $7.99
ENCHANTED GARDEN KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLE
ENCHANTED GARDEN KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLE
Paypal   US $9.99
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS BOSTON FERN FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS BOSTON FERN FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
Paypal   US $7.99
VINTAGE BEACHED JIFFY STITCHERY KIT DESIGNED BY BARBARA JENNINGS
VINTAGE BEACHED JIFFY STITCHERY KIT DESIGNED BY BARBARA JENNINGS
Paypal   US $7.99
CLASSIC BOUQUET KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLE
CLASSIC BOUQUET KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLE
Paypal   US $10.99
VINTAGE POPCORN AND DONUTS EMBROIDERY KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLEBOB SHAFOR
VINTAGE POPCORN AND DONUTS EMBROIDERY KIT FROM CREATIVE CIRCLEBOB SHAFOR
Paypal   US $9.99
VINTAGE SWAMP VIOLET QUICK AND EASY STITCHERY KIT FROM NATIONAL NEEDLECRAFT
VINTAGE SWAMP VIOLET QUICK AND EASY STITCHERY KIT FROM NATIONAL NEEDLECRAFT
Paypal   US $6.99
SPRING TIME TEA CREATIVE CIRCLE KIT SET OF TWO
SPRING TIME TEA CREATIVE CIRCLE KIT SET OF TWO
Paypal   US $12.99
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS SPIDER PLANT FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
VINTAGE NEEDLE POINTERS SPIDER PLANT FROM SUNSET DESIGNS
Paypal   US $7.99
VINTAGE BUCILLA POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS NEEDLECRAFT
VINTAGE BUCILLA POINSETTIA CHRISTMAS NEEDLECRAFT
Paypal   US $7.99
SAILBOAT OCEAN Theme PILLOWTOP VERVACO QUICKPOINT Cross Stitch 16x16
SAILBOAT OCEAN Theme PILLOWTOP VERVACO QUICKPOINT Cross Stitch 16x16
Paypal   US $9.95
1x50g Egypt Cotton Milk Silk Baby Sock Yarn WholesaleDKWhite2000
1x50g Egypt Cotton Milk Silk Baby Sock Yarn WholesaleDKWhite2000
Paypal   US $1.30
YARN Lot of 3 SKEINS CARON Vintage white 4 ply YARN 100 DuPont Acrylic
YARN Lot of 3 SKEINS CARON Vintage white 4 ply YARN 100 DuPont Acrylic
Paypal   US $12.99
Crochet PATTERN Afghan Cover Blanket
Crochet PATTERN Afghan Cover Blanket
Paypal   US $3.95
Knit PATTERN Dog Sweater
Knit PATTERN Dog Sweater
Paypal   US $3.95
Crochet PATTERN Girls Sweater
Crochet PATTERN Girls Sweater
Paypal   US $2.99
Harrisville Designs Easy Weaver Refill Kit Design B Ebony Jewels
Harrisville Designs Easy Weaver Refill Kit Design B Ebony Jewels
Paypal   US $15.00
Harrisville Designs Easy Weaver Refill Kit Design A Midnight Sun
Harrisville Designs Easy Weaver Refill Kit Design A Midnight Sun
Paypal   US $15.00
3 Skeins NEW Hand dyed 100 wool knitting yarn BD1C03B
3 Skeins NEW Hand dyed 100 wool knitting yarn BD1C03B
Paypal   US $9.99
Needlepoint Petitpoint Tapestry Canvas Finished Floral Center Made in Austria
Needlepoint Petitpoint Tapestry Canvas Finished Floral Center Made in Austria
Paypal   US $29.99
16x11 PREWORKED Needlepoint Canvas Antique French Figure Flower
16x11 PREWORKED Needlepoint Canvas Antique French Figure Flower
Paypal   US $12.50
1x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportBlue Green Mix016
1x50g Cashmere Silk Cotton Baby Yarn LotSportBlue Green Mix016
Paypal   US $1.04
Hand Woven Thai HEMP FABRIC Black 12 x 3yard
Hand Woven Thai HEMP FABRIC Black 12 x 3yard
Paypal   US $21.69
bridal rose crochet lap afghan
bridal rose crochet lap afghan
Paypal   US $40.00
3 Skeins NEW Hand dyed 100 wool yarn Purple BD1P01B
3 Skeins NEW Hand dyed 100 wool yarn Purple BD1P01B
Paypal   US $.99
275g Skeins Sooth Spun Gold Pure Natural Bamboo YarnFingering150gmilk white
275g Skeins Sooth Spun Gold Pure Natural Bamboo YarnFingering150gmilk white
Paypal   US $4.06
14x6 Vintage PREWORKED Needlepoint Pretty cute Flowers Kit yarn
14x6 Vintage PREWORKED Needlepoint Pretty cute Flowers Kit yarn
Paypal   US $6.99
14x12 Vtg Style PREWORKED Needlepoint Canvas Petit Point Victorian Young Lady
14x12 Vtg Style PREWORKED Needlepoint Canvas Petit Point Victorian Young Lady
Paypal   US $19.99
250gSkeins Luxury Smooth Natural Bamboo Soy Yarn LotSport100gcream
250gSkeins Luxury Smooth Natural Bamboo Soy Yarn LotSport100gcream
Paypal   US $4.45
250g skeins soft milky fiber Egypt cotton Knitting Yarn Lot100glake blue
250g skeins soft milky fiber Egypt cotton Knitting Yarn Lot100glake blue
Paypal   US $6.00

Knitting Yarn Common Terms

While there are many different sizes and styles of knitting yarn available, there are certain terms that are common no matter what type of yarn you are knitting with. While the different terms do not apply equally to all of the different types of knitting yarn, they will be helpful in determining what type of knitting yarn you want to work with for your next knitting project. Now in the beginning when you are going through every pattern step-by-step, this may not be such a major concern for you. However, when you begin testing and trying new knitting techniques, it may help to have some basic knowledge regarding what all that gibberish on the skein of yarn really means.

Resilience or Elasticity of Knitting Yarn

The resilience or elasticity of the knitting yarn is based on how capable the yarn is of "bouncing back" or assume the same shape that it originally was in after it has been stretched out. Some yarns like merino wool are naturally resilient while others like silk and many types of cotton knitting yarn are not very resilient at all or have very little elasticity. Another key point here is that many types of knitting yarn with a very low level of elasticity will be more difficult to knit with for some people. Keeping the tension even with less resilient knitting yarn has been known to cause hand cramps and worse for some knitters.

Breathability

The "Breathability" of the knitting yarn is based upon how easily air passes through from one side of the yarn to the other. This can be deceiving on some occasions as logically it would seem that many of the bulky or chunky knitting yarns would naturally be more breathable due to their use of larger, often looser fibers that have been spun into the yarn. However, lanolin and other naturally occurring oils and substances may prevent even some bulky weight knitting yarn from being too breathable.

Dyeability

The actual dyeability of knitting yarn is its ability to absorb dyes, preferably distributed equally among the fibers and strands so that the coloring is consistent and even throughout the knitting yarn and the entire batch. This may not be important if you are only using pre-dyed knitting yarn but for those people who really like to get their hands dirty … both literally and figuratively, this can be an important issue. More and more people are spinning and dyeing their own yarn. While you will not see this on the outside of many skeins of knitting yarn, you may still want to know it for future use.

Absorbency

The absorbency of the knitting yarn is very relevant to whether or not the knitted garments will be better suited to warm weather, cold weather or other uses as well as how well it will protect and how comfortable it will be. The absorbency is the ability of the yarn to absorb or hold liquids … generally such as sweat or rain. A super-absorbent knitting yarn may not be ideally suited to making a winter sweater as the snow would quickly be absorbed by the knitted garment and the person wearing it would likely get very cold.

This list is not by any means meant to be a complete listing of all of the different types of knitting yarns but it should give you enough information to get started. While it may be tempting or even necessary to follow the knitting pattern from start to finish at the beginning, eventually almost everyone who takes up knitting will want to "get out on their own" and try something different with new knitting yarn in place of the old.

About the Author

Liz Raad is a small business coach and author of the exciting new E-book "Knitting For Profit - Your Step-by-Step Guide To Making Money From Knitting and Crochet".

If you love knitting and crochet and have ever wished you could make money from it then make sure you visit Liz's popular knitting for profit blog where you will find tonnes of free information, practical advice and ideas about how to turn your knitting hobby into real cash.

does it matter what size crochet hook you use for any size yarn?

Yes, you want to match the hook size to the yarn size in order to get a useable fabric. The smaller the hook, the thinner the yarn should be, the larger the hook the heavier the yarn, or use of multiple yarns. You can use a thin yarn on a larger hook for a very open, lacey fabric, but a thick yarn on a tiny hook will result in a very dense and stiff fabric.

Steel hooks in sizes 0 to 16 and smaller are intended for thread work, and the threads themselves range down as far as sewing thread size. B - D hooks generally are used on fingering (baby or sock) weight yarns, D- F are for sport or DK weight yarns, F - I for worsted to Aran weights, and H - K for bulky weight or doubled DK or worsted yarns. Beyond K you are looking at super bulky or several strands of thinner yarn used together. While there is some overlap of needle and yarn sizes, these groupings work well together.