The yarn label plays a fundamental role, not only for the yarn manufacturer but also for knitters, as it reports all the fundamental data for knitting.
Let's find out together what is written on the yarn label and above all learn how to read it correctly.
Your skein or ball of yarn label will help you understand the 8 main pieces of information about your yarn:
- Brand and name of the yarn.
- Composition: the material or materials used.
- Weight and length of the wire.
- Gauge: How many stitches and lines per inch.
- Number of needles and/or crochet hooks with which the yarn is recommended to be worked.
- Color name and dye lot.
- Head care symbols.
- Place of production and manufacturer's website.
1. Brand and name of the yarn
The brand and yarn name are usually in the center of the label. This information indicates the name of the company that produced the ball and the name of a specific yarn. You should keep this information in case you use the same yarn for other projects.
2. Composition
Here you will find the composition of the fibers in your ball or skein: it could be, for example, wool, acrylic, cotton, cashmere, alpaca, mixed fibers, etc.
3. Weight and length of the yarn
Usually the weight of the yarn is shown in grams. The length of the yarn can vary greatly and is expressed in meters or yards. This is probably one of the most important reasons to read the label. You will find out how much yarn is actually in the skein or ball.
4. Caliber
Gauge information shows how many stitches and rows you need and suggests needle size. This information gives you an idea of what the final knit fabric will look like.
5. Number of needles and/or crochet hooks
Recommended knitting needles and/or crochet hooks are usually found inside the square that indicates the gauge of the yarn. Inside the squares you will see numbers and letters that indicate the recommended size of needle or crochet hook to use with this particular yarn.
6. Color name and dye batch
Each label will have the name of the color of the yarn and the dye lot number. Together they will accurately specify the shade and production of the skein you just purchased. These two pieces of information are equally important. Yarn is typically dyed in large vats. Each vat will produce the same shade of color, so all the balls or skeins that come out of that vat will have the same dye lot number. The dye lot is therefore the assigned number that identifies a particular dye lot of yarn. It is best to make sure that all the yarn you purchase for a project has the same dye lot number, because if you get a different dye lot there may be a slight variation in the color.
7. Head care symbols
These symbols identify, for example, how the garment produced with this yarn should be washed and dried. To ensure a long life for your hand-knitting projects, these symbols should never be underestimated, even in the case of colored yarns, cotton or synthetic materials.
8. Place of production and manufacturer's website
On all labels you should find the place where the yarn was produced, the famous “made in”, and any website where you can find more information about the ball and skein you purchased.
The yarn label contains a lot of important information! It can be confusing at first, but once you get used to the symbols and terms you will be able to read them easily, and you will be ready to make a decision about which yarn to buy for your next knitting project.
Be careful not to throw away the labels! If you have some yarn left, remember to rewind it with the right band. This way you will always remember the characteristics of that yarn.
Now that we have deciphered the labels, in the next article we will discover together in more depth the most important care symbols, so you will no longer have the fear of ruining your creations.
Happy reading the label!